Carburetor cleaner

[Fi8spider]

Hi guys, I'm looking to start rebuilding a few carburetors that I have stored over the years, a couple of which I will be using on some projects that I have (solex for the 1100, a couple dcoes for the 128 and an ADF for my mate's Spider). I would like to be able to fully strip them and soak them in a cleaning solution so I am after a bit of help as to what product to use and how best to use it. I use to use a cleaning solution years ago in a workshop I worked at where we use to soak the carbi parts overnight and come morning time they were sparkling clean after a light scrub and a rinse.

I am not fussed about how dangerous the product is to handle as i have all the safety gear to keep me safe and a proper disposal method for any toxic/corrosive fluid after the job is done.

As I'm on the other side of the world your local product names will be helpful as I can research them but I am more interested in the active ingredient and if possible a safe dilution ratio over soak time.

Many thanks all.

[Fi8spider]

If anyone local to me has supplier names that would be most helpful, I'm in Sydney.

[Exit98]

I had a bunch of old 34ADFA's I got from Mick in Tasmania a year or so ago. I found a gallon sized can of carb cleaner that comes with a bucket to immerse the carb bodies into the container. The stuff is pretty thick. You soak the parts for a while then rinse them with water when done. Stuff worked pretty good although I noticed that it lost its strength somewhat by the end. I did four or five whole carbs though. You need to take them apart to fit in the bucket.

Here is a similar product:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... ier=139313

Most auto part chains have their own brand but they probably get it from the same place.

Some of the forums say the new "green" products don't work like they used to. I can believe that, but the old stuff was probably grossly toxic too.

You probably could make your own with gasoline and acetone I suppose but I wouldn't go there.

[Exit98]

Which reminds me, If any of our friends Down Under happen to have a top to an old 34 ADFA lying around I sure could use one. Yours seem to be different than the ones we have up here. Yours have two power spritzers on top of the barrels, ours only has one.

If I had one more top I could assemble another nice 34ADF.

[Fi8spider]

I ended up using a product made in Oz by Chemtech - CT14 Engine and Bilge Degreaser. Active ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide.

I mixed a 20:1 solution in a plastic bucket and tested it out on a scrap manifold to see if it discoloured or if it was too corrosive to the alloy. It lifted the grim and scum quite well after a 8 hour soak, I inspected the metal with a 8x power Lupe magnifier to inspect for any pitting or dulling edges, no signs of metal damage at all.

After mixing a fresh batch I popped the Solex parts in it and after 10 hours and a light scrub on the suborn areas I am mighty cuffed with the results. Parts have been generously rinsed off with running water and blown dry awaiting assembly. Still apprehensive due to the probable differences between the alloy of the test manifold and the carbi I was lifting it out every hour or so to check how it was going. Having a day off work was put to good use as the next few carbis will be soaking as I sleep

I'll get some pics up soon.

[Fi8spider]

She was a skanky looking lump of alloy yesterday, not bad for 55 years old.

[131]

I did similar with my IDFs Con, except with a lot less care, I wasn't particularly perturbed if I stuffed them. I filled a big stainless pot with water, dropped in a dishwasher tablet, brought it to the boil on a gas burner and dropped in the dismantled carbs. Pulled them out an hour later and was pleasantly surprised at the result, a couple of robust rinses in fresh water, waited till management went out and then popped them in a slow oven to dry them out. She hasn't used her big jam pot yet, so I haven't had to explain the discolouring.

[cormac]

seems to be some good information here, and a cleaning formula under the post by Gordon Raymond, actually search and look for posts by Gordon Raymond as he has a lot to say about cleaning carbs


http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/carbure ... ost1149011

[Fi8spider]

Thanks cormac. I've often though of investing in an ultrasonic cleaner and you know what, I think I'll be heading down that path. I like the idea of 70 deg water, a touch of citric and 20 minutes on each side.

Some of the concoctions that people have come up with to get the job done can be a bit hairy.

Although I did all the testing there is nothing to say that the metal differences between one carb manufacturer and the next will be the same. Some of the carbs I'm planning on doing are quite hard to come by and I'm liking the ultrasonic for peace of mind and quality result.

Mick, you're a braver man than me! I think that blowing up the shed would be a safer option than to boil carbies in my wife's cooking pot.