soakin' my carbs

DCopp

400 Maxim/Seca Guru
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pulled carb set from my new parts bike (seca 400) and took off the float bowls to find them pleasantly clean inside. everything was clear and moving freely. NICE. The outside of the carb bodies were kinda dingy though and I have read about using Pine-sol as a soak or dip. I removed the floats and needle valves and sunk in a 50/50 mix of PS and HOT tap water. gonna let em sit for a day or so and give 'em a toothbrushin' and rinse and hopefully get some nice results! I am taking pics of the process so stay tuned...
 
pulled carb set from my new parts bike (seca 400) and took off the float bowls to find them pleasantly clean inside. everything was clear and moving freely. NICE. The outside of the carb bodies were kinda dingy though and I have read about using Pine-sol as a soak or dip. I removed the floats and needle valves and sunk in a 50/50 mix of PS and HOT tap water. gonna let em sit for a day or so and give 'em a toothbrushin' and rinse and hopefully get some nice results! I am taking pics of the process so stay tuned...
Cool man! Do a write-up with some pics if you can...I know this it could help out a bunch of members!
 
Alrighty, its done and they are clean. I'm not really impressed with the process though. Could be worse I guess but the aerosol carb cleaner does a much better job with far less effort. The good thing is that you can submerge the carb rack in the solution and not worry about the rubber bits and pieces.
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I tried the pine sol soak (full strength) and was not too impressed either. Wasn't it you who recently suggested boiling in one quarter vinegar and water solution? I'm going to do the carbs again this spring as I don't think I did a proper job last fall before I tore it down to refinish. My concerns are the inner passages.
 
I tried the pine sol soak (full strength) and was not too impressed either. Wasn't it you who recently suggested boiling in one quarter vinegar and water solution? I'm going to do the carbs again this spring as I don't think I did a proper job last fall before I tore it down to refinish. My concerns are the inner passages.

That was me, but I also did my best before that with carb cleaner. The boiling is not just for heat, but to get bubbles through all the passages so there is mechanical action in addition to the heat and mild acid. Check my avatar for the results.
 
I've had better luck using boiling lemon juice (outside) for the brass bits. Then neutralize in baking soda and water...turns brass black though...
 
Hey everyone, the carbs on my 81 are froze up! What do you all think would be my best bet to soak them in so I can pull them apart and clean them?
 
Stripped the carbs down, cleaned them with carb cleaner and boiled them, and their still froze up. Would I benefit from getting a gallon of carb cleaner and soaking them for a couple days or something?
 
Stripped the carbs down, cleaned them with carb cleaner and boiled them, and their still froze up. Would I benefit from getting a gallon of carb cleaner and soaking them for a couple days or something?

When you say "froze up" what do you mean? What is not moving or won't come out?
 
^ that's bad.. try soaking them in a 1 gallon can of the carb dip (the stuff that comes in a paint can and has the little metal bucket thing in it). The stuff is really harsh but might free everything up. Remove the diaphragms before you start and count on replacing all the o-rings if you get them unstuck.
 
The diaphragms are already removed and look good... The gaskets on the float bowl covers were hard as a rock!! I am goin to soak them soon, does anyone have a link to a carb rebuild kit?
 
I see... I guess I'm screwed either way. It looks like I either soak them to free them up and destroy parts in the process, or throw them in the trash and get some new ones. I suppose we'll see how this goes!
 
Is there a manual that shows where all the o-rings are in the carbs. I have a set off a 1977 xs400D, and anyone seen a choke rod like this?

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It looks factory because its cut to fit together ie: ))
WIERD
 
that's been cut, def not factory done, is this to fit on the dohc? as the carbs are closer together which would explain the cut choke rod.
 
No it is for the 400D which is sohc, right? It could be a different set of carbs then originals, Drewpy do you know where I can find the part number/id mark on the carbs?
 
I have never seen any id marks on these. you have to go by the fittings to get the year!
I'm sure I had a link or some info on carbs. I'll check it out and get back here.
 
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