cleaning carbs

Mark W. · Sep 22, 2008

Is it safe to soak a carb. in mineral spirits or paint thinner? I have a pretty dirty zenith that I need to rebuild and NAPA wants $50 for the bucket and basket.

Bob · Sep 22, 2008

Of course, if you have all the gaskets and rubber parts removed.

Won't clean a really messed up car as good as the real stuff, though.

Glen D Anderson · Sep 22, 2008

50 dollars well spent.........like Bob said, nothing works as well..............

Anonymous-0 · Sep 22, 2008

What kind of carb is it? If you have a J. D. carb you have to clean out the interior passages with drill bits. Its also good to glass-bead the body of the carb. Then install the new parts kit.
If you have a Marvin-Schebler carb, some have internal passages also and have to be cleaned with a drill bit or very small wire brush.
The NAPA kit can not remove the rust and varnish that coats these internal passages.

Mark W. · Sep 22, 2008

It is a Zenith

Anonymous-0 · Sep 22, 2008

Low buck cleaning. Couple cans of spray carb cleaner . Spray most off with carb cleaner ,then soak it in Muretic acid , good rinse in hot water . For lime or rust , toilet cleaner works good to . Just make sure it's cast parts , no aluminum , or don't leave in very long . Acid and toilet cleaner will discolor the metal .

Goose · Sep 22, 2008

This is not in line with this particular issue, but once when I was in the Marine Corps, I decided the carb on my car needed cleaning.

I scrounged around the work area and found a half full five gallon can of water soluble paint remover. I misappropriated it, took it back to the SNCO quarters and used it in a bucket same as carb dip. While I was reassembling the carb, another guy was hanging around. He asked if that bucket of paint remover would work to clean tools, too. I told him I didn't see why not.

He therefore emptied his tool box into the bucket of paint remover and let it sit while I assembled my carb. When he emptied his tools back out of the bucket, he found the plastic handles were gone off of all of his screwdrivers.

old · Sep 22, 2008

Shop around a bit more. The last time I got some it was a gal. can with basket and cost about half that. Its Berrymans Brand carb cleaner and it will last for years if stored the correct way. Seen way to many carbs that where not rebuilt the right way and they had to be redone over again and that can add up in time and parts if the mess up a gasket etc
Hobby farm

Don L C · Sep 22, 2008

Try Simple Green, it's water based and very good......At Lowes.....

bc · Sep 22, 2008

The gallon dip can of carb cleaner is only about $20. Saw an ad the other day for 5 gals of the cleaner for flowing parts washers for about $36. Not sure that is as good as the dip stuff. Blow out all passages before, during, and after the dip to made sure they are clear.

cleaning carbs

Mark W.

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Bob

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Glen D Anderson

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Anonymous-0

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Mark W.

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Anonymous-0

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Goose

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old

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Don L C

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bc

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