The Hodaka Club Forum

Does anyone have a spare Model 01, 02, 03 air boot to fit the Newer Dirt Squirt, Road Toads or 03 Wombat? Mine is getting pretty brittle & I keep repairing them with Black RTV Cement. But it’s getting harder & harder to repair it each time. Let me know, because Terry doesn’t have any in stock. Thanks! Victor

You can use silicone rubber RTV as the "resin" (think of fiberglass work), and strips of landscape fabric as the substitute for fiberglass fabric/mat. In this way you can layup a reinforced but still flexible air cleaner boot using your existing boot as the "form".. I've smeared on a thin coat of RTV, smoothed on a strip of landscape fabric, smooth on more RTV . . . repeat . . . worked well for me. A bit messy, and kind of fiddly . . . but do-able.

You can use silicone rubber RTV and strips of landscape fabric to lay up a reinforced but still flexible air cleaner boot using your existing boot as the core or form. The process is a bit messy and fiddly, but works well. Smooth on a thin layer of RTV, then smooth on a strip of landscape fabric, then more RTV (kind of like fiberglass work) . . repeat.
Ed

Oh sure, NOW the 1st attempt to respond shows up! Sorry for the double hit.
Ed

No problem. It will be easier to find here later than on FB! I talked with Terry last night. Since the FrankenWombat has the 94/95 motor combo in it, he suggested the 94 boot might be a better choice. The 03 boot would likely be shorter, & since this motor doesn’t have the reed valve assembly, the 94 boot may be a better fit. I need to do some measuring, but at least it’s an option, and available! Victor

Yup. Thanks for posting your question here on the Forum (not just on Facebook). Cuz weeks, or months from now anyone on the forum will be able to search and find information on fixing a cracked air boot.
Ed

I post on FB as well as here because if found people who respond with viable options who don’t post here. And as I do with my Suzuki forum, I recommend people join here as well! Victor

I like the idea of using the landscape fabric. I always have that stuff left over. Now I’ll save remnants just for this purpose!!! Victor

Ed. Since I had to take the carb off and apart, I pulled the air cleaner assembly. I was finally able to push the boot over the retainer ring! I cleaned off the carb end of the boot & tried the landscape fabric! Worked really well, just need to let it dry. Victor

You can also try "Plasti dip". It was originally made to dip tool handles into to give a better grip. It's a liquid plastic, available at most tool or hardware stores. It comes in different colors. Just dip the whole air boot in, remove and then let dry. Worth a try.

Based on my experience with Plastidip - I wouldn't recommend that. You'll end up with an eminently "peel-able" coating . . . and the solvents involved are likely to further harden the OEM part. My 2 cents.
Ed

Well my air boot is dry. The RYV set up and I can actually place the clamp all the way down on the carb end where it belongs! Thanks for the landscape fabric trip, Captain!

Now to figure out what’s going wrong with the carb & fuel input.... Victor