Carb cleaning for lazy people
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:02 pm
Hello
I'm not sure if this is posted elsewhere but I found an easy way to clean out the carbs without removing them, this might not unblock jets I'm not sure but it definitely cleans the float chamber a treat
Before I start I would like to mention that carb cleaner strips paint as I found out the hard way so when draining it off make sure you use a bowl to catch all the runoff
Ok so you will need a can of carb cleaner, it must have a little nozzle or this won't work.
Get a piece of silicon tubing like the air line for a fish tank roughly 1ft long.
Connect the tube to the nozzle on the carb cleaner.
Right so that was simple enough, next remove the tank and drain the carbs by undoing the drain screws underneath. I left mine overnight with the screws undone.
Once drained take your can of carb cleaner and attach the other end of the silicon tube to the drain nipple on the bottom of the carb like so Then I gave the can 10 little blasts of not even a second while holding the tube on the carb, then lock of the screw and repeat on the other 3 carbs.
When I got to the last one I undid the screw on the first carb and drained the cleaner, it came out red, then drain all carbs and repeat this until it comes out clear.
Here you can see the colour it came out Sorry it's not the best of pictures but you get the jist of it.
When you are happy that the float chamber is clean you can go about putting it back together but don't bolt the tank on just connect the pipe and sit the tank on for now, get some fuel into the system let some drain from the drain holes to try and flush any carb cleaner out, I found to get the fuel through I had to turn the ignition on and press the starter button a few times, if you use a long extension bar with a socket Allen key you can turn the drain screws with the tank on.
So when your happy its clean and you've locked off the screws fire her up and get her warm, get yourself prepared with a 10mm socket and ratchet then turn the fuel tap off and pull the tank off again but keep the engine running.
Now remove the top of the airbox and air filter, grab your can of carb cleaner and give a little spray into each of the inlets, this caused my engine to flood and stall so don't spray too much in or you'll forever keep having to start it, just little bursts.
That's it simple. Obviously this is not as good as removing the carbs and cleaning them properly but I'm lazy, I don't know how well this would unblock jets either but one things for sure my float chamber is a hell of a lot cleaner now.
I'm not sure if this is posted elsewhere but I found an easy way to clean out the carbs without removing them, this might not unblock jets I'm not sure but it definitely cleans the float chamber a treat
Before I start I would like to mention that carb cleaner strips paint as I found out the hard way so when draining it off make sure you use a bowl to catch all the runoff
Ok so you will need a can of carb cleaner, it must have a little nozzle or this won't work.
Get a piece of silicon tubing like the air line for a fish tank roughly 1ft long.
Connect the tube to the nozzle on the carb cleaner.
Right so that was simple enough, next remove the tank and drain the carbs by undoing the drain screws underneath. I left mine overnight with the screws undone.
Once drained take your can of carb cleaner and attach the other end of the silicon tube to the drain nipple on the bottom of the carb like so Then I gave the can 10 little blasts of not even a second while holding the tube on the carb, then lock of the screw and repeat on the other 3 carbs.
When I got to the last one I undid the screw on the first carb and drained the cleaner, it came out red, then drain all carbs and repeat this until it comes out clear.
Here you can see the colour it came out Sorry it's not the best of pictures but you get the jist of it.
When you are happy that the float chamber is clean you can go about putting it back together but don't bolt the tank on just connect the pipe and sit the tank on for now, get some fuel into the system let some drain from the drain holes to try and flush any carb cleaner out, I found to get the fuel through I had to turn the ignition on and press the starter button a few times, if you use a long extension bar with a socket Allen key you can turn the drain screws with the tank on.
So when your happy its clean and you've locked off the screws fire her up and get her warm, get yourself prepared with a 10mm socket and ratchet then turn the fuel tap off and pull the tank off again but keep the engine running.
Now remove the top of the airbox and air filter, grab your can of carb cleaner and give a little spray into each of the inlets, this caused my engine to flood and stall so don't spray too much in or you'll forever keep having to start it, just little bursts.
That's it simple. Obviously this is not as good as removing the carbs and cleaning them properly but I'm lazy, I don't know how well this would unblock jets either but one things for sure my float chamber is a hell of a lot cleaner now.