Boiling The Carbs - Or What I Found Inside

[pidjones]

I had to close the top and run all burners full blast for a half hour to get the water boiling (that's a good bit of water). Setting on the grates. Then after adding the mass of aluminum it stayed on high for another 15-20 minutes to bring it back to a boil. I boiled for ~20 minutes as I remember. Left the felts in (left the carbs connected) as it is water, not a nasty solvent. I've read of others using lemon juice for the boil, also.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

How did it turn out?

[pidjones]

Fair. Not as good as the US cleaner (the one I had was pretty powerful) did. All passages were opened, though and the outsides of them look great. I just used water and a drop of lab cleaner (Micro 90). I imagine lemon juice would do a great job (you should be able to buy it cheap at dollar stores).

[Track T 2411]

Just an FYI, lemon juice will discolor the carb bodies. I don't have any pics, but it considerably darkened the metal, and was uneven to boot...

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I do have a large HF US but I plan to clean them really well with brake cleaner, make sure all the passages are clear, boil them with a drop or two of dish soap and then go over them again with brake cleaner and compressed air. Hopefully that should be enough. Hopefully. They seem pretty clear already, but carbs can't be too clean, IMO.

[pidjones]

I don't believe the large HF US will hold even one body fully submerged (I have one), let alone to still joined by the garnish. For about $40 more, my next US will be a 10 liter unit. Keeping the carbs joined with the garnish saves a LOT of reassembly headaches.

[6adan]

I get that shellac off with a hand held sand blaster from H F but I use baking soda. It won't hurt anything and can be rinsed off with water.