best way to clean the exterior of my carbs?

[Guest]

I just took the carbs off my bike and they are filthy. what is the best way to clean them?

[Steve]

If you have not rebuilt the carbs, the usual method of an overnight soak in the carb cleaner dip does a wonderful job of cleaning the outside AND the inside (the most important part). Some have also reported good results with an ultrasonic cleaner or soda blasting.

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[Agemax]

there is no doubt. Ultrasonic cleaning is THE only way to get your carbs clinically clean, inside and out. DIY or get it done by a professional. there are a few "rogue" advertisers who offer a full strip/clean service and only do a basic soak and blow dry.

[Quest]

I just called the local suzuki shop and they want $150 to clean the carbs. so looks like I will be doing it my self.

I got a can of carb cleaner to clean the insides which I cleaned about a year ago so i dont think the insides need are too bad. I mostly am doing it for appearance. will engine greaser work or should I by a gallon of carb cleaner also?

[Steve]

I got a can of carb cleaner to clean the insides which I cleaned about a year ago so i dont think the insides need are too bad. I mostly am doing it for appearance. will engine greaser work or should I by a gallon of carb cleaner also?

How did you clean the insides a year ago? If you just opened up the bowls and the lids, then spritzed some cleaner in there, do yourself a favor, strip them down to virtually NOTHING, dip each one of the bodies and the brass pieces overnight (yes, it takes four days to do this), then re-assemble them with new o-rings from cycleorings.com.

If that is how you cleaned them a year ago, it won't need to be done again for several years, assuming you winterize properly, if necessary.

Carb cleaner will work for general exterior cleaning, along with a stiff-bristled brush for getting into the nooks and crannies.

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[Agemax]

strip them down to virtually NOTHING, dip each one of the bodies and the brass pieces overnight (yes, it takes four days to do this)

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a few hours, for all 4 carbs in an ultrasonic cleaner........

[jbthomp]

If you have someone near you that does dry ice blasting that would be your winning ticket.

[Steve]

a few hours, for all 4 carbs in an ultrasonic cleaner........

Some day I might look into getting one.

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[loud et]

Check out this thread for some info.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=201594&page=2

[Quest]

I bought a gallon of dip now time to take this thing apart!

the gallon was $29 at oreilys but only $19 at walmart, glad I checked walmart befor I bought it.

[JTGS850GL]

Might not be the same dip as the one at O'reilys. There are two different formulas of Chem Dip. One is a bit pricier then the other but works much faster and better.