[stipesman]

I was looking under the hood and found a vacuum hose disconnected but I can't find where it goes. the end of the hose appears broken off, not cut but there isn't any hose I can see in the vicinity. It is connected to a canister. see pictures

 

[jp2code]

You are so zoomed in that it's hard to say what part of the engine you are showing me.

Is that the Passenger's Side of the engine compartment?

It looks like the windshield washer hose.

 

[stipesman]

its on the passenger side and connected to a canister. the other hose to the canister is intact and goes to a vacuum source.

 

[jp2code]

its on the passenger side and connected to a canister. the other hose to the canister is intact and goes to a vacuum source.

I've got the V6, so things look different for me under the hood.

But, my vacuum hose from the canister goes to a connection on the intake tube. I think your 91 uses a round air cleaner, so look for a connector on the bottom side of the air cleaner housing.

 

[stipesman]

thanks ˆwill do that! The hose that is still connected goes to a vacuum manifold slightly beneath the air cleaner. what is that canister for?

 

[jp2code]

what is that canister for?

You got me. The best I can tell, it is filled with charcoal to clean the gasoline fumes before they get back to the fuel tank. I'm not sure, though.

 

[VStar650CL]

You got me. The best I can tell, it is filled with charcoal to clean the gasoline fumes before they get back to the fuel tank. I'm not sure, though.

Correct assumption. With the engine stopped, the charcoal in the canister traps gas fumes that would escape into the atmosphere if the tank was vented. It then releases the trapped fumes into the engine to be burned when running, by way of a Purge Valve that connects the tank to the intake manifold when the RPM's go above 2K or so.