TheSamba.com :: View topic - How do you clean a carburetor? Boil it? Wire brush it?

Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:40 pm

Okay, so no to using water to rinse it off and don't soak it overnight in the carb cleaner? I'll just spray and scrub and dry off with compressed air - thanks for the quick reply.

Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:44 pm

I let it soak for 4 hours max, agitating periodically (the sander sounds like a great ideal - have to try it next time). After soak, blow through all the passages with Berkebile B101 Gum Cutter. I then give it a final "rinse" off with Brakleen .. not sure if that does anything or not but makes me feel good about it. Then a final blow through with compressed air.

Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:05 pm

PJ_1600 wrote: Resurrecting this thread from last summer - question - after carb cleaner soaking should you rinse with water , then blow out with compressed air, or is rinsing the carb cleaner off with water needed? Likely stupid question but doing this for the first time. Thanks.
Instructions are written on the can. Rinse with water. Some metals may need to be treated after the dip to prevent corrosion.

I spray passages out with carb cleaner after the dip to make sure they are clear.

Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:18 pm

I've always used the Gunk dip, my resident carb expert prefers the Berryman .. even though both have been reformulated to the "California" blend at my local parts stores ..

Don't remember ever reading anything about water, but I only skimmed the directions long enough to read not to soak longer than 4 hours on the Berryman IIRC ..

Might need to sift through the shop and dig up the cans and see what they actually say.

Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:53 pm

ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:01 pm

Q-Dog - are you saying there may be some leftover cleaner absorbed by the metal that could cause corrosion down the road? I did wonder that being that the material the solex carb is made of seems a bit porous.

Unfortunately I could not locate any Berryman product in my neck of the woods (Alberta, Canada) so I put the stripped carb in a old butter tub and used a whole spray can of Gunk carb cleaner and have been marinating and scrubbing it for the last few hours with an old toothbrush. The brush and plastic tub have not melted yet so I think it is all good. All this said, I had no instructions to go on as far as rinsing with water after cleaning so if this is important I'd sure appreciate hearing from someone with access to a carb dunking product can. Thanks!

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:11 pm

Lately I've been cleaning it with a can of carb cleaner on the side of the road.... All broke down like. Some braided steel wire that is thin and smooth goes through hole to clear crud. Then a dude named Martin, who fixes sewing machines stops and explains the inner workings of Solex carbs to you. Turns out it was hodgepodge electric fuel pump is bad, but now my carb is cleaner :lol:

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:41 pm

Oooo-kay. :shock: Can anyone give me a confirmation of the need to rinse off the carb cleaner with water? :)

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:52 pm

Only seen it removed with air hose from compressor...

Couple hundred videos on YouTube about rebuilding soles carbs and !ost of them involve and show that dip cleaner, none of them used water...

Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:56 pm

The carbs shops used to have a zinc based spray "paint" to seal protect the carb.. but I havent found the stuff in years.. same with cadmium paint for the brake booster... any one ever found a good replacement??

Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:52 pm

I like giving cleaned parts a light spritz of clear coat. Sure it doesn't look as nice as polished parts, but it does stay looking nice for months longer with no maintenance.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:52 am

Obviously no one reads directions any more. Rinse with water.

Your carb won't be damaged by a clean water rinse. Dry it off thoroughly and blow out the passages before you put it back together.

My buggy lives outdoors ... gets rained on all the time and I wash the engine with a hose regularly. The carb won't get damaged by clear water.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 7:59 am

Well, as I said, I have no directions to read therefore I asked the question but thanks Q-Dog for the confirmation. I'll go with your advice.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:40 am

I just had the parts store send over a can of the Berryman 0996 Carb Dip ..

Quote: Berryman Chem Dip is a highly effective carburetor and parts cleaner that removes most varnish, residue, and other deposits from carburetors and other metal parts in 15 to 30 minutes without agitation. Carbon residue on valves, pistons, and other engine parts may require longer cleaning times. Chem-Dip is safe to use with most metals and alloys. Limit soak time of coated aluminum finishes to a maximum of 4 hours. Cast iron and low-alloy steel parts should be coated with penetrating oil, such as Berryman E-Z Doz It, after rinsing to prevent flash rusting. Do not spill on painted surfaces. Keep container tightly sealed between uses.
Directions: Remove all rubber and plastic parts. Submerge parts to be cleaned in Chem-Dip and allow them to soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Remove parts and rinse with water For exceptionally carboned or corroded parts, allow longer soak time; some brushing may be necessary. Rinse with water DO NOT SOAK COATED ALUMINUM PARTS OVER 4 HOURS.

Q-Dog is vindicated .. I guess we should all stop and take 5 seconds to read instructions now and then :lol:

Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:20 am

Awesome - thanks much!!

Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:22 am

cseay1 wrote: I guess we should all stop and take 5 seconds to read instructions now and then :lol:

And why would we do that when we can write two pages of mindless blathering about something as rudimentary as how to clean a carburetor :wink:

-jeffrey

Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:39 am

When you rinse with water, use HOT water. It will heat up the metal during rinsing, then will make the water dry super fast once you're done.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:49 pm

I use this mantra even when washing floors.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:13 pm

Why not rinse the carb out with a bit of spare gas after instead of water? It is cheap, and easy to dispose of after (burn it)

Wed Jul 30, 2014 5:29 pm

Water is cheaper.

-jeffrey