What's a good ultrasonic cleaning solution for carbs | GTAMotorcycle.com

What's a good ultrasonic cleaning solution for carbs

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timtune

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Just like it says. Borrowed a buddy's ultrasonic cleaner and I'm looking to clean a bank of sohc carbs. What do you like to use?
US doesn't hurt plastic or rubber bits, correct?
 
It shouldn't hurt plastic or rubber. Remove as many parts as possible so they don't rub together though. I cleaned some glasses with jewels in them and the US liberated most of the jewels. Doh. Obviously they weren't set well and the glasses looked damn sparkly after though.
 
I use Warm water, ammonia and Murphy's Oil Soap. If the solution is new, run the cleaner for a few minute to remove some of the absorbed air.
I've also seen people use 100% Pine-Sol.

Keep everything suspended in the cleaner, away from the bottom and walls.
 
Would 100% Pinesol be too aggressive. I've been using it to various bits and the way it attacks some stuff I wonder if it's hard on aluminum too.
 
timtune said:
Would 100% Pinesol be too aggressive. I've been using it to various bits and the way it attacks some stuff I wonder if it's hard on aluminum too.
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I used 70% hot tap water 30% pinesol in a pail. Make sure you have a lid stunk the shop up good. Worked ok but peeled the coating or clear coating off the carbs. Now I give them to a local guy for $40.
 
I use Decon 75, which is a lab detergent. Then a couple of water rinses and rotate through different solvents to make sure everything is dry. Working in a chemistry lab makes this easy.
 
50/50 water and simple green cleaned the bodies well. However it left a "stain" on the float bowls where they weren't submerged. Some Mothers and elbow grease fixed that though.

Thanks All
 
VFR.CBR said:
I use Warm water, ammonia and Murphy's Oil Soap. If the solution is new, run the cleaner for a few minute to remove some of the absorbed air.
I've also seen people use 100% Pine-Sol.

Keep everything suspended in the cleaner, away from the bottom and walls.
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@VFR.CBR Why is it important to keep parts away from the bottom or walls of the cleaner?
 
NuggyBuggy said:
@VFR.CBR Why is it important to keep parts away from the bottom or walls of the cleaner?
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You want the waves moving through the water not the part bouncing around in the bowl. Probably a chance of cavitation with a part directly against bowl too. Everything I have seen says keep parts suspended in fluid (or in a basket). I've never tried putting parts directly on the bowl to see what happens.
 
GreyGhost said:
You want the waves moving through the water not the part bouncing around in the bowl. Probably a chance of cavitation with a part directly against bowl too. Everything I have seen says keep parts suspended in fluid (or in a basket). I've never tried putting parts directly on the bowl to see what happens.
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OK, good. If I understand it is more that having the parts in a basket helps the U/S clean them better, rather than the parts or the cleaner itself from risking damage by contacting each other somehow ?

I was worried because the cleaner I have was so small that I wasn’t able to suspend some parts I was cleaning in the basket.
 
NuggyBuggy said:
OK, good. If I understand it is more that having the parts in a basket helps the U/S clean them better, rather than the parts or the cleaner itself from risking damage by contacting each other somehow ?

I was worried because the cleaner I have was so small that I wasn’t able to suspend some parts I was cleaning in the basket.
Click to expand...

As GG says . . .
There is the possibility of damaging the part if it is touching the the sides or bottom of the cleaner. Where the Ultra Sonic source is placed is the most likely to cause problems. My cleaner has it attached to the bottom, other have it on one end.
The cleaner is usually made of stainless steel and will be harder than the part. The micro vibrations of the cleaner can cause damage at the point of contact.
My cleaner is quite large, but a bank of 4 carbs takes 4 sessions. Besides, I wouldn't want to mix carb parts as it always seems that each carb is a little different to its neighbour.
 
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