Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Rubber plug thing'ie

Hi All,
Would appreciate a little help/info.
Did an oil change tonight and while generally giving things a wipe over, found a small rubber plug or cap on the rag I was using.
It's very similar to the air plugs on the carbs, similar external size but way thinner. My suspicion is it came out of one of the two pipes under the bike along side the frame/oil filter (I haven’t traced these back yet but I'm guessing they're the oil breather and fuel overflow pipes?).

Kinda get a little worried when things start appearing without notice…..

I'd appreciate any ideas on what anyone thinks it might be, where it's from and where to return it.

Cheers

L

They are what are referred to around here as "squirrel condoms". They plug the two hoses that come from the airbox directly behind each carb. You need to trace down the one that's missing a plug and put it back. The other hose under there is an overflow from the gas tank.

Thanks for the help Bob.
Had a bit more of a look and there's four hoses under there by the look of things.
A gas overflow one and the two air box breather's you've mentioned + another that seems to be the tank breather.
One of the two air-box plugs must have gone missing some time ago coz there's nothing plugging either of these hoses now.
Looking at the "Squirrel condom", I can see where it's been partially inserted so I've put it back. Seems like a strange set up though, why have the hoses there and then plug em...?

Anyway, I've obviously lost the other one somewhere along the way.
Does it matter whether I run around with out a condom on…?? Do you reckon I should plug it with something else until I can get another? And does anyone know where I can legitimately ask for a “squirrel condom” without getting beaten up by a pack of animal campaigners…?

Sorry for the Q’s

Many thanks

Larry

Tank breather is the overflow the other one is the carb breather.

Larry, I don't have a good teckie answer for you. Ordinarily, there shouldn't be any fuel in the hoses unless there is a problem. The fumes do cause a little muck in the bottom of the tubes. I assume they are there if there was a problem and a safe drain was required.

Without the plug in the hose, unfiltered air would be drawn into the carbs through the hose. Most dealers stock them and have a part number for them. If you describe them as just little plugs in hoses under the bike - they will know what you're talking about. I think the "squirrel condom" term was coined by someone in this forum.

Tks again Bob,
Plugged the other air-box pipe with piece of plastic for now.
Your point about drawing air got me thinking, I've been repeatedly balancing the carbs and yet still felt things were a little rough and there was an imbalance somewhere. Maybe the lack of a condom was screwing my carbs...?

Can't verify yet coz its peeing down.

Anyway thanks for the tips.

Larry

That would be me in a past incarnation. As a newbie, I twisted my throttle once while trying to start my bike and these 2 black "Rubber plug thingy's" bounced down my driveway after the big bang......

And yes, having that little bit of air available post-filter when the condoms are missing from one or both of the drain hoses can drive you slightly bonkers when trying to balance and synch your carbs.....