Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*vegaschevy* · 08-01-2009, 03:52 PM

Any tips or things to look for when cleaning these carbs on the trucks? Mine is FILTHY, and I mean FILTHY!!!

It does not run very well when started as you press the gas pedal and it sputters and will die. Im sure the carb is the problem as it is covered with dirt on the outside and inside. SO I bought a rebuild kit for 20 bucks and figured I would replace everything in it and clean it up.

Aside from buying a 100 dollar pail to clean carbs with good detergent what seems to work well on old crud on carbs?

FRENCHBLUE72 · 08-01-2009, 04:04 PM

What kind of carb?

Wrenchbender Ret · 08-01-2009, 04:12 PM

2-3 aerosol cans of choke/carb cleaner will clean it up. That stuff has a lousy Oder that is hard to get rid of so be careful where & how you use it. You will need compressed air to blow out the orifices.Don't disassemble more then you have to, like the choke & throttle plates. Leave them in. If the accel. pump in the kit has a leather cup, soak it in oil & nead it a little to soften it up. If it,s a rubber cup coat it with some oil.

*vegaschevy* · 08-01-2009, 05:03 PM

its the quadrajet that came on the truck.

I am not sure with what pieces the carb rebuild kit came with but It seems to contain quite a bit. I have carb cleaner and compressed air. Should be good to go then..

Zeke · 08-01-2009, 08:34 PM

sneak it in the dishwasher, without dishes of course. use a nylon mesh bag for the smaller parts. run the dishwasher empty afterwards. send the wife out shopping first.

vectorit · 08-01-2009, 08:57 PM

It's been years since I rebuilt a Q-jet, but when I did my favorite was stuff called Berryman's chem dip.

http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Default.aspx?tabid=146

Get the can that looks like a big can a paint to paint the house with, it comes with a basket to put your stuff in and let soak.

It takes off EVERYTHING!

Caution though, the stuff is nasty to get on your skin.

Back in the day, they didn't come with baskets to put your parts in. I learned the hard way that the stuff eats off your skin, and I lost years of hard earned callous skin from my hands. For months my hands stunk like that cleaner too.

Take the carb all apart, then stick it in the basket and wait a day or so. When you take it out, you won't be dissapointed on how well it cleans the gunk off.

mclairmo · 08-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vectorit

It's been years since I rebuilt a Q-jet, but when I did my favorite was stuff called Berryman's chem dip.

http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Default.aspx?tabid=146

Get the can that looks like a big can a paint to paint the house with, it comes with a basket to put your stuff in and let soak.

It takes off EVERYTHING!

Caution though, the stuff is nasty to get on your skin.

Back in the day, they didn't come with baskets to put your parts in. I learned the hard way that the stuff eats off your skin, and I lost years of hard earned callous skin from my hands. For months my hands stunk like that cleaner too.

Take the carb all apart, then stick it in the basket and wait a day or so. When you take it out, you won't be dissapointed on how well it cleans the gunk off.

I've rebuilt several carbs and did it like the above, soaking in the can of carb cleaner in that little basket they include and then spraying off with aerosol carb cleaner. Works great and gets the carb nice and clean and ready for reassembly. Just don't put any plastic or rubberer parts in that stuff, will dissolve it.

QKENUF4U · 08-01-2009, 10:31 PM

as said above GALLON can of B12 chemtool and soak it for a day or two. as a bike tech i love this stuff. i usually hit mine with simple green after taking it out, wash it off then spray if down with air .... good luck with the quadra-junk....

eagleuh1 · 08-01-2009, 11:58 PM

How come the can says 15 min to 30 mins of soaking. I was about to say this stuff aint all that good, because I wasn't too impressed after soaking for half hour. It did clean the gunk off, but I was expecting it to look like a new nickel. I guess I should lower my expectation like for everything else in life. LOL.

eagleuh1 · 08-02-2009, 12:01 AM

Also make some good drawings or take good pics so when you try and figure how all the levers go back on. That little intermidiary plate lever that goes down in that tiny cave is a ***** for somebody with bad eyesight.

mclairmo · 08-02-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagleuh1

How come the can says 15 min to 30 mins of soaking. I was about to say this stuff aint all that good, because I wasn't too impressed after soaking for half hour. It did clean the gunk off, but I was expecting it to look like a new nickel. I guess I should lower my expectation like for everything else in life. LOL.

Can may say 30 mins but most leave it overnight or longer to really dissolve any baked on gunk in the tiny passages, like the idle air bleeds, etc. It will not shine or polish your parts, just clean it. Any coloring or coating will be removed by the carb cleaner. Eastwood sells some paints for recoloring your carb gold or zinc colored, IIRC.

*vegaschevy* · 08-04-2009, 10:24 PM

Well found a gallon pail of Berryman Chem dip. THey have 2, one is just their b-12 the good one is the chem dip.

I hopefully can get it all back together. LOL

I did find what looks like a piece of a coat hanger on one of the brackets.

any comments on how this carb looks. LOL This truck would not come off idle hardly at all, if you put the pedal to the floor it would die instantly. Maybe this gunk in the carb was part of the reason

ZombieWeinerDog · 08-04-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegaschevy

Any tips or things to look for when cleaning these carbs on the trucks? Mine is FILTHY, and I mean FILTHY!!!

It does not run very well when started as you press the gas pedal and it sputters and will die. Im sure the carb is the problem as it is covered with dirt on the outside and inside. SO I bought a rebuild kit for 20 bucks and figured I would replace everything in it and clean it up.

