Replacement carburetor diaphragms??

Just this past week I stumbled upon a guy on Ebay selling replacement diaphragms for the old Magna V45 (Keihin VD 51 A) carbs. They came without an explanation of how to install them so I promptly broke apart my #2 carb piston slider plastic diaphragm retainers in a blunder to understand how they dissassemble. I now have broken piston with a seperate torn diaphragm. Meanwhile, the guy who sold the new replacement diaphragms has since fled Ebay.
I later learned that you can't remove the plastic diaphragm retainers (well technically you can if you have a big enough hammer and are dumb enough to use it on the carburetor piston, ask someone with experience:crazy. The method, it seems, involves KY jelly and some sort of string. I know but I read that it was recommended along with some gentle prodding (that's what HE said). Now be gentle with me, I'm old and not well. The string is inserted between the upper and lower plastic retainers (KY jelly?) and the captured inner rolled edge of the old/damaged diaphragm is engaged by the string. With some pulling and stretching of the diaphragm and the pursuasion of the string behind the inner rolled edge of the diaphragm you are supposed to be able to get the old diaphragm out without damage to the piston or plastic retainers. It's probably a two person job, one person to stretch the diaphragm while the other person man's the string (get a third person to hold the piston and KY jelly and you can start an orgy :biggrin. Getting the new diaphragm in is pretty much the reverse. You use the string (get a new string for God Sakes, that old one is saturated with KY jelly) and with the KY slime still on the plastic retaining rings, you are supposed to be able to install the new diaphragm without tearing it in the process.

Hey, I'm game. Now if I had not destroyed my original #2 piston I might be able to fix something :redface:. Oh well, live and die, what are you gonna' do. Anyone have a good Keitin VD 51 piston (or equivalent, lots of bikes use the same piston: like the Vf500 "f and c" for 84 and 85, as well as Vf750f Interceptors and the Sabres as well as the Magnas ) with a torn diaphragm they would like to donate to my worthy cause? Now, where did that pesky Ebay sales guy get to :frown: and does he have more replacement diaphragms?? I think my son got his name?

 

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The rubber part is good if there are no splits in the rubber.
It there are any splits or holes it will never work properly.
The rubber is part of the piston. You could have asked any shop mechanic.

Fortunately you should be able to get a replacement .

 

The diaphragm is now actually a seperate part!

I know that the OEM dealers sell the pistons. with the diaphragm attached. You can buy in California for around $130 a pop or you can buy from Texas, pay freight, and wait a week or two for @ $95. Anyway you do it It's gonna cost you a C note to replace the broken diaphragm if you do it the OEM way, wherever you buy the OEM replacement. The deal is that some guy on E Bay is pushing sets of replacement diaphragms for around $45 per set (3 or 4 to a set depending on carb model). The hard part is putting them in yourself. Thats where the string and the KY jelly come into the picture. So the question is if have you had any experience putting on such a replacement diaphragm (on your bike carb not on your old lady or some such person)?:biggrin:

 

It is a VERY easy job to put in a new piston with diaphram.
Just put the needle in the piston insert the piston and spring, and make sure the o ring part of the rubber stays in the groove when you put the cover on.

 

$84 bucks for one new one. If you need one these guys ship fast and have better prces on most things I've found. Honda Yamaha Suzuki Kawasaki Sea-Doo Can-Am Ski-Doo Motorcycle Parts ATV parts Scooter Parts personal watercraft parts Accessories

Never took a diaphragm off. Can't help there. Didn't know they could be replaced. Never heard of that.

 

Who is the vendor?

 

Hey Grey, I want the name of that vendor too.

Thanks for the replies guys. I really am asking if anyone has had the experience of replacing a diaphragm using string and KY jelly per the E BAy seller of the new diaphragms. As for my carb problem, well I purchased a set of used carbs from what I figure was an early 80's Sabre V45 (4 x VD 50's). I got them for $45 plus tax from a junker that is located in Perris, CA. Sort of a strange place that might be run by a cult or may be one of those LDS break away churches or something. I can't seem to find them in the phone book. They are open on Sunday's if you make prior arrangements. I found them on E Bay too. But I have lost their number.

Out of the four carbs that I got for $45 plus tax I managed to get 3 intact pistons with usable diaphragms :thumbsup:. One of them has been dog eared from having been improperly installed. It's a common error that occurs because installing the diaphragms is a "blind faith" sort of exercise. you put the cover on and hope that the diaphragm stayed in the grove for the seal. Unless you are Superman and can see through women's clothing :tongue: and steel, you have to take it on faith that you got the seal right , or get out the glue and paste it up right:thumbsup:.

 

Just click on the link I provided. Oh hell use this one

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