Airbox seal

Hi,

Just been to Paul Matty’s and they have told me the rubber seal that goes betwwen the airbox halves is NLA. I don’t have one at all and they suggested silicone sealant.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Cheers

Robbie

Robbie,
I got one from SJS a couple of years ago it was cork not rubber but I have no idea if they still have them.
I have in the past made them from a felt type material, the cheap carpit materal often used in cars boots, its a black/gray cheap excuse for carpit.

I have never used one and dont believe one is necessary - perhaps i am wrong?

I thought about using a bead of silicone - indeed thats the instruction to use printed on the sticker on my air box, but am thinking that the silicone will be attacked by the petrol and oil that collects from spitting carbs and the engine breather and wouldnt stay leak tight anyhow. And you have the worry of bits beaing sucked into the carbs.

If you really want a seal how about making one from cork or find a suitable section rubber from something else.

Dave

Exactly what happened to me, I was on a rally and I had made one out of rubber, it came loose, got sucked into the carb, jammed the throtle open at 4000rpm …some hairy moments, it was then I decieded to use felt which is more forgiving then rubber.
I do believe the original ones were a felt material anyway.

I asked Chrisneils for one last year and Don in spare parts told me that they were not available but he would send me something that would do the job. Sure enough a rubber seal arrived which I cut to fit and it works perfectly.
Bearing in mind the carbs have been off and on about a thousand times since then I am happy to say that it is still doing its job.
Chris

Depends how good a seal you feel you need. Mine has a simple “U” shaped rubber seal which pushes over the edge of the box - works OK

I would guess if all else fails the likes of Woolies would stock a suitable profile

I use the simplest version of all- a piece of 3/8 rubber fuel hose with a slit cut in it longitudinally. Fits tightly over the box cover, and is flexible enough to conform to the proper shape. Probably not a “perfect” seal, but far better than the Lotus version. Also, since it is fuel grade hose, it will not degrade with gas exposure.

3/8" fuel hose sounds like a brilliant idea, that’s how much in millimetres?

Plenty of ideas there, thanks very much chaps.

3/8" = 10mm hose?

I used self adhesive draught sealer for sash windows on my old plus 2, that worked a treat and only cost a couple of quid for a very long roll, I also used the same stuff to seal up my pedalbox to body joint.

Mark

I used self adhesive draught sealer for sash windows on my old plus 2, that worked a treat and only cost a couple of quid for a very long roll, I also used the same stuff to seal up my pedalbox to body joint.

Mark

I used a Lotus airbox seal on my sash window but it got sucked into the street by passing traffic. :wink:

Hello Hatman, Very Witty :laughing:

I have to confess to failure! I wish I had tried the idea of the window seal but the air box, even with the various rubber seals, always had some grit that got into the bottom. I even carefully filed the fibreglass face of the box to make it fit the steel pan - all to no avail. It is dusty in Greece so maybe I am a bit more paranoid!
In the end I chickened out and fitted Pipercross socks over the trumpets. Not original although they look better than I expected AND no grit in the trumpets.
Richard

You know, Nebo, we really must stop meeting like this! :sunglasses:

Hi
If you do not mind it looking non original, a wide rubber band on the out side of the box will seal the joint effectively. I made one from a cycle inner tube, using super glue to join the ends and approx. 1" wide.
mac

Richard,
I have always liked the look of the Pipercross filter and it’s greater air flow. I have been told to use the original air intake in front of the radiator to get cool air. Have you notice any difference with your system? Maybe, only when racing it would make the difference.
I just replaced my seal with a rubber one with a grove. Supplied by rdEnterprises and it fit!! There always has been a gap/leak on my air box. When I got the new seal and tried to fit it to the fiberglass intake cover, the pre-cut and glued seal was too long. THEN I realized that it belonged on the metal side of the intake system, not attached to the fiberglass cover.:blush:
Here is what my seal now looks like.
I like the ability to see a picture of a part on a subject. There are different terms used for parts/bits etc. I hope this what you guys are talking about.
I also just attached a larger K&N air filter and attached it in front of the radiator and I did notice a big difference with the added air flow. I still need to make up a support bracket.
Sarto


must be because the windows arent balanced properly, or your house is too close to the road? :laughing:

Hi Sarto

The Pipercross filters seem to work OK but I was worried about cool air to them, so used the old Elephant trunking to collect cold air from in front of the radiator to feed the front carbs. I added a funnel shape to the front of the trunking to ensure lots of cold air got to the carbs. This goes right to the fibregalss at the front of the bonnet at the radiator air intake. Could not do better I think - and hope!
Removing plugs after an event showed they were all the same colour.

Whatever I did with the seals I always found some grit in the airbox - even new rubber seal plus silicone sealant, so will be interested to hear how your sealing wworks after a month or so - very dusty in Greece so possibly worst place to have the problem.
Originally I just replaced the standard Lotus tin filter with a cone shaped K and K unit but somehow grit still was sucked in through the air box seals.

Richard