I purchased a pair of 45's last night for £200. I got trumpets, assorted jets etc with them but I think they could do with a bit of a cleanup. I looked in my demon tweeks motorsport catalogue this morning to find details of the rebiuld kits, but can anyne tell me the best way of cleaning them.

I was going to use petrol/rag/toothbrush on the outside, but the bit bothering me the most is the darkness of the barrel by the butterfly valves and the sticking of the butterflies. what is this residue - is it from previous bad setup of the carbs? (the guy said he'd been running them a bit on the lean side) can I clean it with wet/dry if it won't come off with a bit of petrol?

A very basic question I know, but all comments greatfully received.

Andrew.

tin of carb cleaner from local motor spares shop

or do what i did and use the dish washer, it stuff very clean but the machine stinks of petrol / oil for over a week

nice idea about the dishwasher, shame i don't have one (apart from girlfriend ), parents probably wouldn't want their's hijacked and smelling of petrol for a week!!

Andrew.

The aerosol ones from the local car parts shop like timf says. They do a good job inside and out. Clear blocked jets as well, just leave it on and then scrub it and rinse.

yours, Pete.

But make sure you wear a mask. When you see it take off paint, all gooey crap, and the plastic off the front of your beer fridge, imagine what it does to your lungs.

Enjoy.

I heard elsewhere on this site that the carb cleaner aerosols are just celulose thinners. I've given celulose thinner a quick try on mine, and it seemed to be softening the goop, so worth a try. If they're severely caked up, it might be worth taking them to a carb specialist and getting them to clean them. I don't think celly thinners will sort the outsides if they're badly corroded though.

Kingr

I'm pretty sure they're not corroded, just a bit dull looking.

Will give carb cleaner a go i think.

thanks for the help guys.

Andrew.

[Edited on 14/5/03 by ned]

For what it's worth this is what I've done twice now for a big overhaul on the carbs:

Buy a gallon or preferably two of standard/gunwash grade cellulose thinners.
(factor of 10 approx cheaper than the same stuff in an aerosol.) Observe the health warnings.

Dismantle the carbs completely, remove all rubber and plastic bits and leave them to soak for 48 hours or so in metal container (or 2). That gets almost all the deposits off.

Clean with a toothbrush (one I don't want to clean my teeth with!)

Rebuild with weber service kits. None-weber ones don't seem to have enough o-rings.

Unless you're a seriously wealthy sort of guy I guess, that can afford wilwood forged alloy twin pot brakes for example, then you will appreciate the economy I'm sure :-)

best regards
Dave

200 quid seems a good price for 45s m8,i spent that each for news ones,still i bolted them on and it runns a treat and i know peeps aint done silly things to them.id use petrol and tooth brush m8 as it seems to take all the stuff off ok.
Rescued attachment AUT_0357.JPG

i bought a pair at an auto jumbe last year i took a bit of a risk as they were in pieces but on a trial build up all parts are there and as an added bonus they have been chemically cleaned on the outside and glass blasted outside so look like new all i need is jets etc and two rebuild kits. all for the princely sum of 50 beer tokens. bargin or what