Episode 4: Cleaning Carburetors

 Hey! Welcome to Episode 4 of Motorbike Mondays. This show is all about cleaning carburetors. If you’re new to bikes, or just picked up a bike new to you, you’re going to have to learn to clean carbs. Hopefully this show will guide you through it. There’s alot to it, but it’s also no that complicated. Listen to the whole show and I bet you’ll be ready to rock!

Here’s our pre-show notes to walk you through our discussion:

Tools Needed:

Philips and flat-head screwdriver

Socket or wrench set

Wire brush

Jet cleaner tools

Compressed air

Carb rebuild kit (optional)

-Stage 1

Shut off petcock and drain float bowls

Remove carb(s) from bike

Prep work surface

Remove float bowl

Remove jets, mixture screw, float, float needle, and float needle seat

Soak brass in carb cleaner – no rubber

Remove slide cover

CV style

Remove slide and clean needle

and adjust or replace if needed

Check rubber diaphragm for cracks/tears

Clean slide and cylinder walls on carb body. make sure it slide freely

Slide style

Remove slide – by bolt or unscrewing cap with throttle cable

clean/adjust/replace

clean slide and cylinder wall on carb body. make sure it slides freely

-Cleaning jets

Remove jets from carb cleaner

Spray carb cleaner through jets and blow out with mouth or preferably compressed air

Check if you can clearly see through jet opening

If still not clear use jet cleaning tool to clean out junk

Spray more carb cleaner and check if clear

Do this for each jet and jet holder/emulsion tube. Make sure any holes on the sides are clean as well

Clean off float, float needle, float seat, checking for excess wear and make sure its seats properly

-Cleaning ports on carb body

Go through every port/hole on the carb body and make sure it has good flow with no blockage

Blow compressed air through each port/hole

-Stage 2

If carbs are heavily varnished, soak in cleaner

Chem-Dip- make sure no rubber is on while soaking

Pine-sol – remove all brass or go back and remove residue

Wash with hot water after soak

Blow compressed air over everything including ports/holes

-Reassembly