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CARB CLEANING SECRETS ???

#1

BAGGMAN's MOTOR SHOP

BAGGMAN's MOTOR SHOP

I am curiuos as to what chemical or solution everyday techs use to clean carbs? I dont mean the usual on the shelf stuff. I mean tricks of the trade secrets. I have heard of folks using Pinesol, oven cleaner, CLR, kerosene, Tide, and denture cleaner. LMAO! I have used "Desolve it" it works great. For some reason Desolve It Mechanics cleaner is no longer made. It worked better, (prollly to well as it is no longer availble). I use STIHL degreaser alot to clean carbs inside and out. works great! IDK if STIHL change the ingredients of there degreaser but when they went from an orange bottle to a green one seems as if it is dilluted. I have tried the CLR works ok if you dont mind chemical taste,smeel, and burn! oven cleaner and pinesol i'll pass on that too. I use carb cleaner with the red straw to blow through passage of a carb once all rubber is removed. Just curios as what someone else uses. Always looking to learn something new! :laughing: I haven't bought or had opportunity to try sonic parts wash. Do they work? What brand/model would you recommend for a small idepedent shop?


#2

B

Buckshot 1

:smile: 1st, Welcome to the forum. I use the HF with heat option sonic cleaner. Water, vinegar and a little Dawn, and then flush with brake clean. Works great.


#3

I

ILENGINE

I use an ultrasonic cleaner with shellac buster cleaner in the shop. Clean the jets with a wooden toothpick. Spray through all passages with aerosol carb cleaner afterwards.


#4

P

panabiker

I have used CVS 91% isopropyl alcohol when I didn't have carb cleaner handy. Worked quite well and not much smell.


#5

pugaltitude

pugaltitude

ILENGINE said:
I use an ultrasonic cleaner with shellac buster cleaner in the shop. Clean the jets with a wooden toothpick. Spray through all passages with aerosol carb cleaner afterwards.
Click to expand...

Im the same but on the hondas i use the special tool pack with needle files used for cleaning the
carbs.
Use warm water with a detergent and always rinse with luke warm water then spray carb cleaner from an automotive supplier.

Ultrasonics are good tool to have if the machine is worth repairing.


#6

I

ILENGINE

pugaltitude said:
Im the same but on the hondas i use the special tool pack with needle files used for cleaning the
carbs.
Use warm water with a detergent and always rinse with luke warm water then spray carb cleaner from an automotive supplier.

Ultrasonics are good tool to have if the machine is worth repairing.
Click to expand...

I know what tool you are talking about. Been thinking about getting one for myself. Would be good for deeper passages.


#7

S

shillnav

Just this year I've started using the Harbor Freight ultra sonic (75.00) with Simple Green mixed with water. Have been amazed at how well it works. Flush with water, blow out with air, good to go.


#8

BAGGMAN's MOTOR SHOP

BAGGMAN's MOTOR SHOP

THANKS for the WELCOME! thanks for the info. I just started using SEA FOAM motor tune up. I THINK its good stuff so far. Trying to stop effects of ETHANOL.


#9

B

Buckshot 1

:smile: You are Welcome. I use Seafoam Marine year around in my gas along with MMO.


#10

pugaltitude

pugaltitude

ILENGINE said:
I know what tool you are talking about. Been thinking about getting one for myself. Would be good for deeper passages.
Click to expand...

Its ideal for the pilot jet path all the way down to the emulsion tube and main jet.
Put a slight bend on one of the files and you can get right down and get a lot of dirt out.

Part number is 07JPZ-0010001. You get the files main jet screwdriver and a pump nozzle for blowing air through carb.
Its funny how Honda say use files which could in theory open the holes wider and disturb emissions but Briggs are saying do not poke anything in one of their carbs.

If i replace a Honda carb under warranty, i have to send it back and if Honda cannot get it right after 3 good cleaning attempts then they will honour the warranty otherwise they send it back and charge the dealer.

But being an MST Briggs are good and pay without a problem.


#11

S

SeniorCitizen

The cleaning secret isn't so much what to clean with since there are dozens of products. The information needed is where are the little orifices that need cleaning. The secret, and it must be a secret because where to clean is the real secret that most DIY people have trouble locating that information. It's real hard to clean a hole if it's plugged and doesn't resemble an opening at all. If that info was more readily available cleaning would be a snap.

I can see where the ultrasound would be beneficial to a point in that respect . 0°F


#12

C

chance123

Some of the small carbs have rubber check valves that can easily be ruined by probing with a file or even a tag wire


#13

R

Rivets

A good set of rifflers and escapement files are always nice to have around. Had a set from my tool and die aprenciship days, before I decided to go into teaching. You would be surprised how handy they are in your tool box.


#14

066

066

carbs off a 2/stroke that are gummed up with old stale, varnished fuel can be softend with white vinegar then cleaned up with brake cleaner & blown out with air.


#15

S

shillnav

Maybe I've just been fortunate or lucky. As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm getting amazing results with an ultra sonic and Simple Green, but even before the ultra sonic I had success just doing an overnight soak in Carb Cleaner or mineral spirits, maybe a little probing with a soft wire, and then blow it out............ Have done hundreds of carbs that way and rarely did that not work for me.


#16

D

DaveTN

BAGGMAN's MOTOR SHOP said:
I am curiuos as to what chemical or solution everyday techs use to clean carbs? I dont mean the usual on the shelf stuff. I mean tricks of the trade secrets. I have heard of folks using Pinesol, oven cleaner, CLR, kerosene, Tide, and denture cleaner. LMAO! I have used "Desolve it" it works great. For some reason Desolve It Mechanics cleaner is no longer made. It worked better, (prollly to well as it is no longer availble). I use STIHL degreaser alot to clean carbs inside and out. works great! IDK if STIHL change the ingredients of there degreaser but when they went from an orange bottle to a green one seems as if it is dilluted. I have tried the CLR works ok if you dont mind chemical taste,smeel, and burn! oven cleaner and pinesol i'll pass on that too. I use carb cleaner with the red straw to blow through passage of a carb once all rubber is removed. Just curios as what someone else uses. Always looking to learn something new! :laughing: I haven't bought or had opportunity to try sonic parts wash. Do they work? What brand/model would you recommend for a small idepedent shop?
Click to expand...

Boiling out carburetors can be troublesome and expensive with these chemical baths and agitators. Safety Kleen type comes to mind. Anyway a friend told me about a small engine mechanic using baking soda and hot water boiled on the stove to clean carburetors. I use about 1 tablespoon to about 1/2 pint water. The only thing you have to watch about is to rinse it several times and boil it in clean water to get the residue out. Also it often turns the aluminum and pot metal carbs black / gray but doesn't hurt the carburetors. Been using it for about 3 years now with no problems. Bio Degradable, environmentally safe, not to mention keeping chemicals off the hands and arms which can and do absorb into the body. Could cause health problems down the road with liver, kidney, blood . Welcome to the Forum! Dave


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