just bought an ultra sonic cleaner

[81xsproject]

I pull remove the bowls, jets and needles, caps and slides. I also put some sort of spacer in the throttle linkage to hold the butterflies open. That's it. The jets'n'such go in the chem-dip. I pull them out of the hot Simple Green solution and rinse them with distilled water. The USC process can leave the butterfly seal/shafts a little sluggish so I apply a little oil to the shafts inside the carb bore and that brings them back to super smooth operation.

[wa407mpp]

Eventually they are rated by power and tank size. I think the one at the shop is 12"x12"x18" and cost around $1200.00. It was loaned to them by a local motorcycle collector, who brought it in with one of his bikes, to have the carbs cleaned, and wanted them to try out his new toy. Now the shop owner says he can't understand why he hadn't bought one before now and is now going to buy himself a bigger one for about $2500.00.

[Schming]

What does the finish look like on the outside of the carbs when done? Is it gray, shiney or mirror. Would walnut shells in a tumbler acheive a mirror finish? I have buffed two of my carb bodies but it aint easy to get all the odd shapes and if the buffer kicks one out of my hand I'll be looking for a replacement. TIA

[tinman905]

My results the carbs come out a slightly dull gray colour if you don't leave them in the cleaning solution too long after the timer has shut off then they come out a dark gray colour.

I wouldn't use crushed walnuts to polish the carbs if anything I would soda blast or glass bleads but not sand. It is too easy to block a passage with sand or a tumbler with crush walnuts.

[petejw]

I thought I might be able to make my own cleaner
by sticking a piece of wood on top of my bench grinder,
with a smal bucket sitting on top with cleaner it, the vibration
made the water agitate but it didnt clean the parts.

[Schming]

My results the carbs come out a slightly dull gray colour if you don't leave them in the cleaning solution too long after the timer has shut off then they come out a dark gray colour.

I wouldn't use crushed walnuts to polish the carbs if anything I would soda blast or glass bleads but not sand. It is too easy to block a passage with sand or a tumbler with crush walnuts.

Thanks for the heads up on the tumbler. I'll give the soda blasting a try, as soon as I set up for it, and see how that fares.

[81xsproject]

I thought I might be able to make my own cleaner
by sticking a piece of wood on top of my bench grinder,
with a smal bucket sitting on top with cleaner it, the vibration
made the water agitate but it didnt clean the parts.

Not sure if you're serious or not. USC's create a wave frequency that is so high it causes cavitation. I don't really want to try to explain the physics of cavitation, so google if interested. The long and the short is that it produces imploding bubbles that do the cleaning work. Stick your hand in the fluid of a USC and you can experience the painful force of a cavitation for you self. It feels like rapid fire needle pricks.

[mack]

cleaning solution

So what are you guys using for cleaning solution? I just borrrowed one yesterday and want to give it a try.

[tinman905]

Simply Green is the best I find and know of. I sometimes add a bit of dish detergent if there is a lot of grime . If you can't find that just be careful what you use , there are a lot of cleaning products that are not to be used on aluminum .

Just make sure you don't rest the part you are cleaning on the bottom or touching the sides of the unit.

[petejw]

Hey 81,
yeah i was 2 a certain extent, didnt to physics at school
and wasnt really thinking of the 'ultra sonic' part of it,
just that the solution was being agitated and thought it better
than it sitting in a still solution.

[81xsproject]

Hey 81,
yeah i was 2 a certain extent, didnt to physics at school
and wasnt really thinking of the 'ultra sonic' part of it,
just that the solution was being agitated and thought it better
than it sitting in a still solution.

I am sure the agitated solution would help. I have often thought of getting some of the Yamaha dip that is safe for soft parts and using it in the USC. That stuff is supposed to be the bomb by it self. Could only imagine combining forces.

[crazy steve]

Simply Green is the best I find and know of. I sometimes add a bit of dish detergent if there is a lot of grime . If you can't find that just be careful what you use , there are a lot of cleaning products that are not to be used on aluminum.

I'd be careful using Simple Green. That stuff will eat aluminum if left on it too long. I was told of a case of an Air Guard unit that destroyed a helicopter by using SG to clean the interior of it; it seeped into some places and ate the airframe badly enough that it couldn't be fixed.

With that said, I'll admit to using it myself, but I don't leave it on long and thoroughly flush with clean water. I have seen it discolor/corrode aluminum if left on too long or not flushed off well.

'78E original owner