Carb cleaning Options ?????????????????

[Steve]

Now for the BEST pair of pictures.

This is with NO brushing, just the dip, a hot water rinse, a couple quick spritzes with carb cleaner spray, then some compressed air through the holes.





Yes, I dipped the floats, too.

Not conviced yet?

How about a set of GS carbs?





Here is a better comparison:


And they look SO much better on the bike.


.

[Steve]

I used GUNK carb dip becaused that's what was available. Worked fine.

I have used GUNK brand a couple of times, because I am at the mercy of my "weekend victims" as I travel.

I have Berryman's at home because that's what I have available there.

I have noticed virtually no difference between the performance of the two brands.

.

[azr]

Hope you're not in Canada, or at least not in BC. Good carb dip is out of the question.

[XXWoodmanXX]

I have used both GUNK carb dip, as well as lemon juice (1 qt + 2 gal of VERY hot water). Lemon juice did real good, leaving a dull, even "blue'ish" finish on the carb bodies. Gunk was my personal fav. however

[cowboyup3371]

I think Steve's comment earlier about not being able to see how clean they are in the important areas is a critical one for the OP. Passages deep inside the carb will get so clogged that fuel will not flow correctly. Don't go based on looks but the experience of dozens of people here please.

[00.]

WOW, well I got a lot of responses.... cool

Yeah I think different cleaning options can be a pain.

So it looks like everyone is likeing the option #3 (the old school carb enviromently toxic carb dip) I have used this before, and it really sucks to work with smells like **** and the worst part is that the smell tends to hang around for about a year... Does anyone know of good carb dip, the "gung carb dip" sound like it might work well, I aggree its not about what the carb looks like from outside its all about how well the little passages get clean on the inside.

I have used pinesol and it works very well but I don't think it cleans the inside of the carb all that well but it works very good overall and it smells great too, I have used pinesol many times and works well but when I did the honda cbx carbs pinesol did not work too well because of the very small passages in the carb, so I had to use that nasty carb dip for the cbx carbs. But either way let me know if you got any other good ideas...

[Steve]

...and the worst part is that the smell tends to hang around for about a year...

Then you must not be using it right.

When I do a set of carbs, I get all the parts for one carb ready to dip, open the can for about 30 seconds to put all the parts in, then close the can.

A day later, the can is open for less than a minute again, while getting the parts out, then closed while I carry the parts to the sink for a HOT water rinse. The can is open for a few seconds again when I put the second carb's parts in, and so on. Except for the few seconds that the can is open and maybe for a couple of minutes after, there is no discernible odor, not sure what you are doing to get it to hang around "for about a year".

I have used pinesol and it works very well but I don't think it cleans the inside of the carb all that well but it works very good overall ...

Make up my mind for me. Does it work or not?

First you say "it works very well", then you say "I don't think it cleans the inside of the carb all that well", then you end up with "but it works very good overall".

.

[00.]

The carb bodies smell even after you rinse them with water,,,, when I put my nose next to my carbs I can still smell the carb bodies year later, its as if the carb cleanner became part of the carb bodies.... if the bike sits in the garage for a while I can smell the carb cleanner in the garage. The carb dip can is no problem that is left outside and closed, and I clean the carbs out side so no worries on that....

Pinesol works great, it brakes up a lot of dirt in the passages but not in very small passages, non of the suzuki gs carbs have such small passagess as the honda cbx carbs, the honda cbx carbs are the only carbs that I have not been able to clean with pinesol mix, all the suzuki gs carbs never gave me a problem when I clean them with pinesol....

I guess I'm just looking to see if there is any stuff out there that does magic on the carbs, sometimes people have great mixes of weird chemicals that end up working great.....

What about the $2000 utlrasonic machines? not the $100 cheep machine, that works like crap, I know from experience since I bought the $100 crap machine

[SVSooke]

Hope you're not in Canada, or at least not in BC. Good carb dip is out of the question.

Not quite true,you can get this stuff:


Looks evil and smells worse but works great.Ate all the varnish and stuff off the 1000's carbs very nicely.Pretty much had to insist on getting it at the auto parts store.

[00.]

bump bump bump

[tkent02]

Who has used the ultrasonic cleaner?


Does it work very well?

[Agemax]

Who has used the ultrasonic cleaner?


Does it work very well?

i use an ultrasonic cleaner for carbs and other bits and pieces and get very good results. i am however still experimenting with different solutions to obtain the best and most economic results

[Super]

#3 ..... after 8 sets of carb rebuilding/cleaning with no issues, works great. But a good cleaning with warm water is a must.

[john82q]

quickest and easiest,

So if you dont care how the outside looks, but you want it to work.
and you want it done by lunch time.

use acetone, nail polish remover is a cheap source. but you need to observe the following points.

- MOST IMPORTANTLY , you need to understand how the carb works and where all the passages go, its not that hard, and is documented in some of the service manuals. GSX750 of note.

- fully dissassemble
- you need new o-rings
- use a squeeze bottle and squirt though each fuel and air passage untill it is clear. (if you dont know how to tell its clear this is not for you)
- soak things like jets and diffuser, which you did remove.
-rinse with carb cleaner, and blow out with air
- lube orings with oil while assembling, so you dont pinch them.

A bank of 4 can be done in 2 hours, or less. (if you know how)

I know some very experienced and knowledge people, are at great pains to advise the dipping method, but that does not involve understanding the carbs operation.

[Nessism]

So if you dont care how the outside looks, but you want it to work.
and you want it done by lunch time.

use acetone, nail polish remover is a cheap source. but you need to observe the following points.

- MOST IMPORTANTLY , you need to understand how the carb works and where all the passages go, its not that hard, and is documented in some of the service manuals. GSX750 of note.

- fully dissassemble
- you need new o-rings
- use a squeeze bottle and squirt though each fuel and air passage untill it is clear. (if you dont know how to tell its clear this is not for you)
- soak things like jets and diffuser, which you did remove.
-rinse with carb cleaner, and blow out with air
- lube orings with oil while assembling, so you dont pinch them.

A bank of 4 can be done in 2 hours, or less. (if you know how)

I know some very experienced and knowledge people, are at great pains to advise the dipping method, but that does not involve understanding the carbs operation.

Are you removing the throttle shaft, butterfly, and throttle shaft seal? If not, you risk seal swell because of the acetone. For that reason I don't recommend acetone of lacquer thinner for cleaning carbs since removing the throttle valves is not recommended.