cleaning carburator

[9711waving]

Is there any way ro check if a carburator needs cleaning or after cleaning is there any way to check that everything is okay before firing it up<br /><br />Thanks

 

[jim dozier]

Re: cleaning carburator

Proof is usually in the running. I feel a common mistake is incomplete carb cleaning. Someone has an engine that displays classic carburetor problems and the guys says "its not the carbs cause I cleaned them". JB said it best the other day when he compared it to asking a kid if he cleaned behind his ears.

 

[rabidfish]

Re: cleaning carburator

Jim is correct, most carb overhauls are not finished to completion. It is important to complete all the steps to insure trouble free operation. A lot of good mechanics overhaul carbs without even knowing why. If the carb has a specific problem, address that problem, then continue on with the carb cleaning/overhaul.<br /><br />The only way to check if it needs cleaning is if it isn't working properly. Is the engine running sluggish/not at all? You might also remove the bowl drains and inspect for gum/varnish build-up.<br /><br />After cleaning, you should do a visual inspection.<br />This includes examining every nook and cranny for debris, etc... Look especially close at the small orifices that pass either fuel or air. Blow through them with compressed air ( about 30psi )<br />Also, try a small "probe" light. You can find them at Sears, or most good auto parts stores.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: cleaning carburator

Its hard to imagine how small some of the passages are in some of these carbs.<br /><br />I recently bought an entire intake and carb assy off Ebay for my Merc 150, I wanted to completly go through them, reeds and all and then change the whole thing over this spring. I saw first hand how things get gummed up inside a carb that has set around for a while.<br />I had to literally pull the needles out of the seats with long nose pliers, and there was garbage inside the bowls that pealed off like paint with paint remover on it. Very easy to see how if you were to try and fire an engine with carbs this bad how it would really plug things up. It is vital that you soak the carb or carbs in a good carb cleaner at least overnight, Not so sure it wouldnt be a good Idea to do it twice after you inicialy clean them the first time to make sure you are getting everything clean. Compressed air is vital in my opinion to blow things out.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: cleaning carburator

hello<br /> OMC did not reccomend soaking in cleaner for carbs since sometime in the late 60's early 70's. I will soak the metal fuel bowls but not the carb body. I also blow everything out with the aerosol claener then air. but its imperative that all gum/varnish be removed.

 

[rayjay]

Re: cleaning carburator

I will preface my reply with my background. I spent most of my adult life working on motorcycles for a living. In the later years I had my own dirtbike - atv repair shop. At least 75% of the work was cleaning carbs and the complete fuel system. In some cases I could let a jet soak for days and it would still be blocked. The orifices are so tiny [ .014" +/- ] that the carb cleaner would not penetrate all the way through. <br /><br />Now get ready for the part that will have some here wailing and gnashing their teeth. <br /><br />I would have to use a "small wire" to poke out the center of the blockage. You can actually buy tools designed for this. They are much like a torch cleaning kit but with some tiny probes. The main thing is to use a probe smaller than the orifice. This way you don't damage the jet. After you get a hole through the blockage you can throw the jet in the carb cleaner and in a while it would be clean and ready to go.<br /><br />Modern gas is just SO bad that the deposits left are much more resistent to cleaning than back in the bad old days of leaded premium. <br /><br />I liked the ones that would come in " I know it's not the carb, I just cleaned it" and the carb would be clean as a pin on the outside. Take the bowl off and the green slime would try to bite your fingers.