Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-16-2016, 08:52 AM   #1
Vanspeed
Senior Member
 
Vanspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suttons Bay, Mich.
Posts: 3,384
Default Best way to clean out a carb?

My 94 has been on an engine that last ran in 1961. I completely dissasembled it and I am in the process of cleaning it up. In the bottom of the bowl is a heavy scale. I have had it dunked in carb cleaner for 24 hours and it is doing nothing to the scale. It is a very hard white substance, hard to scrap off even using a blade. What action should I take next?
__________________
Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.
Vanspeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:59 AM   #2
1952henry
Senior Member
 
1952henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,611
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Soak it in acetone, when completely dry, bead blast it thoroughly. Blow out all passages with compressed air. Then hit all passages with some cheap aerosol carb cleaner. You do have to completely take the carburetor apart, including the check valves. Otherwise you run the risk of having some glass beads get lodged behind and blocking them.


__________________
I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

Last edited by 1952henry; 02-16-2016 at 09:06 AM.
1952henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 02-16-2016, 09:13 AM   #3
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Bead blasting it will take away the protective oxidecoating so will caustic cleaning.
If its just the bowl area some blasting in there sounds like a plan.
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 09:18 AM   #4
1952henry
Senior Member
 
1952henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,611
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by flatheadmurre View Post
Bead blasting it will take away the protective oxidecoating so will caustic cleaning.
If its just the bowl area some blasting in there sounds like a plan.
True, but I re-chromate them. I remember seeing some well-known carburetor-builder from the Seattle area who always had a booth at the Portland swap meet. All of his were blasted, from the texture they looked sand blasted and left raw. Given the limited environment and run times these cars see, I think even left unprotected, the owners would weather away before the carburetors would. Just my .02
__________________
I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

Last edited by 1952henry; 02-16-2016 at 09:26 AM.
1952henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 11:44 AM   #5
Lawson Cox
Senior Member
 
Lawson Cox's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia
Posts: 7,009
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Beautymus.
__________________
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes.

It is better to be seen, than viewed.

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".
Lawson Cox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 06:57 PM   #6
Vanspeed
Senior Member
 
Vanspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suttons Bay, Mich.
Posts: 3,384
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
When you say check valves, the only thing I see is the ball under the accelerator pump. Are their others?
__________________
Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.
Vanspeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:00 PM   #7
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Another one under the acc pump nozzles.
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:06 PM   #8
Vanspeed
Senior Member
 
Vanspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suttons Bay, Mich.
Posts: 3,384
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by flatheadmurre View Post
Another one under the acc pump nozzles.
I cannot see that one, maybe too much crud blocking my view.
__________________
Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.
Vanspeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:10 PM   #9
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Looks like a needle valve with the point down probably stuck you should be able to see the rounded back end of it.
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:20 PM   #10
1952henry
Senior Member
 
1952henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,611
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

If either the ball or inverted needle are stuck, hold the body upside down and smack it on a hard wood surface. Make sure to hit it "square" so you don't tweak a side or corner. I've applied some concentrated light persuasion with a small hammer a time or two.
__________________
I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.
1952henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:34 PM   #11
Vanspeed
Senior Member
 
Vanspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suttons Bay, Mich.
Posts: 3,384
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Ok needle is out but I see no ball.
__________________
Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.
Vanspeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:39 PM   #12
Walt Dupont--Me.
Senior Member
 
Walt Dupont--Me.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gardiner Me.
Posts: 4,200
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

After removing all the ball and needle valve glass bead the body, then use a guitar string B or small E go through the passages, blow the passages. Walt
Walt Dupont--Me. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:40 PM   #13
Shoebox
Senior Member
 
Shoebox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Holmen,Wisconsin
Posts: 772
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

I would find a shop that has an ultrasonic cleaner. Many motorcycle shops have one. Parts come out absolutely pristine.
__________________
I went, I saw, I bought the T shirt

51 Ford Deluxe Tudor
32 Ford roadster
39 Mercury Towncar
Shoebox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 07:41 PM   #14
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Under the acc pump nozzle there should only be the needle so youre done there

Last edited by flatheadmurre; 02-16-2016 at 08:12 PM. Reason: A missing word put back where it was intended
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:00 PM   #15
Walt Dupont--Me.
Senior Member
 
Walt Dupont--Me.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gardiner Me.
Posts: 4,200
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by flatheadmurre View Post
Under the acc pump there should only be the needle so youre done there
Wrong. Under the pump is a small steel ball, there is a wire ring holding it down, you have to take hook or stiff wire with a hook on it and pull the ring out then turn the body over and tap it on board to get the ball out. The brass needle is under the discharge squirters. Walt
Walt Dupont--Me. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:04 PM   #16
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me. View Post
Wrong. Under the pump is a small steel ball, there is a wire ring holding it down, you have to take hook or stiff wire with a hook on it and pull the ring out then turn the body over and tap it on board to get the ball out. The brass needle is under the discharge squirters. Walt
Yep should have wrote acc pump nozzle...
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:22 PM   #17
flatheadmurre
Senior Member
 
flatheadmurre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

For getting the ball under the acc pump out i use a drillbit ground to a U shape.
After taking the crud away over and on the side of the ball its easier to get it out.
flatheadmurre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:30 PM   #18
Vanspeed
Senior Member
 
Vanspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suttons Bay, Mich.
Posts: 3,384
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Great info guys, thanks a ton! I see the spring holding the ball down. I think I have got everything else covered. thanks for the guitar string idea!
__________________
Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.
Vanspeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:43 PM   #19
jake197000
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 349
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

.many times the air horn is warped as is the bowl top and bottom ck them out.they can be carefully machined if needed.be careful not to overtighten them.also make sure the power valve gasket is correct or it will leak and run rich.if not sure ask for help.lots of smart guys on here.
jake197000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2016, 08:57 PM   #20
Ronnie
Senior Member
 
Ronnie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Canada Where it snows
Posts: 2,058
Default Re: Best way to clean out a carb?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanspeed View Post
My 94 has been on an engine that last ran in 1961. I completely dissasembled it and I am in the process of cleaning it up. In the bottom of the bowl is a heavy scale. I have had it dunked in carb cleaner for 24 hours and it is doing nothing to the scale. It is a very hard white substance, hard to scrap off even using a blade. What action should I take next?

Go to u tube and build a soda blaster.
I have done many items with great results.

R
Ronnie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:09 AM.