How do you keep Boxer carbs tight?

[locodog]

I've blowing steam here! I keep trying to tighten my R60/6's carbs TIGHT where they mount the cylinder but they keep working loose which I suspect is causing the bike to run slightly rough. Can't make the carb clamps any tighter and anyway, I think it's the bit that screws into the cylinder head that keeps working loose.
How do I tighten this. Is there a special tool that fits into the two slots?
Funny thing is, the carbs are tight when I start up in the morning but loose by the time I've done a couple of km's.
Second question: can I use flexible rubber hose from the airbox to the carbs instead of the hard plastic stock hose?
Big trip coming up and I don't presume the average garage in Mocambique has ever seen a R60/6, at least not recently.
Thanks
locodog

[Grant Johnson]

The spigot that screws into the head is supposed to be loctited. Remove it and clean the threads thoroughly, and use red loctite on the threads. Tighten it by using a bar, such as a square shaft screwdriver, or a piece of band iron, that fits into the notches. The crude method is using a screwdriver and hammer to drive against the notches. Shouldn't take much.

Note that the head is aluminum, and the spigot is iron. The aluminum expands quickly when heated, the spigot is cooled by the incoming air-fuel mixture. Guess why the spigot loosens easily?

The BMW hose clamps that hold the carb on will easily go tight enough if all is well. If non-standard clamps, who knows what the problem is there, but fixing the spigot problem may solve it all.

2nd Q - you can use anything, but it's a very tight bend, and a hose that is flexible enough to make the bend without collapsing immediately will probably collapse with intake suction. If you use a corrugated hose there will be a loss of power, may or may not be noticeable, due to the rough surface at an important point in the intake path.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[nb]

I had the same problem with a R 60/5 70' and I solve the problem as Grant says, remove, clean, loctite, put again.
Bye.

Nicolas.

[locodog]

Grant, Nicholas,
Thanks, problem solved, more or less. Rummaging in the toolbox under the seat, guess what I found? A flat piece of steel, with a notch cut in one end. Ha! Seems the previous owner had had similar problems and being the Rolls Royce mechanic he is/was, had made the required 'tool'. Spigots loctited, and running much better, although still a wee bit rough.
Grant, appreciate the explanation. Still feeling my way around this bike...
cheers and thanks
Paul

[This message has been edited by locodog (edited 05 May 2004).]