Homemade Carb Dip

[T-Bear]

Hey Guys,

I am new too this forum so here is me... I have been following the forum for a year not but haven't posted anything yet...

I am currently struggling abit with my 79 GS550. The bike runs great but is horribly hard to start. Ones it runs and has warmed up it runs good. I am working my way through the suggestions on bassCliffs site. Anyways...

My question concerns carb dip. I am from Norway and cannot find what you refer to as carb dip anywhere over here. I have cleaned my carbs using aerosol carb cleaner but want to clean them by dipping and pulling everything apart. What is a good substitute for carb dip?

I have tried to search the forum but cant find anything.

Any suggestions?

Torbj?rn (direct translation ThorBear aka T-Bear)

 

[tkent02]

Boiling in lemon juice. I tried it, it worked somewhat, not as good as real dip.
The hard starting is likely a valve adjustment problem.

 

[T-Bear]

Hey tkent,

Yeah ive read about boiling in lemon juice aswell, but I dont know how much I trust it. Some have suggested using diesel (local auto parts store)?

The valves are adjusted, ive done the coil relay mode, put in new intake boot o-rings and will be working at getting the airbox sealed up. This winter ive done a complete job on the cylinder head grinding valves/seats and changing valvestem oil seals. Compression is good i think.

T

 

[old_chopper]

How about paint thinner? It's good at dissolving stubborn grease and such.

 

[Nessism]

Some people have recommended Yamaha water-based carb dip concentrate they say can be ordered by a dealer. Worth a try I suppose.

I've tried boiling in lemon juice but this turned the aluminum carb bodies black - might have used too much lemon (acid).

Solvents like paint thinner or diesel fuel are pretty mild as far as solvents go so if you use that stuff it will take a while to soak.

 

[rustybronco]

I've also heard of people boiling in washing soda (laundry detergent).

Berrymans MSDS http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Portals/0/BPI MSDS/0901, 0905.pdf
------------------
Methylene Chloride
Cresols
Mixed Xylenes
Sodium Bichromate
Ethyl Benzene
------------------

you could also try soaking in lacquer thinner in conjunction with a stiff brushing. followed up with carb spray through the passages.

***edit***
You want it clean? get one of these... http://www.ofrei.com/page339.html

 

[Nessism]

As an aside...

Was in a local industrial supply store and came across a couple of very old looking gallon pails of Gunk carb dip. The new "California formula" Berrymans carb dip is pretty lame stuff so I bought a gallon of this Gunk stuff for future use. The best (most harsh) carb dip I've ever used was this stuff by Mckay's - that stuff would burn your hands as soon a you touched it. Great stuff!

 

[tas850g]

Isn't there a recent post talking about ATF and acetone as a cleaner?

 

[T-Bear]

Hey All,

Thanks for the suggestions. I just fired of an e-mail to my local Yamaha dealer asking for their carb dip. For reference parts number #ACC-CARBC-LE-NR.

Quickly googled the parts number and people seemed pleased with it. Also sent an email to my local chemistry shop. They deliver stuff to the offshore industry so they got to have something that eats varnishing (possibly also carbs :|???)

I'll give you the story once I have tested the Yamaha dip... Might take awhile though. I have a master theses due June 14th.

Also does anyone know of any members of this forum that reside in Norway? Scandinavia? Europe? Someone to ask about local stores and so on...

Again Thanks everybody
T

 

[tkent02]

There are some Norwegians on the forum, once in a while.

I have heard detergent and water works as a dip, you need to wait a really long time for it to work.

 

[BassCliff]

Isn't there a recent post talking about ATF and acetone as a cleaner?

Hi,

The thread of which you speak said a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF is recommended for unsticking bolts. The study quoted says it's better than WD40 or PB Blaster.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[tas850g]

Hi,

The thread of which you speak said a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF is recommended for unsticking bolts. The study quoted says it's better than WD40 or PB Blaster.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

thats right, thanks for the correction Cliff. I read so many things here that i tend to get some confused.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Hey All,

Thanks for the suggestions. I just fired of an e-mail to my local Yamaha dealer asking for their carb dip. For reference parts number #ACC-CARBC-LE-NR.

Quickly googled the parts number and people seemed pleased with it. Also sent an email to my local chemistry shop. They deliver stuff to the offshore industry so they got to have something that eats varnishing (possibly also carbs :|???)

I'll give you the story once I have tested the Yamaha dip... Might take awhile though. I have a master theses due June 14th.

Also does anyone know of any members of this forum that reside in Norway? Scandinavia? Europe? Someone to ask about local stores and so on...

Again Thanks everybody
T

OK Bear. Go with the Yamaha dip but don't follow the instructions.

Mix it at a ratio of 1:1 water and dip. Heat it over a burner (not wife's) until the dip is just gently rolling over on top, not quite boiling. Leave parts in for 15 to 30 minutes and they will come out as good as new. Also make sure you fabricate the special cleaning tool and use it in all the small openings you can find. Pilot jet, choke circuits, etc.

I did all four carbs in less than a day. No 24 hour soak with this stuff.

 

[Guest]

Charcole lighter fluid.
It works!

 

[T-Bear]

Thanks guys,

I'll go with your recipe Don. Gotta get out and find a hotplate or burner then See if cant cook some Carbs...

And just to be sure... When you guys are talking about ATF and Acetone then ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid right???

ehmm. and whats that special cleaning tool you are talking about Don?

T

 

[Guest]

Special tool here..

ATF=Automatic tranny fluid.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/mc_maint/GS_CV_Carb_Cleaning_Series.pdf

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Special tool here..

ATF=Automatic tranny fluid.

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/mc_maint/GS_CV_Carb_Cleaning_Series.pdf

Slide/page number 36.

 

[T-Bear]

And were at it again.

The yamaha dip is not available in Scandinavia so I guess I am back to start.

Any Advice? Lemon Juice and laundry detergent are always options.

T

 

[salty_monk]

It's a bit of a job but for small parts I have sprayed the spray cleaner into a pot to get a pool for soaking.

You could probably emptyba couple of cans into a jar and dip the carbs 1 at a time in that.

 

[Guest]

I've used simple green on small parts. Seems to do a real nice job.