Ultrasonic cleaning of carburettors.

[Stevex]

I've stripped my PHF36's ready to clean in an ultrasonic bath. Its got heater calibration, a timer and I've bought the correct solution for carburetor cleaning. Has anyone previous experience of using a small ultrasonic bath? Particularly what heat to set at (the solution quotes 80°C which seems rather high to me). Is it safe to clean the floats and the plastic accelerator pump slider thats pinned to the upper carb body?
How long can the carb parts be left in the cleaner for?

[Perazzimx14]

I use a Harbour freight ultrasonic jewlery cleaner for my carbs with excellent sucess. It has a heat option and I also us it. To be fair it doen't get real hot but uncomfortable to stick you fingers in there for more than a couple of seconds. The real key is PineSol. It works a treat on aluminum carbs but will strip cadnium plating. If you are concerned about plastics or rubber parts clean them with the heat option turned off. Or soak them seperatly in another container.

The big advantage an ultrasonic has over just static soaking is it really speeds up the process. A good 24 hour static soak can be reduced to 20 to 30 minutes. 

[canuck750]

I typically set the heat limit on my ultrasonic cleaner at 45C, twenty minutes with proper soloution for a fully stripped carb should suffice. I always remove floats, gaskets, O rings etc.

Jim

[Stevex]

My carbs are fully stripped and I've 2 Dell Orto refurb kits for the rebuild.
I'm just wondering whether the floats and the plastic accelerator pump lever are OK at 50-60°C.

[cimbian]

I would remove them if they were mine.

[rodekyll]

I don't think it's necessary to get that serious about the plastic and rubber bits.  Just soak the metal.  Use a toothbrush and solvent on the other bits.

[jas67]

I know that this is an old thread, but, it is obviously still relevant.

I just got an ultrasonic cleaner.    I did a petcock in it with diluted simple green aircraft part cleaner.
I forgot about it and it went overnight.   The alloy parts got discolored.

So, do you use the Pine Sol straight, or diluted when using an ultrasonic cleaner.   I soaked a pair of CB175 carbs and a 90cc Honda single carb in straight Pine Sol for 48 hours last year, which seemed to work well, but, I wonder if it would still work pretty well diluted in the Ultrasonic.

I use a Harbour freight ultrasonic jewlery cleaner for my carbs with excellent sucess. It has a heat option and I also us it. To be fair it doen't get real hot but uncomfortable to stick you fingers in there for more than a couple of seconds. The real key is PineSol. It works a treat on aluminum carbs but will strip cadnium plating. If you are concerned about plastics or rubber parts clean them with the heat option turned off. Or soak them seperatly in another container.

The big advantage an ultrasonic has over just static soaking is it really speeds up the process. A good 24 hour static soak can be reduced to 20 to 30 minutes.

[Dukedesmo]

I used this stuff;  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carburettor-Machine-Parts-Ultrasonic-Cleaning-Fluid-1L-Engine-Cleaner-Solution-/231219810941?hash=item35d5c6527d:g:sUEAAOSwv0tVcbRp

Did a great job on my carbs, all parts fully dismantled and fitted all new seals etc. came up almost like new.      

[Markcarovilli]

I cut the Pinesol by half with water and about 30 minutes or so in the ultrasonic works great.

Mark

[jas67]

Just for those following along at home, there is also this thread:
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=73455.0

Charlie -- thanks for the Purple Power recommendation.   At $7 a gallon, it is a LOT cheaper (Red Suspender Content) than the Simple Green Aircraft parts cleaner that I bought ($25/gallon).    It works well too.   I just did an XL350 carburetor, and have a couple of petcocks cooking in it now.    20 minutes was all that was needed.

[John Ulrich]

Local guy uses a drop of Dawn dishwashing soap.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Charlie -- thanks for the Purple Power recommendation.   At $7 a gallon, it is a LOT cheaper (Red Suspender Content) than the Simple Green Aircraft parts cleaner that I bought ($25/gallon).    It works well too.   I just did an XL350 carburetor, and have a couple of petcocks cooking in it now.    20 minutes was all that was needed.

Yesterday, I cleaned an Ambassador cylinder head in the ultrasonic cleaner using full-strength Purple Power (heated at 50C). Did an amazing job, even stripped away the carbon deposits. I did leave it in there for ~ 2 hrs. though. A friend uses an electric roaster oven (like you'd roast a turkey in) filled with Purple Power to clean all of his parts. It comes in handy for heating cases to remove bearings too.

Super Clean is my current favorite for cleaning carbs that aren't too gunked up. Just spray it on, scrub a bit and rinse it off. It's about the only stuff that'll remove "varnish" from floats. It does darken some machined alloy bits if left on too long, cleans castings about as well as Eagle One Etching Mag Wheel Cleaner. Haven't tried it in the ultrasonic cleaner yet.

[Scott DeRoss]

I also just purchased one, and I also was wondering how often do you change the cleaning solvent? After every cleaning? When it looks dirty? every few cleanings? Thanks

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Since I use cheap cleaner (Purple Power), I change it after every pair of carbs I do, usually.

[not-fishing]

I did a long sitting ran with last parked in '85 Honda 125 suitcase cycle and the pine sol didn't clean the jets very well.  I ended up taking them out and blasting them with carb cleaner multiple times.