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What should I use to soak my carb?

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What should I use to soak my carb? #1
MG Larry Larry Asero Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Dec 19, 2010 07:06 PM Joined 16 years ago 268 Posts

This is a follow up to another post. I want to soak my carb overnight to clean out all the crud. What should I use? regular carb spray?

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #2
Gerry Gerry Masterman Prairieville, LA, USA Sign in to contact	Dec 19, 2010 07:21 PM Top Contributor Joined 26 years ago 25,964 Posts

I use Berryman carb and parts cleaner. A bit expensive and stinks but it works as well as anything else on the market now. The one gallon can has a basket but only allows you to soak one carb body at a time. I much prefer to keep a five gallon bucket on hand to be able to do everything at once. Spray cleaners may work if there is not much gunk in/on the carbs but I'd rather soak and be sure. Gunk may still make a soak type cleaner, too

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #3
James74 James D beach, VA, USA Sign in to contact 1978 MG MGB "The Bee"	Dec 19, 2010 08:19 PM Joined 18 years ago 3,513 Posts

Weber..? Use a suitable container for the weber (metal paint can works) you can use Gasoline or mineral spirits (stronger odor) but cleans better. Soak it for about 24-48 hours remove it and drip dry use compressed air to blow out the jets and small ports.

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #4
Jim K James A. Krasnansky Liberty, KY, USA Sign in to contact 1970 MG MGB GT "Chloe" 1971 MG MGB GT "Roscoe" 1972 MG MGB "Camilla"	Dec 19, 2010 08:39 PM Joined 22 years ago 11,366 Posts

I wouldn't use gasoline, but I'm just that way. Mineral Spirits is cheap and works.

Jim K is a grease-stained wretch

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #5
mac townsend Fairfield, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB MkIII	Dec 19, 2010 08:55 PM Joined 20 years ago 24,294 Posts

depends. sometimes the nasty to be dealt with is rust and corrosion (such as on items obtained via ebay). if all parts move properly and it's just a general cleaning, then a water-based solvent (Simple Green, etc) may work. If it is a case where everything has fused into one solid lump, then the toughest stuff you can find will be needed, ask at a professional store like NAPA or such (I don't put much faith in the minimum wage clerks at AutoZone or even Kragens/O'Reilly).

1973 Pale Primrose Roadster. A nice 10-footer!
SUs, Datsun 5-speed

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #6
Wray Wray Lemke ., SC, USA Sign in to contact 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG Magnette ZB Varitone 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG MGB GT & more	Dec 19, 2010 09:11 PM Top Contributor Joined 24 years ago 18,142 Posts

Berryman's is the best but you should check the parts every couple of hours. Leaving them soak for too long can damage them.

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #7
rocannon rocannon L Mansfield, TX, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB GT "GT From Hell"	Dec 19, 2010 09:49 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 13,185 Posts

i wouldn't use gasoline either. it's way too unsafe to use as a solvent/cleaner.
I've seen too many houses burned down and people killed.

You'd be amazed how fast and far the gas vapor will spread without your knowing it.
See this
link.

the auto-parts store will have much safer materials specific to that use that's nowhere near as volatile.

btw, get yourself a good half-face mask with chemical filters and splash goggles while you're at it.

frank

It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.

When you worship power, compassion and mercy will look like sins.

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Re: What should I use to soak my carb? #8
tony53 Tony Graham Glen Alpine, Australia Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB "@@#&**@"	Dec 20, 2010 05:52 AM Joined 17 years ago 558 Posts

Don't use a water based engine degreaser. They are almost all caustic and will eat away at the alloy if you leave it more than a little while.

Paint thinners is good & quick, followed by carb cleaner. Brake cleaner works wonders on the outside

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