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What to clean carbs with?
- greenman43
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Cheers,
Brian
1980 Z1000 A4 Mk II
2007 ZX10R 'SL' (superlight)
1989 GPz900R
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- mopguy
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I have a 1980 Kawasaki KZ750 Ltd. I bought new. I recently managed to get it out of my garage after 28 years and put it on the road again (2010). I feel like a kid all over again. Since I have acquired 3 78 KZ1000 Ltd, 1 1981 KZ1000 Ltd, and another 1980 KZ750 Ltd. Love the LTD's.
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- KZJOE900
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martin_csr wrote: Others have used lemon juice, but one guy reported that it kinda corroded the parts.
I for one had reported the possibility of corrode the parts with the lemon juice, but I was wrong. I simply had not noticed that the one carburetor (main jet tower and one of the float bowl towers) was already corroded before I boiled them in the lemon juice / water solution. This was confirmed by the P.O after talking to him some time later. He asked if I had trouble with that particular corroded carburetor or if I just replaced it.
Current project 76 KZ900 (This was a Vetter model)
76 KZ900
81 XJ550H SECA (Current Project)
82 XJ550R SECA
Past:
86 FJ1200
74 Z1900
72 CB450
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- greenman43
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Thanks,
Brian
1980 Z1000 A4 Mk II
2007 ZX10R 'SL' (superlight)
1989 GPz900R
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- CoolerKing
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1978 KZ650-C2
1976 KZ400D-3 (sold)
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- Patton
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Many owners have the float bowls chromed -- and the top covers also. Gold plate looks pretty good too.greenman43 wrote: Some previous owner possessing of dubious taste chromed the float bowls on my 28s. I've read that cola will strip off chrome, and will be trying it this weekend on chromed steel partst, but what is it likely to do to the zinc alloy of the carbs ? I'd hate to have to replace a float bowl if an experiment went wrong ... Thanks, Brian
Am leery about results of diy de-chroming.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- greenman43
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Patton wrote: Many owners have the float bowls chromed -- and the top covers also. Gold plate looks pretty good too.
Am leery about results of diy de-chroming.
Good Fortune!
Thanks Patton, perhaps I should be less judgemental and simply note that my taste differs from others ! My one recollection of good-looking "stylised" carbs was on a Harry Maillet KZ1000 build featured in a 1980 Motorcyclist magazine: top covers and float bowls were painted black, which lined up beautifully against the black cam cover and barrels - both carb bodies and head were natural.
You were right to be leery about the dechroming, too - sadly, the cola had no effect on chrome even after 3 days soakings, so scratch that idea. Looks like I may be up for some kind of commercial chrome removal, or just to sandblast it ...
All the best,
Brian
1980 Z1000 A4 Mk II
2007 ZX10R 'SL' (superlight)
1989 GPz900R
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- greenman43
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0Z.Z1R Mk2 wrote: 100% straight white vinegar is a good alternative as well....
Soak overnight and clean with a tooth brush for that o'natural Finnish.
Major kudos for this tip - I've had an old floatbowl soaking in El Cheapo white vinegar for 3 days, and it's come up really nicely. Will definitely be doing the carb bodies in this. Not sure I can be bothering separating them, so may try to soak the whole assembly (after removing slides, jets, etc.); any thoughts on how the vinegar would affect the seals ?
Cheers,
Brian
1980 Z1000 A4 Mk II
2007 ZX10R 'SL' (superlight)
1989 GPz900R
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- Patton
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www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplie...finish-prod1150.aspx
www.kgcoatings.com/gun-kote-finish.php
My understanding is that Mikuni smoothbore carbs are aluminum. While many owners prefer the natural matte finish, others elect to polish the bowls (or the exposed surface of #1 and #4 carb bowls) and/or polish the top covers.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- copperhead_77
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1978 KZ650 C2/ 1979 KZ650 D2 (SR) Hybrid
Arizona
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- copperhead_77
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[attachment:1]C:\fakepath\kz6503.jpg[/attachment]
1978 KZ650 C2/ 1979 KZ650 D2 (SR) Hybrid
Arizona
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- Matteson
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KZ 900-a4
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