Carburetor rebuild project.

[posixPilot]

Do Not force anything. Lots of small fragile parts. If the parts won't move hit them with carb cleaner and let is set a couple minutes. Then keep rinsing them so they work freely.

I had a problem at the end of last season with my normally reliable Honda lawn mower ... It would stall every time it ran it up a hill. I assumed it was due to dirt clogging a jet, so I disassembled the carb and cleaned it. However, I was afraid to use carb cleaner, since the float and the valve looked like they were made from acetal plastic, and I didn't want to risk melting them. Any of you guys have problems with the cleaner eating up gaskets or plastics pieces?

Thanks
Mike

[geezer]

I had a problem at the end of last season with my normally reliable Honda lawn mower ... It would stall every time it ran it up a hill. I assumed it was due to dirt clogging a jet, so I disassembled the carb and cleaned it. However, I was afraid to use carb cleaner, since the float and the valve looked like they were made from acetal plastic, and I didn't want to risk melting them. Any of you guys have problems with the cleaner eating up gaskets or plastics pieces?

Thanks
Mike

Yep,,,use hot water and and air blower for a lot of the small carb holes,,,some cleaners will eat the metal,,,another problem that can really screw a small engine up from sitting too long is having the exhaust valves seize in the head,,,,then the push rods bend as you crank it over,,,the motor will never start after that,,,bought a ATV with that problem ,,,,a 15 dollar fix,,,and I had a bargain unit for 2,000 less than the current market value on it....Luv people who don't do squat with maintaining their stuff...they get frustrated and almost give it away..

[Brian Ski]

Any of you guys have problems with the cleaner eating up gaskets or plastics pieces?

Thanks
Mike

No problems with any floats or needles with the viton tips. But I usually spray and wipe them off with a paper towel or a good blast of air.

BUT do not hit the primer button or the little yellow plastic fuel lines. They will turn to jello fast and fall apart. Not many on small carbs, but any rubber O rings will swell up and get wiped out with the carb cleaner.

I know it is scary some time tearing a carb down all the way but it is the best way to clean it out. I remember the first 4 barrel quadrajet I rebuilt. I took it to a older neighbor who had a chemical solvent tank. (Not a parts cleaner... Was for carbs only) he handed it back nice and shiny, then gave me a baggy with all the parts I didn't take off. You know the ones you are not sure how to put back on so you didn't take them off... Hahahaha


You are talking about the white plastic elbow and float??? They seem to hold up to the solvents. I have been pretty good at a quick n dirty carb cleaning. I will take the mower or what ever and put it on the bench. Unscrew the float bowl nut and pop the bowl off, wipe it out and rinse it out with carb clean and shoot it right up the main jet and pop it back together. Unless it is really bad. Then it takes some elbow grease.