quawk
2nd Gear
Posts: 150
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Post by quawk on Nov 3, 2021 1:03:12 GMT -5
Post after post on this forum indicate that many or most problems with the carburetor arise from it not being pristinely clean internally and the best method for cleaning is to use an ultrasonic cleaner. I have a medical quality, made in the U.S.A. ultrasonic cleaner I purchased many years ago for cleaning carbs, and it has worked very well. Was wondering what others are using as a solution in their cleaners. I believe a saw a post from Wayne that stated he used WD40 with good results. When I was considering purchasing an ultrasonic cleaner, I read somewhere that a simple test to see if a cleaner was working properly was to submerge a piece of aluminum foil in the cleaning solution after turning in on. In a short time, maybe 5 to 10 minutes, remove the foil and if your cleaner is working, the foil should be perforated with small holes. I do this little test most of the times that I go to use the cleaner. When I went to clean the carb on my bike I thought I would fill the ultrasonic cleaner tank with carb cleaner. I had several gallons of Mac's brand carb cleaner purchased from NAPA. I rotated the carb through several positions while in the cleaner, and had it in the cleaner for maybe three hours. After removal, just for kicks I did the foil test. After being submerged for 30+ minutes the foil was still not perforated. Any other time I did this little test it had worked. Out of curiosity I drained the carb cleaner and filled the tank with Purple Power cleaner which I have used before. As before, in about 5 to 10 minutes the foil was perforated. I'm puzzled as to why the foil would not become perforated when using carb cleaner in the tank, but would , as before, when using the Purple Power. Anyway, as I mentioned before, was wondering what others were using as a solution in their cleaners.
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Post by wayne on Nov 3, 2021 16:00:19 GMT -5
It seems from my little research "pick your poison". So many different solutions seem to work. Interesting what you found with the carb cleaner. I know it's dangerous to use flammable liquids and I watch very closely with WD40. The fluid temp rises from ambient to 80 deg C from the process alone (I don't let it go higher).
An aviation mechanic told me they use turpentine. I know people who used two different types, a detergent based fluid for cleaning grime and externals and a different product on the assumption that fuel residues may be harder to remove (such as WD40 which can act as a solvent).
I have tried the foil test with water and it works but I'll try it with different fluids. Perhaps there's a certain range of viscosities that the cleaner needs as it's the high temperature bubbles that apparently are doing the work, not the fluid itself.
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Post by wayne on Nov 3, 2021 23:58:47 GMT -5
Just had a mate drop me a line and said "this is the stuff to use" according to his contact with a fair bit of Ultrasonic experience. I believe this product has come up before: Simple Green (All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate). How much to use? Doesn't much matter, experiment but generally smaller amounts. NB: apparently this stuff may erode aluminium. Too long in the tank and it darkens the aluminium and possibly starts to erode it. Use with caution.
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quawk
2nd Gear
Posts: 150
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Post by quawk on Nov 4, 2021 11:42:30 GMT -5
Wayne, the Purple Power cleaner that I spoke of using in my previous post, although I'm no chemist, I believe is similar to simple green. It is also an all purpose, biodegradable, cleaner/degreaser. I did notice when removed from the cleaner the first time, and then dried with compressed air, there were traces of a white chalky dried on substance in some spots left behind. I felt this substance was a remnant of the cleaner. After another trip through the cleaner and then thoroughly rinsing first in water, then spraying with penetrating oil, then drying with compressed air it seemed to remove these remnant white spots. As you say it may be a pick your poison decision as what to use.
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Post by timpa136 on Nov 4, 2021 11:54:04 GMT -5
Wayne, the Purple Power cleaner that I spoke of using in my previous post, although I'm no chemist, I believe is similar to simple green. It is also an all purpose, biodegradable, cleaner/degreaser. I did notice when removed from the cleaner the first time, and then dried with compressed air, there were traces of a white chalky dried on substance in some spots left behind. I felt this substance was a remnant of the cleaner. After another trip through the cleaner and then thoroughly rinsing first in water, then spraying with penetrating oil, then drying with compressed air it seemed to remove these remnant white spots. As you say it may be a pick your poison decision as what to use. It is very difficult to clean a carburetor that is really clogged. The fuel passages are hidden and subject to clogging . Tim |
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Post by wayne on Nov 4, 2021 21:36:03 GMT -5
Wayne, the Purple Power cleaner that I spoke of using in my previous post, although I'm no chemist, I believe is similar to simple green. It is also an all purpose, biodegradable, cleaner/degreaser. I did notice when removed from the cleaner the first time, and then dried with compressed air, there were traces of a white chalky dried on substance in some spots left behind. I felt this substance was a remnant of the cleaner. After another trip through the cleaner and then thoroughly rinsing first in water, then spraying with penetrating oil, then drying with compressed air it seemed to remove these remnant white spots. As you say it may be a pick your poison decision as what to use. I've found the same with WD40. It doesn't quite harden but leaves a residue if left too long. I do the ultrasound, then wash the carb in filtered fuel and then blow it out with compressed air before fitting. |
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Post by tom93gts on Nov 16, 2021 14:03:57 GMT -5
The Simple Green is great in the ultrasonic cleaner but use on aluminum with caution. If you submerge a part in there for too long it will first discolor to a dark gray then can start to erode the aluminum.
I currently have ZEP citrus degreaser in mine, it seems to work well but I don't know yet if it will attack aluminum the way Simple Green does.
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Post by wayne on Nov 16, 2021 16:01:10 GMT -5
The Simple Green is great in the ultrasonic cleaner but use on aluminum with caution. If you submerge a part in there for too long it will first discolor to a dark gray then can start to erode the aluminum. I currently have ZEP citrus degreaser in mine, it seems to work well but I don't know yet if it will attack aluminum the way Simple Green does. A warning worth noting. Not much goes in my cleaner that isn't aluminium. I'll add it to the post directly. Thanks Tom. |
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