Carb Cleaning

[sugarbush]

The over the counter carb cleaners are all just about useless now days. Gunk makes a carb dip that is decent, but it runs about 30.00 a gallon which is a lot if you are only doing one carb. Many will probably object, but boiling in Lemon juice is about the best carb cleaner available and only cost about 1.00 per quart. I have done many of dozens of carbs this way, mostly snowmobile carbs and it works better than any carb cleaner/dip available.

Remove all your gaskets, needle valve, float and jets, Place the dissembled carb in a pot of lemon juice and place on the burner of your outside grill, boil for 15-20 minutes, rinse well with cold water and for best results dry with compressed air.

[Don McCombs]

Berrymans Chem Dip at Walmart, less than $20.

[bob in CT]

The over the counter carb cleaners are all just about useless now days. Gunk makes a carb dip that is decent, but it runs about 30.00 a gallon which is a lot if you are only doing one carb. Many will probably object, but boiling in Lemon juice is about the best carb cleaner available and only cost about 1.00 per quart. I have done many of dozens of carbs this way, mostly snowmobile carbs and it works better than any carb cleaner/dip available.

Remove all your gaskets, needle valve, float and jets, Place the dissembled carb in a pot of lemon juice and place on the burner of your outside grill, boil for 15-20 minutes, rinse well with cold water and for best results dry with compressed air.

Same as vinegar. Just a different acid- acetic acid vs citric acid.

[TomE]

I got a gallon of Gunk today. After all the warnings I as staying away from the TSC kit, even though it would be the easiest way to get one.

Thanks for all the advice. This was a lot of great information.

[sugarbush]

Lemon juice isn't quite as caustic as Vinegar.

[bob in CT]

Actually, it is pretty close, but lemon juice is slightly more acidic according to the ph chart. The lower the number the more acidic it is. Surprised me.

2.0 - Lemon Juice
2.2 - Vinegar

I am sure that you are not hurting anything by keeping a close watch on the clock. Putting it in and going on vacation may not be a good idea.

[clodhopper]

Here is some info you might find helpful.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=73999&hilit=+carb

EDIT: This is what a soda blasted carb will look like on the cub. Of course you can paint it if you like...

[Rick Spivey]

Just a note, if it is truly JB Weld holding the fitting in, the Berryman's or other carb cleaner will remove that for you.

[Rudi]

Ask Larry aka Buzzard Wing about pot metal carbs and vinegar...




pics courtesy Larry D

[clodhopper]

Can I get another vote for soda blasting? I think that carb (Rudi's post) is now trash.

[panda]

Soda blasting is easy if you have compressed air. Only way to go.

[sugarbush]

Dang Rudi... How many years did that carb get left in the Vinegar for? Also before any carb cleaning all of the fittings/gaskets need to be removed... That is the first mistake and the second is the person in question obviously soaked this carb way too long.

[Rudi]

Actually not long. I think he left it overnight IIRC. This was a number of years ago. We chuckle about it now sort of but it was a huge deal back when it happened. Unfortunately the carb was destroyed.

Remember something - what works on a lot of carbs on other pieces of equipment will not necessarily work on an IH carb (more accurately a Donaldson Carb as that is who made them for IH). M-S, Carter and Zenith are not made from the same alloys, so the reactions to some cleaners will be different. There are a lot of preconceived notions that come from other hobbies that simply do not apply to our Cubs. So when the guys (some of us have been playing with these things for a decade or 2 or 3) indicated something is not a good idea, it usually pays to listen. I know that is one of the first things I did when I first became a member of this community was pay attention to what the guru's told me - I still listen cause I am still learning.

You can't always remove the needle and cage, sometimes they are sort of stuck due to varnish. In carb cleaner, the varnish goes away and then you can safely remove the needle and cage without any damage.

This is one of the reasons why I won't use anything but Berryman's. For me to do that, means Don McCombs had to go buy me a gallon and bring it to Cecil's. It then went to Maine where I picked it up. It is not available in Canada. Why I do not know, but it simply isn't. Seems the FDA won't let it get exported. However it is the best carb cleaner I have come across (thanks Don ) and the safest for a pot metal carb. I have the NAPA brand as well .. that is the most foul smelling, difficult and caustic cleaner I have come across. I haven't used it since I got the Berryman's - I may end up simply taking it to my HazMat recycling depot and just get rid of it. Another $35.00 down the toilet .. but it really needs to go

[Lurker Carl]

Modern "environmentally friendly" carburetor cleaners are only good for a short time after opening. It will absorb water from the atmosphere and corrodes the can very quickly from the inside. What happens to the porch decking when the can leaks is very unfriendly.

[bob in CT]

What happens to the porch decking when the can leaks is very unfriendly.

As told to you by your neighbor, right?