What is this hose?

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I’m restoring a barn find 1985 VF1000F. There is this hose that runs from the carbs and through the holes in the frame. It doesn’t appear to connect to anything at the other end, down somewhere below the seat. It’s not a California model so it’s not part of that emissions package. Any ideas?

Breather pipe for the carbs to equalise the pressure in the float bowls so you get a free flow of petrol.

Garyb

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So it just snakes to nowhere?

Yes, ends up by the swingarm. Some models don’t have it, they have a short u shaped tube that goes from carbs to a bracket on the chrome carb top for no1 carb.

Thanks Gary. Really appreciate an actual answer!

It connects to the carbs one one end and exits next to swingarm pivot. At the carb end it connects to the upper joint pipe which is a off centre cross shaped plastic tube, two ends go into the rear carbs and the fourth connection has a hose going to front pair of carbs. I think the other end goes through a metal loop welded to the frame on the right hand side under the swingarm.

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Mine is the same bike, looks like you have two of the T pieces for the front carbs, the cross piece hasn’t been put on front pair by mistake has it? The system can’t work with two T pieces as no air would be able to enter the carb float chambers and a vacuum would stop petrol from entering the jets. the system also acts as an overflow if one of the needle valves sticks open and empties the petrol out in a safer location by the swingarm, ask @vfpete what happens if it empties onto the engine! An expensive way to roast your chestnuts. Can you post a picture of your carbs ?

I’m pretty sure as standard the UK vf1000re vents into the plenum chamber same as the Fe, so if you have 2 “t” pipes they should point upwards, go through 2 rubber grommets, into the airbox area…
Honda changed this set up on the 85 Rf model which vented to atmosphere through the long vent pipe terminating below the swing arm as mentioned earlier…
As far as I know honda did this because negative pressure in the airbox affected the float bowl fuel level…
Some Re’s and Fe’s have been retro fitted with a honda carb revision kit which contained smaller main jets, different slides, plugs for airbox and the cross vent tube and long hose to vent to atmosphere…

No holes in the plenum chamber on mine but I got mine in several boxes and built it from there and several parts are not off an RE.

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They connect into the carburettor breather box