Carb cleaner

neverfear · Feb 18, 2012

Lacquer thinner? Does it work as good as the NAPA carb cleaner in a pail?
I need to dip a carb today and I'm looking for a cost effective cleaner. Thanks

MarkB_MI · Feb 18, 2012

Lacquer thinner is all I've ever used. Methyl-ethyl ketone (MEK) works good, too.

Texasmark1 · Feb 18, 2012

Berryman's Chem Tool in the can. Probably more expensive than CC but full of nasty's that hate varnish. Works if Lacq clean doesn't.

Mark

Goose · Feb 18, 2012

Laquer thinner will work OK, but it's not water soluble for rinsing like commercial dips.

Best stuff I ever used was a water soluble paint remover I mis-appropriated in the Marine Corps. Only thing was, a buddy of mine found out the hard way it would eat the plastic handles off of screwdrivers.

rustyfarmall · Feb 18, 2012

(quoted from post at 06:57:04 02/18/12) Berryman's Chem Tool in the can. Probably more expensive than CC but full of nasty's that hate varnish. Works if Lacq clean doesn't.

Mark

Hot water with dish soap works MUCH better than Berryman's.

PJH · Feb 18, 2012

I haven't bought any laquer thinner in ages, so I don't know the cost, but I noticed that the local WalMart had carb cleaner in the gallon can - same brand that I bought at the local auto parts store, but several bucks cheaper. Mebbe about $16?? Can't remember exactly. I think I gave around $25 at the parts store. Some folks won't buy from WalMart, so it might be a moot point.

Dalex · Feb 18, 2012

I'm with Mark , Soak in Laq.thinner and spray it clean with more in a solvent gun

Duner Wi · Feb 18, 2012

I cooked a very rusty, greasy, and dirty Zenith for 36 hours in slow cooker last week end. Dawn dish soap with a little vinegar added sure made it look pretty. Most of the rust was gone but still needed a little heat on very rusty screws.

Tony Griffey · Feb 18, 2012

Use some vinegar mixed with Lemon Juice and dish soap.

rustyfarmall · Feb 18, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:34:30 02/18/12) Use some vinegar mixed with Lemon Juice and dish soap.

I'm going to remember that trick.

Dick L · Feb 18, 2012

Actually NO. The carburetor cleaner will desolve more crud than lacquer thinner.

I boil them in soap water first then let them set in the Carburetor cleaner. Rinse in water, blow dry and assemble after checkeing all the openings for any thing not removed.

I boil them in the soap water before trying to remove any jets. Then remove them while the carburetor is still almost to warm to handle without gloves.

neverfear · Feb 18, 2012

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I have it cooking on the stove in the kitchen right now! But I got "the look" from the wife.

Dick L · Feb 18, 2012

Ya, I under stand that. I use a hot plate out in the shed. I did stuff like that for a while after my late wife died. Not a good idea witha woman in the house.

^D Not that I havn't tried some of that stuff.

36F30 · Feb 18, 2012

Most auto stores carry a 3 quart kit in a one gallon paint can, comes with a small parts basket. GUNK makes one that is kinda like a thin gel. Works well.

greygoat · Feb 19, 2012

And another idea!... I use a gas welder tip
cleaner..the one that has about 15 different
sizes of fine wires, for cleaning the holes/
orfices in tips...run it through the carb
passages to be sure that they're clear.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 19, 2012

1 pound of lye in 3 gallon of water,[put mixture in a heavy plastic bucket] let soak 12 to 24 hrs works great,plus you can use it over and over.

Texasmark1 · Feb 19, 2012

You're talking about removing varnish that is caked in a carb with
soap, even if it made for greasy pots and pans, and water as
compared to some very violent chemicals? I never tried your way
but I do know mine works and it works fast.

But you know more about your way than I do so......so be it.

Mark

Inno · Feb 20, 2012

I'd like to see some before and after pics with the different methods.

rustyfarmall · Feb 21, 2012

(quoted from post at 21:38:17 02/20/12) I'd like to see some before and after pics with the different methods.

If you use the Berryman's, the after picture will be just like the before picture, except the carburetor will be wet and gooey.

Texasmark1 · Feb 21, 2012

We must be purchasing a different brand of Berryman's Chem Tool.
When I get finished using it, after I flush out the old bowl of crud
the product dissolved, and wash down with a clean solution, when
finished blow drying it with my air compressor, the inside of the
carb is totally dry, no residue of any kind and almost looks dusty.

Mark

rustyfarmall · Feb 22, 2012

(quoted from post at 16:51:13 02/21/12) We must be purchasing a different brand of Berryman's Chem Tool.
When I get finished using it, after I flush out the old bowl of crud
the product dissolved, and wash down with a clean solution, when
finished blow drying it with my air compressor, the inside of the
carb is totally dry, no residue of any kind and almost looks dusty.

Mark

Or maybe the carbs you are cleaning did not come off of fence row tractors?

The GUNK brand of 30 years ago would do in one hour what the Berryman's of today will NOT do in 3 days.

Texasmark1 · Feb 24, 2012

Well sir, I'll have to give you that. It has been several years since I
did a carb, and were 50ish years old, but none were fence rows. I
still use the spray and it works on small jobs, but not used with
respect to carburetor restoration.

Mark

36F30 · Feb 26, 2012

Matthew in Ohio · Mar 5, 2012

Purple power and the Ultrasonic cleaner works good too ive had good luck with that setup on all types of carbs..and its water soluble too

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