Cleaning the carbs

[Joshua Weldon]

Whats the best stuff to clean my carbs, is there some do and don't when cleaning them so I dont damage them. I also read from the forum when a bike been sitting to long put oil in the spark plug hole, but isnt that where the fuel feeds into. If so how much. I was also told to put some fuel in the spark plug hole to help fire it up---CONFUSED

[Re-run]

Well for cleaning, some people like to strip their carbs all down and remove all rubber and use a carb dip.
I prefer simple green as it is not harmful to the rubber pieces and non-toxic and smells better.
I prefer a more manual cleaning with strands of copper wire for the jets and soft pipe cleaners for the passages after a simple green soak.

From there, a can of carb cleaner blows the rest out usually.


As for putting things in the cylinders: If the engine is FROZEN as in does not turn, then you put in a penetrating fluid to loosen things up so you can break the engine loose. Only other time you put oil in the cylinder is if you have low compression. You put in a tablespoon of oil and if the comp goes up, then you have bad rings. If it does not change, it is usually valves.

Otherwise you should not put fuel down the hole for starting. It probably wont start and could just push fuel into the oil.

[vern401]

I agree with this
I prefer simple green as it is not harmful to the rubber pieces and non-toxic and smells better.
I prefer a more manual cleaning with strands of copper wire for the jets and soft pipe cleaners for the passages after a simple green soak.

From there, a can of carb cleaner blows the rest out usually.

I also use an air compressor to blow out the ports before reasembly.

all in all I agree with the above post. try not to get spray carb cleaner on the seals it can ruin some of them.