carborator cleaning

[Don S]

Search didn't provide any help,so the question is what can carb bodies be soaked in that will remove the crud ( rust,dirt, grease etc ) from all the passageways of the carb body The brass float hanger is to be concerned with so whatever the cleaner is shouldn't harm brass.I have several that need cleaning before rebuilding. Thanks

[Tom Wesenberg]

Molasses eats the rust without hurting the brass. I seem to recall Vince had shown some pictures of a nicely cleaned carb by using electrolysis. I've been sandblasting my carbs and blowing through the passages. I've had to remove the brass plugs on some carbs. I wonder how Derusto would work?

[jhowes]

Tell us about molasses, do you thin it with water and how long can a part soak?

[Tom Wesenberg]

I'm not sure with houshold liquid molasses, but I went to the feed store and bought a large bag of dry animal molasses. As I recall I used one pail of molasses and about 4 pails of hot water and stir it up. Then drop in the rusty parts with no grease or oil on them. I used a dark blue plastic tub and set it in the hot summer sun for about a week. Then pull out the parts and rinse with hot water and blow dry. Flash rusting will begin immediately, so paint, oil, or plate the parts right away.

[PetesPonies]

Molasses contains phosphoric acid. It a small amount. Just get some acid and not mess with the gooey, sticky stuff. No magic here, just phosphoric acid.

[jmeckel]

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I take them fully apart, other than the brass plugs, then glass bead blast them. I then soak them in commercial carb cleaner (made by GUNK, comes in 1 gal can with a strainer), blow all passage ways out with compressed air, glass bead blast again and then run small wire gas welder cleaner wires through all passage ways, and chase all threads with the proper sized taps. Again blow out all passage ways with air.

Takes some time but it has worked well for me.

[buddridge]

I used a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water...let them soak overnight...happy with results

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Flash rusting will begin immediately, so paint, oil, or plate the parts right away.

A hot plate, set on LOW, a metal can filled with TSP or Tide & water cleans well for me. Rusting will form right before your eyes as you rinse it Dipped it in vinegar, rinsed it, & shot that dude with WD-40! Washed it with lacquer thinner, painted it & the paint ain't fell off,YET! Bill W.
Chief tole me about those "little men" that runs in the wires, makin' electrical things happen, but he forgot to tell me about those "little kids" in the carbonator!

[Elcastor]

Straight ammonia works really good! Soak for a day of two. They say after about 5 days, it could hurt the brass.

[Don S]

Thanks for the suggestions,I will post results.

[ursus]

Here's what I do:
1. Use engine cleaner and a wire brush to clean off the dirt, then rinse off with hot water.
2. Dismantle and remove bottom plug, jets, and choke & throttle plates.
3. Blow passages clear with the spray nozzle of carb cleaner and small brushes and pieces of wire.
4. Soak overnight in a lid-covered gallon paint can full of acetone to remove fuel residue and external paint. Remove and blow out passages with compressed air.
5. Place in a sealable plastic container with enough Rustsolve to cover and leave overnight. Then, rinse and brush surfaces under hot water.
6. Place back in the acetone bucket for an hour, remove and blow dry.

You now should have a paint, gunk, and rust free casting.

[Don S]

Thanks Ursus, another choice

[glenn in camino]

In 1960 when I was a senior in high school I took an auto shop class hoping to learn something about auto repair and maintenance. As it turned out, most of the class could barely read the text book so most of our time in class was spent reading out loud and taking spelling tests. That's where I learned to spell carburetor. I mean no disrespect, I guess I'm just showing off.