Ultrasonic Carb Clean

[Ghinwha]

My st is still struggling to 80 and is tired at that! Was going good for a while then stood another couple of months in the workshop and this again! I'm thinking of getting a carb overhaul kit and rebuilding the carbs and have heard of people using the ultrasonic cleaners to good effect to clean out the jets etc. Has anyone any thoughts and if they are good which one should I get? Ps when I bought the bike it had been stood a decade and lots of dosing had occurred and that so carbs possibly stood dry for quite some time!

 

[fayeslane]

have heard of people using the ultrasonic cleaners to good effect to clean out the jets etc. Has anyone any thoughts and if they are good which one should I get?

I bought a cheap one. Putting the carb in the dog's water bowl would have been just as effective

 

[Ghinwha]

I bought a cheap one. Putting the carb in the dog's water bowl would have been just as effective

That's a thumbs down then! I've seen maplin do one but I'm getting the impression that an effective one will cost big money!

 

[peepingtom]

Your proberbly just as well to send them off for a clean after you've stripped them

 

[sleevedout]

I plan on using one for when I do my Bings.

Proof is in the pudding so to speak...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhGyK6MpkOQ

 

[Owen Snell]

Ultrasonic cleaning is all about power - the vibration will only clean if it has sufficient energy to remove the accumulated crud - so bigger is better. As said, strip them down and get them professionally cleaned.

 

[Rob Farmer]

I plan on using one for when I do my Bings.

Proof is in the pudding so to speak...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhGyK6MpkOQ

Thats the Ultrasonic cleaner I have. Not cheap but has 600w of proper ultrasonic power + 500w of heating and it's a 30 litre capacity so I can get an airhead gearbox in it and a crancase at a push.

I tried the cheapo chinese parts shakers but they were crap.

The chemicals are also very expensive so unless your planning on doing it as a business I'd find a company to do it for you

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

My st is still struggling to 80 and is tired at that! Was going good for a while then stood another couple of months in the workshop and this again! I'm thinking of getting a carb overhaul kit and rebuilding the carbs and have heard of people using the ultrasonic cleaners to good effect to clean out the jets etc. Has anyone any thoughts and if they are good which one should I get? Ps when I bought the bike it had been stood a decade and lots of dosing had occurred and that so carbs possibly stood dry for quite some time!

if you're struggling to hit 80 - you'll be at full throttle - butterfly and slide fully open, needle lifted out of the main jet and it'll be trying to flow all it can.

why you think an ultrasonic cleaner will help is beyond me..

ultrasonic cleaners are for gummed up idle passages and the like.

more likely its something else...like ripped diaphragms, cam timing, ignition timing, airflow blockage - inlet and exhaust, brakes binding, tyres too low pressure...loads of other stuff.


have you done a plug chop at max speed to tell the mixture yet ...

 

[Rob Farmer]

It sounds as though theres a split diaphragm in there.

 

[Paul Rochdale]

If you still want to go the ultrasonic cleaning route, try Googling for ultrasonic cleaners in your area. I'm taking my Bings to a place in Sevenoaks tomorrow and their website's price list quote £50 for cleaning a pair of carbs.

 

[Ghinwha]

It sounds as though theres a split diaphragm in there.

Had a look at the diaphragms Rob and they are fine. Only replaced them recently after these symptoms originally appeared. Think when I'm back at the bike next week ill try going through some checks including any mentioned here! The bike was going fine for a while then started sluggish again recently!

 

[Canuck]

Sounds like it bollixed. I'll take it from you as scrap if you'd like...I'd be happy to do that for you.

 

[Ghinwha]

Sounds like it bollixed. I'll take it from you as scrap if you'd like...I'd be happy to do that for you.

That's a nice offer! Can I think about it?

 

[Canuck]

That's a nice offer! Can I think about it?

Okay but let me know by tomorrow as ill need to clear my schedule!

 

[Loiq]

I think I have an ultra sonic cleaner.... erm I'll have a look just bought a workshop full of stuff to break up and there was one in there...

I'm keen as mustard to switch it on... let me find it first and see if it works




then PM me and we'll have a go.... if you want....

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

if it starts and idles ok - forget the ultrasonic cleaning

have you drained all the old fuel out and put new stuff in ?

have you taken the top box, panniers and fairing off ? if fitted

 

[Ghinwha]

if it starts and idles ok - forget the ultrasonic cleaning

have you drained all the old fuel out and put new stuff in ?

have you taken the top box, panniers and fairing off ? if fitted

Yes starts and idles fine has lifts well through the gears til I try and open it up! Have refilled the tank with clean fuel several times since getting her but have never given the tank a good clean out and checked the tap for gunk! The bike has no top box and I never ride with the panniers on. The bike has no fairing and is a standard st!

 

[Ghinwha]

I think I have an ultra sonic cleaner.... erm I'll have a look just bought a workshop full of stuff to break up and there was one in there...

I'm keen as mustard to switch it on... let me find it first and see if it works




then PM me and we'll have a go.... if you want....

Have been introduced to someone who has offered me a Bandelin Sonorex which had been used in a dentists to clean equipment! Apparently they have a great reputation so I think I might give it a go! Thanks got the offer anyway I appreciate it

 

[DrFarkoff]

Better to check the base settings first

Like Rob says Diapraghms Take off the carb tops and check the rubbers are not dozing or a pinhole in one

Insufficient slack in choke cables leaving chokes on and running very rich

Choke gaskets failing and drawing air / fuel

Float Level? Maybe running out of fuel when running at tops revs

Crud in the main jet region they are famous for that

They are a superb carb they don't usually get too crudded up

Be careful with the Ultrasonic solution if you go down that route it's quite aggressive and the carbs could turn white once they are out if you do not rinse them really really well

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

main jets are easy to clean - don't ned a u/s for that

pop the float bowls off and make sure that all is clean, unscrew the mains and blow them out and that'll be all you need for top speed stuff.