Ultrasonic cleaner; any sugestions ?

Sylva-Ranger

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Hi to everyone
First excuse me for my bad English (I'm french canadian) , i reed your forum every day buts it's the first time i post.....Not sure if in the good section because not specific to a particular engine brand.....

​I do some small engine and outboard repair, i whant to buy a ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning carburators ans some others small parts.

​What to check ? Wich size is ok for carburetor use ? what to know before buy ? Is the cheapers one do the job ? which cleaning solution do you use ?

​Thank you !
 
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Grub54891

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I've been wondering the same thing. I think harbor freight sells them around here, I just haven't tried it yet. There are homemade solution people use too. I'll watch this thread for suggestions!
 

robert graham

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Harbor Freight carries several different sizes and models.....they may have some suggestions for cleaning solutions/solvents but I've heard of folks using all kinds of fluids like Purple Power, Berryman's B-12, Kerosene, etc.,etc.....
 

Sea Rider

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If will be cleaning standard carbs, those can be perfectly cleaned in carb dip, thinner, carb sprays. Inyected OB's are different story specially when cleaning inyectors which are delicate and costly items. Which other parts do you intend to clean using ultrasonic cleaners ?

Happy Boating
 

Sylva-Ranger

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I plant to clean mostly outboard carburetors , and probably fuel injectors to, if it safe for that purpose.
 

Sea Rider

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Are more suitable to clean injectors as in cars than to clean standard carbs which can be disassembled into pieces for individual cleaning with whatever cleaning product you like best.. Just follow manufacturer's instructions along proper cleaning product.

Happy Boating
 

mickyryan

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r gallon bucket with orbital sander attached to it hanging from bungy cord and you will have best ultrasonic cleaner ever :)
no sandpaper attached of course , check on you tube there are a ton of ways to do it and save yourself money in process.
 

Sylva-Ranger

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Some carburetors, especialy 4 strokes, sometimes have many very hard to reach and hiden small fuel passages, and i heard tha ultrasonic cleaner is a goog way to clean them.
 

Sylva-Ranger

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r gallon bucket with orbital sander attached to it hanging from bungy cord and you will have best ultrasonic cleaner ever :)
no sandpaper attached of course , check on you tube there are a ton of ways to do it and save yourself money in process.

​Ha Ha..... Me to i saw that joke, but ultrasonic cleaner have to work a specific HZ to be effective..........And a ultrasonic cleaner heat the liquid to to be more effective.
 

mickyryan

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well it seemed to have worked just fine for cleaning parts and who says you cant heat the luquid before pouring it in the pot:)
 

mickyryan

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there is a brit guy who had a very good video proof cleaning weber downdrafts that way and some old vintage motorcycle carbs .
 

Sea Rider

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Hot water, not boling water though will loosen up, dissolve anything stuck, will need to disassemble carb, remove all plastic, rubber parts and dip both halves parts on a proper container or if preffer spraying direct from hot water faucet individually, afterwords can apply a genereous overdose of carb cleaning spray with canula on all small fuel passages and voil?.

As always run carb's bowl dry on 2 strokes OB's, for me this works spot on. Haven't used dip cleaning products ever.

Happy Boating
 

StarTed

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Years ago I did watch repair and have also worked in an instrument lab.

Ultrasonic cleaners work best if there are close fitting parts or tiny gaps. In other words they work better for cleaning watches that are not disassembled.

Mechanical agitation type cleaners work better for disassembled equipment. Broad surfaces will get nice and shiny with these kinds of cleaners.

Water and tincture of green soap cleans well but needs to be followed by an alcohol rinse to remove all water. It doesn't hurt to blow it dry at the end.

I haven't kept up on cleaning solutions but be sure to remove anything that may be damaged by whatever solution you choose to use.

I've read where one watch factory in Illinois used beer to shine up the plates. No, you don't drink it first.

Square containers work better if you spin a basket inside and reverse it occasionally.

Just some ideas.
 

JoLin

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My BIL has a harbor freight model (don't know what size) that he says works really well. One thing he advised, is that whatever you use as a cleaner/solvent, dilute it precisely as the instructions specify. Most people mistakenly believe that a stronger solution cleans better. Not true. The solutions NEED a sufficient amount of water to work well.

My .02
 
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