Questions about hoses in/out of air filter box

[thecdn]

While tracking down a gas leak last night - carb issues but that's another matter - it dawned on me that there were a couple of spots on the air box that look like there should be hoses on them but weren't when we bought the bike used.

Looking at this schematic - http://www.bikebandit.com/2005-suzuki-motorcycle-gs500f/o/m16075#sch591348  hoses #6 and #8 are missing. #8 is called a drain tube so it goes straight down for overflowing gas to go out cleanly instead of all over the bike like it did last night?

Where does the other end of #6 attach to? What would the absence of this hose have done to the bike in the time we've had it? I'm starting to think about hunting down the previous owners and putting a beating on somebody. For a five year old bike this is missing a lot of hoses and/or has poorly functioning replacement hoses. And I've got to order two more engine gaskets in addition to the head gasket I put in a couple of weeks ago to stop the oil leaking. I should put a beating on somebody.....

[tt_four]

You're right about 8 being a drain for the airbox. I can't remember where 6 comes from since I do not have an airbox anymore. It could come from 2 places. The first would be the breather on the top of the cylinders. It lets extra air escape from under the camshaft cover. The other option would be the hose that comes off the top of the carbs. Obviously you wouldn't want over flow of gas running into the airbox, but if that's just for gasses(not liquid gas) to escape, then that could work. Either way neither of those hoses have to go into the airbox. I just have a miniature filter on the breather hose, and the vent hose from the carbs just goes to no where. You would want to make sure you plug those holes in your airbox though. You don't need dirt and dust getting in there instead of being stopped by your air filter.

As far as why gas spilled out of your bike, we would probably need some more details as to what happened on that one.

[thecdn]

As far as why gas spilled out of your bike, we would probably need some more details as to what happened on that one.

Looked like fuel from the right carb overflowed into the airbox and went out the hole on the bottom where the drain hose would connect. Had this problem a couple of weeks ago with the left carb. My neighbour, a car mechanic, showed me how to drain the carb and whack it a couple of times to release a stuck float. I did the same thing on the right one last night and will see how it worked after I get it back together. I guess some carb maintenance is in my future.

So in summary you are saying there is technically no need for the hoses on the airbox? Just make sure the holes are covered over? Of course if I get another carb overflow issue then there wouldn't be anywhere for the fuel to escape the airbox.....

[gsJack]

Hose #6 goes from the top of the valve cover to the air cleaner sucking the engine bypass gases back into the engine thru the air cleaner.  Those bypass fumes are rich in water vapor a natural byproduct of internal combustion.  If your carbs are functioning properly the drain hose #8 will be draining off the water that collects in the bottom of the air cleaner rather than gas.

Hoses like #6 were added to cars way back in the 70's when air pollution controls started, the crankcase fumes were vented to air before that.  Should function properly without the hose but I'd put it back on myself.  Proper thing to do is to add a small air filter to that #6 hose when removing the air box for adding aftermarket air filters.

I'd stick a hose on the #8 drain hole too, it comes out down near the right peg along with the battery vent hose and the water drain hose from the top of the gas tank.

[thecdn]

$18.73 for the oem drain hose from bikebandit     Anyone know the diameter of this hose so I can pick up a piece a whole lot cheaper?

[DoD#i]

$18.73 for the oem drain hose from bikebandit     Anyone know the diameter of this hose so I can pick up a piece a whole lot cheaper?

I think it's quarter inch, but why don't you put a ruler on it before going to the hardware or auto parts store just to check, since my bike is not parked by the computer. Any generic item like a hose, nut or bolt (non-special) is going to cost a buttload as a "part" and far less as a generic item - nature of business. In this case a truly proper OEM part will have some bends molded into it, but you can generally live without those if the hose has adequate flex. The stiff hose with molded-in bends is somewhat less prone to getting pinched shut, but probably not $15 extra worth of better.