Aside from buying a 100 dollar pail to clean carbs with good detergent what seems to work well on old crud on carbs?

use brake cleaner, works as a fuel and cleans carbs GREAT!

mclairmo · 08-05-2009, 12:31 PM

That looks nasty and that coat hanger and the other linkage rods look wrong to me. I would find another carb for reference or a good close up picture of all the linkage and make sure all of your linkage and rods are correct and in the right place and configuration. It looks lile somebody rigged up some homemade rods to fix something. Also, make sure throttle shaft is not worn and leaking. Often, these Q Jets require a new shaft bushing be installed. Bushing kit comes with correct size drill, I believe. You remove shaft, drill out bore with a drill press and drive in new bushing and reassemble.

08-01-2009, 03:52 PM	#1
vegaschevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2009 Location: las vegas nv Posts: 1,493	Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks Any tips or things to look for when cleaning these carbs on the trucks? Mine is FILTHY, and I mean FILTHY!!! It does not run very well when started as you press the gas pedal and it sputters and will die. Im sure the carb is the problem as it is covered with dirt on the outside and inside. SO I bought a rebuild kit for 20 bucks and figured I would replace everything in it and clean it up. Aside from buying a 100 dollar pail to clean carbs with good detergent what seems to work well on old crud on carbs?

08-01-2009, 04:04 PM	#2
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,606	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks What kind of carb? __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

08-01-2009, 04:12 PM	#3
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks 2-3 aerosol cans of choke/carb cleaner will clean it up. That stuff has a lousy Oder that is hard to get rid of so be careful where & how you use it. You will need compressed air to blow out the orifices.Don't disassemble more then you have to, like the choke & throttle plates. Leave them in. If the accel. pump in the kit has a leather cup, soak it in oil & nead it a little to soften it up. If it,s a rubber cup coat it with some oil.

08-01-2009, 05:03 PM	#4
vegaschevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2009 Location: las vegas nv Posts: 1,493	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks its the quadrajet that came on the truck. I am not sure with what pieces the carb rebuild kit came with but It seems to contain quite a bit. I have carb cleaner and compressed air. Should be good to go then..

08-01-2009, 08:34 PM	#5
Zeke Active Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: L.A. Lower Alabama Posts: 453	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks sneak it in the dishwasher, without dishes of course. use a nylon mesh bag for the smaller parts. run the dishwasher empty afterwards. send the wife out shopping first. __________________ 1969 C10 350 3spd 1995 GMC 3500 XC 350 dually When Thomas Edison worked late into the night on the electric light, he had to do it by gas lamp or candle. I'm sure it made the work seem that much more urgent. George Carlin

08-01-2009, 08:57 PM	#6
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks It's been years since I rebuilt a Q-jet, but when I did my favorite was stuff called Berryman's chem dip. http://www.berrymanproducts.com/Default.aspx?tabid=146 Get the can that looks like a big can a paint to paint the house with, it comes with a basket to put your stuff in and let soak. It takes off EVERYTHING! Caution though, the stuff is nasty to get on your skin. Back in the day, they didn't come with baskets to put your parts in. I learned the hard way that the stuff eats off your skin, and I lost years of hard earned callous skin from my hands. For months my hands stunk like that cleaner too. Take the carb all apart, then stick it in the basket and wait a day or so. When you take it out, you won't be dissapointed on how well it cleans the gunk off. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

08-01-2009, 10:31 PM	#8
QKENUF4U Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SUNNY WARM BIKE RIDING COTTONWOOD ARIZONA Posts: 2,097	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks as said above GALLON can of B12 chemtool and soak it for a day or two. as a bike tech i love this stuff. i usually hit mine with simple green after taking it out, wash it off then spray if down with air .... good luck with the quadra-junk.... Last edited by QKENUF4U; 08-01-2009 at 10:32 PM.

08-01-2009, 11:58 PM	#9
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks How come the can says 15 min to 30 mins of soaking. I was about to say this stuff aint all that good, because I wasn't too impressed after soaking for half hour. It did clean the gunk off, but I was expecting it to look like a new nickel. I guess I should lower my expectation like for everything else in life. LOL.

08-02-2009, 12:01 AM	#10
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks Also make some good drawings or take good pics so when you try and figure how all the levers go back on. That little intermidiary plate lever that goes down in that tiny cave is a ***** for somebody with bad eyesight.

08-04-2009, 10:24 PM	#12
vegaschevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2009 Location: las vegas nv Posts: 1,493	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks Well found a gallon pail of Berryman Chem dip. THey have 2, one is just their b-12 the good one is the chem dip. I hopefully can get it all back together. LOL I did find what looks like a piece of a coat hanger on one of the brackets. any comments on how this carb looks. LOL This truck would not come off idle hardly at all, if you put the pedal to the floor it would die instantly. Maybe this gunk in the carb was part of the reason

08-05-2009, 12:31 PM	#14
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Carb Cleaning cleaner? tips and tricks That looks nasty and that coat hanger and the other linkage rods look wrong to me. I would find another carb for reference or a good close up picture of all the linkage and make sure all of your linkage and rods are correct and in the right place and configuration. It looks lile somebody rigged up some homemade rods to fix something. Also, make sure throttle shaft is not worn and leaking. Often, these Q Jets require a new shaft bushing be installed. Bushing kit comes with correct size drill, I believe. You remove shaft, drill out bore with a drill press and drive in new bushing and reassemble.



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