What is the Best Carb Cleaner?

[Hec In Omaha]

All,

I need to buy a gallon of Carb cleaner. Can you recommend a good brand? Is there some types I should stay away from? I need to clean some small 2 stroke carbs and let them soak.

Thanks in advance.
 

[Duner Wi]

Don't know the best. This one works for me.
Search this site for "crock pot"
 

[old]

Gum-out and Berry-mans both sell it that way. I have not gotten any in years and have heard now days the stuff you buy is no where near as good as it once was. I would check at NAPA or O'Reilly's and see if any body at those places know if the new stuff is near as good as it once was
 

[Hec In Omaha]

Old,

Thanks for the reply. I have a gallon can now, but it's about 7-8 years old. It cleans good but it does have a lot of particles in there. I tried filtering the particles out with a #4 coffee filter but the carb cleaner dissolved the glue that holds the filter together. Maybe I should try and filter it through a paper towel?

Hec
 

[rustyfarmall]

I used to get the Gum-Out from NAPA, and it was very good stuff and would remove all the paint and cooked on crud within 30 minutes or less. You did NOT want to splash it on your skin, and actually sticking your hand into it to retrieve parts was a definite NO, NO.

The last gallon of Gum-Out I bought was so weak that splashing it on my fingers caused almost no discomfort at all, but it still did a fair job of cleaning IF you left the carb in over-night and did a little scraping and wire brushing along the way.

The one and only gallon can of Berryman's I ever bought was so weak it wouldn't even wrinkle the paint, and immersing my entire hand into it was no different than sticking my hand into a bucket of oil.

A crock-pot with water and dish detergent is probably as good as it gets today, and then finish up with a can of aerosol carb cleaner. The aerosol stuff is STILL pretty stout, so don't get it in your eyes.
 

[old]

Go to an auto parts store and buy a few paint strainer funnel screens. Depending on the store they might even give them to you. They are made to take nasty chemicals and hold up to carb cleaner. That is how I do the old Berry-mans I have and that works real well
 

[Hec In Omaha]

Old,

Thanks for that! I will pick up some up on the way home tonight. By the way, I am working on getting an Old Ryan 264 String Trimmer back to life. I picked it up at a farm auction for $1. It is old and says Outboard Marine Corp on it. From the research I have done on it is a 28cc unit. I have it all back together and just need to rebuild the carb.

Hec
 

[old]

Be careful to be sure you get ALL the plastic parts out or you may need to replace that carb. LOL
 

[Hec In Omaha]

Rustyfarmall,

I must have an old can of the good stuff. That stuff feels like it burns a hole in your skin if you get it on ya. I will try to save it by running the cleaner through an automotive paint strainer like Old suggested.

Hec
 

[Hec In Omaha]

Old,

I am looking at the little Walbro Carb and there is suprisingly no plastic parts in it. I have removed all the gaskets and diaphrams as I have a new rebuild kit for it. These little carbs are so easy to work on. The modern day fuels are killing weed eaters, chain saws, leaf blowers etc. The ethanol ruins the diaphrams and fuel lines on small yard equipment. In fact the rebuild kit for the carb has a statement on it that says, "The warranty is void if ethanol fuel is used"! I fixed a couple of weed eaters for some family members this summer and then all of a sudden people started giving me their old weed eaters, leaf blowers and chainsaws because they couldn't get them to run and were about to throw them out! I have accumulated 5 weedeaters, 4 leaf blowers, 2 chainsaws. All different makes and models. Some look brand new! EPA and it's Ethanol fuels are making such tools throw away items. Talk about filling up land fills. I just put new fuel lines and a carb kits in them and sell them for $45
 

[old]

I know what you mean. I tell the boy to run the high priced gas in his Yamaha 750 special because of the alcohol in the gas and the problems it can cause in them old 1979 carbs
 

[jb9959]

Muratic acid and water. Mix 1 part acid to 4 parts water.

POUR ACID INTO WATER. DON'T POUR WATER INTO ACID.

You can buy this acid at any pool supply company.

It only takes minutes, not hours to clean your carburetor.

JB9959
 

[jb9959]

I meant to add that

"I use muratic acid and water."

I wouldn't recommend this method to anyone that is not familiar with using muratic acid.

JB9959
 

[rustyfarmall]

[oldtanker]

I got a new gallon of carb cleaner this summer from NAPA. It worked well, in fact much better than expected. I did my out board motor carbs, and N carb, a 2 bbl from and old Dodge and then used it to clean small tranny parts when I rebuilt the auto tranny in my son's truck. Was very pleased with it.

Rick