TOPIC:

I searched the forum and checked out the diagrams that I have on the carbs for my 1978 KZ1000A2. I bought K&L rebuild kits and plan to use all of the new parts. I am wondering if I soak the carbs in a cleaner like Berrymans are there any o-rings other than the 4 that come with the kits or anything else that might get damaged with getting soaked?

Thanks
Wamphyri

been thinking of this exact thing for awhile. i was wondering if anyone has used one of those cheap ultrasonic cleaners you see out there now. i don't know if they would do the job, but from what i hear they are suppose to be pretty good for carbs and other small things.
and i have tried soaking and all that. i seem to get about the same results with a few cans of good carb cleaner and an air compressor. i got one of those Vacula blow guns with the little rubber tip, works real good, (that is until you launch a emulsion tube out of it like a rocket and spend a day looking for it)

I don't know about Berrymans or the ultrasonic thing, but I've used the Napa dip and I think it's as strong as it gets. When you take your parts out of that stuff the parts look like they've been polished nearly. Rubber orings will be all soft and soggy, but after drying they return to their natural hard as a rock nature, so no damage done.

If you dont separate the carb there are probably O rings on the brass fuel lines that connect the carbs and these could get somewhat softened up.

i soaked my first set in gunk's and it ruined the o-rings...they never popped back to original...
but then i left them in there a long time!

Barrymans doesn't seem to swell the rubber bits like the old chlorinated dips used to... That being said, if you fully disassemble the carb, you should find all the rubber bits, plus all the external stuff, like the fuel pipes that go carb-to-carb, and the choke plunger. Also look for the rubber grommets and stuff around the throttle shaft.

/LOL at flht1997, and then crying 'cause I did the same thing with the choke rod detent ball two weekends ago!

del

The Napa stuff is still available. It works really great, more of an industrial strength solution than the stuff you'll likely buy at Checkers ect. I forget exactly what it's called, but it comes as a bucket about half full of solution with a removable screen dip pan you put your small parts in. Remove the dip pan and you can dip about half a bank of carbs in to do the bodies. I never had a problem. Instructions I believe say dip for 20 minutes. Put a brown cruddy looking jet in there, wait 20 minutes and it's shiney brass again. Highly recommended cleaner.
JMKZHI wrote:

What DrR said (except about the Berryman's not ruining o-rings - I've never put a rubber part in it to check). About the only time an o-ring might not be found is when the air mixture screws have a metal plug over 'em & you didn't know it. Even then, the mixture screws on those carbs may not have an o-ring anyway, so not to worry (my 81 650 doesn't have 'em).

Ron, just curious. About how long do you soak 'em in the NAPA carb soak & is the same product still available? I'm all for shiny carbs if it requires no polishing by me. hee. JMK.<br><br>Post edited by: JMKZHI, at: 2006/11/03 10:19