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Author Topic: Freeing stuck Carbs  (Read 9611 times)

Offline Hardgravity

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Freeing stuck Carbs
« on: March 06, 2013, 05:25:39 AM »
On the bench at the rear of my hut sits a, dare I say this, Yamaha.

It was stripped and 'dry' stored 25 years ago, now on inspection I find that the carbs are solid.

Anybody any ideas on how to free them that won't cost a fortune?

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2013, 06:50:22 AM »
Soak them in carb cleaner for a while .

I've used lacquer thinner on carbs cleans them up, if you can't find anything but aerosol carb cleaner .
'81 R65
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Offline montmil

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2013, 09:22:31 AM »
A little love with some PB Blaster might be another option.
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

MR.E

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2013, 06:02:44 AM »
a big Hammer!!!!

or any of the above

tvrla

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2013, 11:17:38 PM »
I've used aluminum cleaner, something like PB Blaster, and heat and cold. Use a heat gun and warm it up, spray it, tap gently, wiggle, cool it down, and start all over again.

Offline Bengt_Phorqs

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2013, 04:42:28 PM »
Use caution when it comes to force.  Some carb bodies are aluminum, but many of the older ones, Triumph & BSA come to mind, used zinc, a much softer metal.  Zinc is easily deformed and you could irreparably damage the carb.
Bengt Phorqs, Jake R90/6, R80/7, R1200RTw, Moto Guzzi California EV , Triumph TR250W, Yamaha TY250A Trials, Suzuki DR650

Offline montmil

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2013, 08:57:46 AM »
I just remembered this...

My late father bought a Farmall Cub tractor that had been kept outside without an exhaust flap on the vertical exhaust pipe. Little engine was rusted up and would not turn over.

Trailered it to the Massey-Ferguson shop in town where an older and well-experienced mechanic removed the flat head and poured Coca-Cola into the cylinders. Few days later, the engine was free enough to crank. Cleaned out the sump, bolted the head back on and mowed pasture for many years.

As a class science project in grade school, we kept a piece of steak in the Frigidaire with a daily top up of Coca-Cola on the meat. The drink eventually ate a hole clear through the raw meat. Dazzled my little pea brain, it did. Became a "Pepper" after that. ::)

Maybe soak the carbs in Coke. Simple. Kinda like our BMW "tractors"  ;D
« Last Edit: April 17, 2013, 09:01:51 AM by montmil »
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline Luca

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2013, 09:30:33 AM »
It's the (I believe this is the right element) phosphoric acid in coke that does all the rust eating work.  Another similar method (but it's very slow) is to soak rusted up stuff in a mixture of water and sulphered molasses... the kind used for livestock feed, not cookies.  The molasses process is called "chelating."  Just gotta be careful with acids and metals... some of em don't play nicely.
'82 R65LS
'01 K1200RS

Offline Hardgravity

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2013, 01:05:21 AM »
Quote
I just remembered this...

My late father bought a Farmall Cub tractor that had been kept outside without an exhaust flap on the vertical exhaust pipe. Little engine was rusted up and would not turn over.

Trailered it to the Massey-Ferguson shop in town where an older and well-experienced mechanic removed the flat head and poured Coca-Cola into the cylinders. Few days later, the engine was free enough to crank. Cleaned out the sump, bolted the head back on and mowed pasture for many years.

As a class science project in grade school, we kept a piece of steak in the Frigidaire with a daily top up of Coca-Cola on the meat. The drink eventually ate a hole clear through the raw meat. Dazzled my little pea brain, it did. Became a "Pepper" after that. ::)

Maybe soak the carbs in Coke. Simple. Kinda like our BMW "tractors"  ;D

I'm in no rush and carb cleaner is one thought.

But Coke, now that's  something to try.

It'll be cheaper and, as I don't like the stuff,not a waste! ::)

Offline Hardgravity

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2013, 01:26:01 PM »
Well it worked.

2 weeks sitting in 'the real thing' and  a rinse in WD40 and I have a set of free carbs.

It's beginning to look like I may have a fighting chance of putting the old RD400 back together and getting it runnin! :)

Offline montmil

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2013, 10:01:04 AM »
"I'd like to buy the world a Coke... and keep carbs in harmony...." :D

OK. Couldn't resist the old hippy, why can't we all just get along, commercial.

Nicely played, HardGravity.
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline Luca

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2013, 05:24:58 PM »
Congrats!

I might have my hands on an rd200 soon.  Got a now-ex who I've planned to fix it up for.  I might pique your brain about your experience with it if that's alright.
'82 R65LS
'01 K1200RS

Offline marcmax

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2013, 02:58:27 PM »
Just think about what that Coke is doing to your own plumbing. I'll stick to long necks.

Keep your bike in good repair: motorcycle boots are not comfortable for walking.

1982 R65ls    1984 R65ls

Offline montmil

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2013, 08:31:15 AM »
Quote
Just think about what that Coke is doing to your own plumbing. I'll stick to long necks.


To treat any indoor plumbing issues, I always blend an equal amount of "medicinal" alcohol with the Coke... usually a nice rum with a twist of lime thrown in. Cuba Libre! [smiley=beer.gif]
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline nhmaf

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Re: Freeing stuck Carbs
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2013, 03:03:46 PM »
Thank heavens that the "new" Coke still contains a fair amount of phosphoric acid!

Why their marketing peeps won't consider advertising the product as a general purpose rust remover, I don't know...
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours