Silver's ready to ride!

**Jack** · 02-20-2012, 09:45 PM

Just an FYI, 75% Pine-Sol (25% water) is great for cleaning carbs. Doesn't damage the rubber and really gets the crud off. I soak them for 24 hours and then take safety wire through the orifices. Then soak another 24 and they are usually good to go.
Remember to use different size safety wire for the different size orifices and always pull the wire through a folded up piece of sand paper to remove any burrs your side cutters may have left on the safety wire. That way you don't damage any of the orifices.
Also, you can remove carbon from the intake valves and chambers by removing the air box lid and running the engine at 3 to 4k while using a squirt bottle SET TO MIST ONLY shooting down each carburetor. It takes 4 or 5 cycles per cylinder to get the carbon out and you'll probably want to replace the spark plugs afterward.
I've known old timers that would pour a cap full of water down the carb on a running V8. I strongly advise against that, especially on a motorcycle engine since water doesn't compress and you will bend a connecting rod.
This is obviously after the fact for you John but I figure other readers may gain from it.

**Silver** · 02-20-2012, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Jack

Just an FYI, 75% Pine-Sol (25% water) is great for cleaning carbs. Doesn't damage the rubber and really gets the crud off. I soak them for 24 hours and then take safety wire through the orifices. Then soak another 24 and they are usually good to go.
Remember to use different size safety wire for the different size orifices and always pull the wire through a folded up piece of sand paper to remove any burrs your side cutters may have left on the safety wire. That way you don't damage any of the orifices.
Also, you can remove carbon from the intake valves and chambers by removing the air box lid and running the engine at 3 to 4k while using a squirt bottle SET TO MIST ONLY shooting down each carburetor. It takes 4 or 5 cycles per cylinder to get the carbon out and you'll probably want to replace the spark plugs afterward.
I've known old timers that would pour a cap full of water down the carb on a running V8. I strongly advise against that, especially on a motorcycle engine since water doesn't compress and you will bend a connecting rod.
This is obviously after the fact for you John but I figure other readers may gain from it.

So you are calling me an old timer!

Done the water thing many years ago.

I cleaned the intakes with spray carb cleaner, an acid brush and compressed air. Closed the valves, sprayed and brushed then blew clean. I would have saved the original carbs for use but I think they have a bent pilot screw and the pinched diaphragms sealed the deal. Ultimately I'm just glad I'm ready to roll but I'll make you a heck of a deal on some crap tuning gauges Jack.