Need info on carb boots & are carb boot spacers necessary?

[freak_in_cage]

I've finally been getting around to putting my motor back together. Yay for me! Once I cleaned all the gunk off the carb boots, I noticed that one has a small hole. I should probably replace both of them. My Kawasaki dealer tells me they are discontinued, surprise surprise. I know I can get them on line, but I know that I can get them locally if I know what other sleds use them. I read somewhere on this site that one user uses oem Arctic Cat boots. Does anyone have a Cat part number?

Also, on each boot, there was a 3/8"ish thick bakelite spacer. Well they broke when separating them from the boots. Are they necessary? If they are, where can I get them or should I just get a set made out of aluminum or steel?

Thanks.

[Interceptor398]

They are to help keep the carbs cool and I would use them. There should be one for every cylinder made so they should be very available.

[mswyka]

I think that you are looking for the Mikuni VM38200 for the Invader 440.  These are available from a number of sources.  Matt of New Breed Snowmobile Parts is a member of this forum and offers them from his web site.

[Lloyd (ljm)]

Lots od sleds are run without the spacers. Yes they might make a small difference. but not one you will feel.

 The genuine Mikuni carb boots that mswyka mentioned seem expensive compared to the generic ones, but well worth the extra

[freak_in_cage]

Thanks for the info guys. Like I said, I know I can get them online, but I was hoping to get them locally so I have them in the next day or so. I really want to take this for a test run this weekend. I did read that arcticat boots were used by some people, but I don't know what the cat part number would be. I also have a JD dealership close to me, but they are useless people if you don't have a JD part number. If I decided to run spacers, what would be a good material to make them out of?

EDIT:
According to the interweb, this is a list of what uses these boots.

Arctic Cat    
1996-2002    Bearcat Wide Track
1987-1988    Cheetah L/C 530
1977    Cross Country Cat
1975    El Tigre 340
1975    El Tigre 440
1987-1988    El Tigre 5000
1984-1989    El Tigre 6000
1990-1991    El Tigre EXT
1990-1991    El Tigre EXT Mtn. Cat
1990-1991    El Tigre EXT Special
1975    El Tigre Z 250
1975    El Tigre Z 340
1975    El Tigre Z 440
1973    EXT 340
1996    Jag 440 L/C
1991-1992    Pantera 440
1999-2000    Panther 550
1988    Wildcat 650
1977    Z 340
1976-1977    Z 440
1997-2000    ZL 440
2000    ZL 550 ESR
     
John Deere    
1974    JD295/S
1975    JD340/S
     
Kawasaki    
1978-1981    Invader 440
     
Moto-Ski    
1981-1982    Ultra Sonic 454
1980    Ultra Sonic LC
     
Ski-Doo    
1979-1982    Blizzard 9500
1977    TNT 440 F/A
     
Sno-Jet    
1977    SST 340
1977    SST 440
     
Yamaha    
1980    SRX 440

[mswyka]

I am pretty sure that there is a cross-reference on this site for the Arctic Cat part number for the boots - at least for the Intruder boots.  Not so sure for the Invader.  I also have that information in my file at home and can dig that out later if it does not pop up here first.

[Lloyd (ljm)]

Here are some cross reference numbers. I wouldn't bother trying at a John Deere dealer, The part is not available from them. Any sled, ATV or motorcycle dealer should either have them or be able to get them.

Arctic Cat 0670-197, Arctic Cat 0170-033, John Deere AM53186, Kawasaki 16065-3007, Mikuni VM38/200, Mikuni VM38200, Rupp 37066, Rupp 36816, Ski-Doo 404-1000-00

Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, Yamaha fits HD pattern VM36-VM38, Mikuni VM38/200, VM36/200 motorcycle Fit Rupp Snowmobiles with Kohler Engines .