What to clean carbs with?

Thanks mate, sounds cheap and easy - gonna try this it the MK II carbs.

Cheers,
Brian

Pine oil and orange oil are natures best cleaners/degreasers, so any product that are made with these oils will work.

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.

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

I soaked mine in Pinesol and it cleaned them up great but afterwards I had to wipe them down with WD40 because they started getting white specks.

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

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!

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

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

Am thinking (but not positive) that "Gun Kote" could provide an acceptable finish for the carb bowl and top cover.

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!

The Gun Kote would work and would last quite some time, I just cerakoted mine a copper color and they turned out crazy good and look very cool, I'm contemplating chain cover that goes around the starter, I think. Only had my bike for a couple weeks, so I do not know what everything is just yet.

The Gun Kote would work and would last quite some time, I just cerakoted mine a copper color and they turned out crazy good and look very cool, I'm contemplating chain cover that goes around the starter, I think. Only had my bike for a couple weeks, so I do not know what everything is just yet.
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I know a guy who sells carb tops and timing covers that are plastic that you would never have to shine.