Carb cleaner, exactly where to use it?

I totally agree with perishing rubber. .

I only use it like this when I get a project and after I have checked the necessary I check for a spark and then a little fuel down the bore to see what happens. If if fires I spray some into the carb when running for a short period before a total strip down. This gives me time to see it a bike "pulls" and I throw away the carb gaskets anyway. Some of these bikes haven't been run for a decade and have normally been stored with fuel in. I am not sure how much benefit spraying cleaner into a SV carb, that has only been standing a couple of Months, would do but probably not much.

As you have said, do it properly. Ultarsound, dishwasher without detergent or air gun and carb cleaner (watching both with your hands). Depending on what you can afford.

Thanks for the advice, id like to strip the carbs down but to be honest im not that clued up on carbs??? A bit out of my depth!!

At the very least do it when off, so the cleaner has a chance of working its way down from the top.

I filled a plastic party bowl up with carb cleaner once to soak the jets, when i returned, the bowl was no more, just a white liquid mess lol.

Originally Posted by bigchris

Thanks for the advice, id like to strip the carbs down but to be honest im not that clued up on carbs??? A bit out of my depth!!

Well you have to start somewhere, take photos and have the a manual present, do one thing at a time then put it back, its not hard at all

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by beabert

At the very least do it when off, so the cleaner has a chance of working its way down from the top.

I filled a plastic party bowl up with carb cleaner once to soal the jets, when i returned, the bowl was no more, just a white liquid mess lol.

Yeah I've had the same, working with one of those grey plastic trays. Had my montesa carb in bits in it, went to pick the tray up to put it on the bench and picked up the walls of the tray... the bottom of it stayed on the floor

Don't let carb cleaner get anywhere near paintwork or screens. Don't ask me how I know this, I just do OK?

This is actually on my list of things to do this year to the bike (not that it particularly needs it, just fancy having a go) and I'm glad I read this, didnt realise how dangerous carb cleaner was!

[yorkie_chris]

If it doesn't need it then don't do it. Not worth risk of c*cking something up.

If you want to try something like that learn how to balance carbs.

I was going to strip em down, clean, reassemble and balance.

I have no idea what state the carbs are actually in, iif they've ever been serviced, etc. Thought this would be a good learning exercise as well as some nice preventative maintenance. no?

Edit: The choke is a little sticky!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

If it doesn't need it then don't do it. Not worth risk of c*cking something up.

If you want to try something like that learn how to balance carbs.

Incredibly difficult to do with a complete bank of four. Do it over a mattress if you can't risk breaking them.

Start by balancing them on your open palm, then on the end of a finger before progressing to balancing them on your nose...