The manual was not very helpful, other than saying the boots should be coated in oil. I did that. What worked: Oil on boots. Using new, pliable boots rather than the old stiff ones. Not tightening the clamps down, before mounting the carbs. Pushing the carbs on the front cylinders first. This left the rear boots resting on the edge of the rear ports. I then took a couple of 16 penny nails and pried the rubber over the edge of the ports, then pushed down hard and it slid on. What didn't work: I put the carb-side clamps on loose, but figured the head-side ones would get in the way so I should mount them later. Bad idea. :crazy: It was a pain getting the clamps on, then an even bigger pain getting the screw and nut of the clamps together, to tighten it down. Took way longer than getting the carbs positioned properly on the head, which is supposed to be the hard part. If I had thought some more I'd realize the lip of the boot probably keeps the bottom clamps from falling off, so they probably wouldn't be in the way anyway. BTW, what prompted this removal was the realization I had some split hoses in my Calif. pollution setup. A bike this old is probably going to have some problem with that.
