Gummy carb cleaning recommendations

[craigs23]

Hi all,

Has anyone got personal recommendations for a decent carb cleaner spray?

Are all the brands pretty much the same stuff, or are some better than others?

Or has anyone had any experience with another non-specific solution?

Or, are ultra-sonic baths the proper way to go?

Moochas grassy arse.

[mudcow007]

pure acetone is great for cleaning them, but will damage rubber bits

ultrasonic cleaners are supposedly the best thing for carbs - never used one my self

[RhynoCZ]

When I ran out of carburetor cleaner, I used a brake cleaner, as the inscription on the can suggested it won't harm rubber seals nor hoses of the braking system. Now I use a chain cleaner, the same idea. An degreaser that is not harmful to the rubber/plastic bits of the carburetor and gets all the dirt deposits off.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Silver_Fox]

I used Seafoam, available on Ebay. I left it to sit for a day (full can) before I went for a good razz. It definitely helped, but not to the ridiculous extent some claim on the internetz. It didn't save my marriage, make the dinner or enlarge my penis
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CBR600 F3 FV
CG125

[stinkwheel]

For removing varnish, soaking in acetone for a couple of hours then plunging into boiling water has done a good job for me in the past.

As above, take any plastic and rubber bits off/out before using acetone.

A run through the dishwasher does a surprisingly good job. As does a clean in hot, soapy water.

These days I usually put them through an ultrasonic clean with hot soapy water, followed by a rinse in hot water, followed by WD40, followed by spray solvent cleaner.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[c_dug]

On a really gummed up carb I tend to use a piece of soft copper wire or something like that to physically poke through the jets - assuming the fancy chemicals have failed.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[craigs23]

Many thanks for all the recommendations

I've managed to source a second set of carbs, so can work on them off the bike. Brake cleaner is a suggestion I hadn't thought of...