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Someone gave me a tip today on cleaning old carbs - drop them in a bucket of Battery Acid - has any one done this - is it safe on the zinc alloy and brass? Cheers

I don't know.... If that is step #1, then step #2 is probably buy new carbs.

I liked the Crock Pot method talked about here on the old forum. (Matt, when is it and the historic one getting back on line?) One carb at a time would 'simmer' all day in the pot filled with Simple Green, which does really clean it all, but leaves a tarnish finish, which for me rules out using SG all together. There's probably another semi non toxic cleaner that would work as well without the darkening effect....I just haven't come across any to do the job with no il-effects.

I seem to remember that all of the good carb cleaners like Petosol 404(sp?), now outlawed by the EPA, were caustic not acid.

Ultrasonic cleaning is the go. Small units are cheap, but one big enough for a BING not so. Is ultrasonic cleaning available elsewhere?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhGyK6MpkOQ

whoever suggested that might have carbs to sell to you. DON"T. DO. IT.
Your friend???
Strong bases (NaOH) aren't good for them either.

Use some carb cleaner from an auto store. It will not hurt them, can be used over and over, and you get a cute little basket that fits in the can.
Petisol was good, but who has any, now?
Kerosene, if you cannot get carb cleaner.

SteveD wrote:Ultrasonic cleaning is the go. Small units are cheap, but one big enough for a BING not so. Is ultrasonic cleaning available elsewhere?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhGyK6MpkOQ

Harbor Freight sells a couple ultrasonic cleaners. Like all things Harbor Freight, who knows if this particular product is any good - some are, some aren't.

I once got a bike (KT250) that had been left overnight stuck in the mud in a bay - so it was completely submerged at high tide.I cleaned the engine in an acid...it was acid we used for cleaning the boiler tubes of our steamcleaner.The cases,barrel and head came out nice...but grey,so painted the engine black.I wasn't so sure about the carb,so did a test on an old Mikuni - came out nice and clean,but discoloured.On reassembling it I found nothing would screw together,and the float pin just fell out.The carb looked perfect,but had shrunk in all directions - just a few seconds in acid had taken metal off all surfaces.

I once had an ultrasonic bath in my fuel injector cleaning machine - I used to clean carbs in it....but it wasn't as good as carb cleaner.

Ah - someone lent me the latest Vintage Motor Cycle Club magazine and it mentions in there to use a diluted solution of sulphuric acid for a short period but I've done them now - I used some sort of Phosphoric detergent and then blasted them with Baking Soda - very clean but dull! Cheers

You soak YOUR carbs in acid and let us know how it works out for you.