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Thread: Boiling a Carburetor

  1. #1
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    Boiling a Carburetor

    I am curious if anyone here has boiled their carburetor and if it worked or not. What is a safe way to do it and how is it done? I just heard about this technique recently and am curious to find out more information about it. When would you want to use this technique? For a modestly dirty carburetor or only those that are seriously fouled?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    I can't say I've ever heard of anyone doing this..

    Kinda makes you wonder why?? Since boiling water would do little or nothing to remove hard dry varnish in an old carb..maybe soften it a bit.

    The commercial carb cleaners would do a much better job..

    If you have a really fouled carb a barrel of good old fashion carb soak is the thing..smell like hell, but sure does work!!
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  3. #3
    murfman is offline Just Too Addicted Arm chair racerJust too addicted
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    Quote Originally Posted by dougspcs View Post
    I can't say I've ever heard of anyone doing this..

    Kinda makes you wonder why?? Since boiling water would do little or nothing to remove hard dry varnish in an old carb..maybe soften it a bit.

    The commercial carb cleaners would do a much better job..

    If you have a really fouled carb a barrel of good old fashion carb soak is the thing..smell like hell, but sure does work!!
    ^X2^
    Chem dip carb cleaner in a 1 gallon can with the built in basket. I disassemble the carb and throw it in the can overnight, and spray out every port with aerosol carb cleaner. I follow that by blowing it dry with compressed air, works every time, no matter how gunked up the thing was. I have heard about boiling carbs out in a water/ vinegar mix, but never tried it myself.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    i used to boil carbs all the time and have had good results every time.but like said,the carb dip is alot easier and works just as good.
    Signature pic removed,becuase of no helmet.

  5. #5
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    How do you do it? Distilled water and vinegar or just tap water?

  6. #6
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    I bought a small electrosonic cleaner for jewelry and use vinegar/tap water as a solution. It works good for me. I have soaked real dirty carbs in the carb dip pail and then gone to the sonic cleaner

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by zainyD View Post
    I am curious if anyone here has boiled their carburetor and if it worked or not. What is a safe way to do it and how is it done? I just heard about this technique recently and am curious to find out more information about it. When would you want to use this technique? For a modestly dirty carburetor or only those that are seriously fouled?

    Thanks!
    I had a carb that was terminal and nothing to lose, so I boiled it. Actually more like
    dropped it into water that had just been boiled.

    Everything was so sticky and gummed up that no chemicals would loosen it.
    250 es carb, btw, lots of funky linkages.
    It had been sprayed so many times with whatever that it was like dipped in honey.

    It came out all nice and snappy and gunk free but I still had to
    blow and clear the jets and passages.
    Also took out stuff like the floats so they wouldn't get warped.

    I had also just seen a carb that was left in carb cleaner too long and it scared me.

    So boiling? no real 'special' purpose other than interesting stories,
    smells less toxic than chemical cleaners and the
    ultimate test to see if your relationship is strong enough
    to handle engine parts in the kitchen.

    Safer outside with camping gear.

  8. #8
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  9. #9
    KgoX is offline New to the board Arm chair racerNew to the board
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    I have read that people are having good results with soaking them in Pinesol If I remember correctly? (research it?)
    berryman carb dip 5 gal $90
    berryman carb dip 1 gal $29...these are O'Reillys online prices...I had to look it up and thought I would share.

  10. #10
    GeoD's Avatar
    GeoD is offline At The Back Of The Pack Arm chair racerFirst time rider
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    I've also heard of people using an ultrasonic cleaner and having great results. Habor Freight sales them:

    http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lite...ner-95563.html

    They also sell one for $29 that a carb will probably fit in.

    Just think. After cleaning your carb you can clean the wife's rings! LOL!
    Geo D
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  11. #11
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    i have boiled carb's with 1 part lemon juice 4 parts water cleans real well only down side is carb body gets a dull gray finish
    Louk

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