Ultra Sonic Cleaning Solutions.

[Bloop2]

I have read all the posts regarding the use of ultra sonic cleaners for carbs, great way to clean carbs. I am wondering what people are using for a cleaning solutions. My biggest problem is the the colour of the carb body's after cleaning, they always come out a dull gray. I have tried Simple Green, Pinesol, solution provided by manufacturer of the cleaner, Dawn, degreasers, etc. and all of these provide a dull finish. What other solutions are people using to clean their carbs that won't turn carbs gray?

Thanks.... Fred

[Powderfinger]

I don't know what you would use as far as cleaner, I use Pine Sol but if you make a quick pass over them with a dremel with wire brushes they will shine.

[Alan H]

The 'normal unpolished' colour of carbs is dull grey, so unless you polish it afterwards, that's what you get.

[GTandcbr]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrasonic-Cl ... RK:MESE:IT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Alan H]

Funnily enough, I was talking to Baz about this very stuff earlier today and he uses it quite a lot (he restores GT Suzukis commercially) and reckons it's the bee's knees.
Personally, I use a spoonful of citric acid crystals in a litre of water and been happy with that. No more than 2 x 10 minute treatments in the Ultrasonic doodah or it starts to pit the finish.

[Bloop2]

Here is what I'm trying to achieve, the first carb on the left is how mine turn out after cleaning with various solutions, always around 10 t0 15 minutes in a heated solution. Always rinsed right after and blown dry with compressed air.To me, it's a dull battleship gray which I don't think the originals were. I look at my GT185 carbs which have never been done and they certainly don't look like this. The carb on the right was also in the bath but I had it vapour blasted afterwards. It's a nice silvery finish, not too bright or shiny, as were the originals. Would love to do them all this way, but vapour blasting is done by very few people here and is not exactly cheap.

Cheers.....Fred

[Powderfinger]

I also have a vibratory tumbler that I put carb bodies in after the ultrasonic. It leaves a nice finish somewhere in between what you have there. I use ceramic media with water and a little simple green in it. Something like walnut shells would probably get it closer to what you are after but I have not tried them. With walnut shells you would want to plug all your holes with silicone plugs. You can get an assorted size pack for a few bucks.

As far as a tumbler they are great for working on old bikes but the small ones wouldn't hold much. I lucked out and found a deal on a Burr King. I can put all the hardware, chain adjusters, brackets, etc. in that thing and it's like a time machine. All the grease and rust is gone just leaving a mild patina.

I put a link to what I am talking about, I found a 10 quart model on Craigslist. There are smaller cheaper ones out there but I would get the biggest you can afford.

https://www.southern-tool.com/store/Mod ... -Bowls.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bloop2]

Looks like the tumbler is an alternative, but a little too rich for me. I'm going to try the walnut shells in my blast cabinet, just happened to have a bag sitting here.

[PHPaul]

Haven't tried it (might have to tho...) but vibratory tumblers for cleaning brass for reloading are WAAAAAY cheaper than that. Under $100 cheap. No reason (other than capacity) that they wouldn't work as well with the right media.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.c ... l+Products

[Coyote]

Lime-Away, 15 minutes max. Rinse with hot water. Available at most grocery stores. Brushing with old toothbrush helps.

[Drewski]

'Some tips on cleaning solutions here:-

http://americanmachinist.com/shop-opera ... c-cleaning" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I inherited a 6 litre Ultrasonic cleaner with my GT, about $550 worth. Got myself the right solution, carbs stripped down and ready to go, plugged in the cleaner and.............nothing No power, no lights.. nothing. I've heard that they're not too hi-tech and easy to repair but I'm pretty useless with anything that can't be repaired with spanners and havn't got a clue where to take it. I used to have a mate here in the UK that I could take anything elecrtronic too and he'd usualy manage to fix it for me. He's gone to live overseas now...which is very selfish of him I thought 'Seems a shame to chuck this thing out.

[Bloop2]

Thanks for the link, if you can get the cleaner repaired, it could be worth it , decent new ones that size are not cheap.

[yeadon_m]

Wonder if its as simple as an internal fuse has blown? or even simpler, a wire has come off when the mains is clamped to the internals?
Good luck!
Mike