In this month’s tech talk, we are going to go over bonding the rings onto a Mikuni TM40 carburetor for use on the Suzuki DR650. We sell these rings in the DR650 conversion kit, and have received a few questions on the process of attaching them to the carb.
The kit we sell includes two rings: the larger for the airbox side and the smaller for the cylinder side. We use a good 2-part epoxy (such as Devcon Home 2-ton Epoxy) to bond the rings. Following these instructions will allow for many miles of smiles.
Start with cleaning the rings with rubbing alcohol. Once the rings are clean, you can take a small amount of epoxy (a 1/16 inch bead is plenty) and apply it to the airbox ring. This ring is a snug fit and you only need enough epoxy to secure the ring and seal any air gaps. Wipe off any excess and make sure not to plug any jets or holes on the carb body. Then, place the carb on a piece of cardboard, ring side down to dry. Be sure let the first side completely dry before starting the other side.
For the cylinder side, the ring is a much looser fit. Take a decent amount of epoxy and put a good bead, about 1/4 inch around the top of the cylinder side of the carb. Then, take the adapter ring and slowly twist it while installing down on the carb. Twisting the ring will allow the epoxy to work completely around the ring and make an airtight seal. Lastly, place the carb down on the cardboard, ring side down to dry.
If you have extra epoxy that has worked out, that is ok. Once the epoxy is dry you can take a blade and chip off any excess.
After everything is dried and cleaned, the carb is ready to go. Finish the install and enjoy the increased power and responsiveness of the TM40!
As always if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!