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Carb cleaning

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:04 pm
by chuck
Hi Wes,
I have a M38 carb that I would like to rebuild myself.Can you recommend a carb cleaner or home brew that will dissolve that white corrosion.
I have seen two different rebuild kits out there with two different diaphram materials,what one is the latest and greatest?
Chuck

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:35 pm
by 53a1
I can tell you what not to get, Chem Dip. I guess the stuff used to be great in the day but now it's less effective than soaking it in Kerosene.

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:12 pm
by wesk
Chem dip was awesome before the EPA came along. I still use it and just add a little oven cleaner or whatever strong dissolving type cleaner you can get your hands on. For the external surfaces a pre-treatment with naval jelly or even coke will help.

An alternative is to drop the bowel, air horn and base off at your engine builder and have him boil it out for you.

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:01 pm
by BullRun
Chem Dip really is great but is super toxic and stinks, An alternative is ultrasonic cleaning that will do an even better job without the chemical issues.

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:28 pm
by wesk
But $15 bucks a gallon vs several hundred bucks for the ultrasonic cleaner :wink:

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:54 pm
by BullRun
Your right on that one but there are quite a few used ones floating around. A guy I knew bought a used one from a medical supply house that had been used in a laboratory for cheap and cleaned his spray painting equipment in it. The only downside to Chem Dip to me is if you spill any the smell lingers for weeks.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:31 am
by wesk
But it's such a sweet smell. I miss all those all to familiar odors that the old shops had when I walk into a new shop today. It's history and it's vanishing!

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:26 pm
by Cacti_Ken
Oders.....

I loved the smell of the oilfied when I went to work with my dad when I was kid.

He was also a mechanic on the side. and the garage at home smelled of oil, kerosene, gasoline, you name.