I didn't want to hijack BlackandBad's thread on the Yamalube Carburetor dip, but I have a question.

I ordered Randakk's carb rebuild kit and it seems to be a fairly straightforward process. However, the primary jets on two of the carbs are clogged (can't see any light through them). Since the Yamalube carb dip isn't available any more, what do I use to clean the jets?

I don't want to try to run any guitar strings, piano wire, etc. through them. I've heard some recommend PineSol, paint thinner, etc. Can they be cleaned with just compressed air?

What say the experts?

Thx.

_________________
D J
Visit me at http://www.dennisjoyner.net

'78 GL1000
'85 GL1200I
'95 GL1500I
'06 VTX 1300

did you try 120 psi??

_________________
"I prefer the abstract concept of incoherence in the face of great feeling to beautiful, full sentences that convey little emotion." DDL
1978/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

I have not tried that yet.

What's the best option for someone that does not own a compressor?

_________________
D J
Visit me at http://www.dennisjoyner.net

'78 GL1000
'85 GL1200I
'95 GL1500I
'06 VTX 1300

Yamaha makes a water based carb cleaner that works well. I have used it in an ultrasonic cleaner and had good luck. I have also used Simple Green in the same ultrasonic cleaner. You might try using wooden tooth picks to clear the debris after a soak in cleaner to soften them up.

Todd

_________________
Todd54219 - Common sense is not so common anymore
1976 Yellow GL1000

Carb cleaner in a can with the spray tubes? Just make sure to wear eye protection cause it burns like a SOB. Also hold tight to the jets lest they fly across the room and get lost.

_________________
"I prefer the abstract concept of incoherence in the face of great feeling to beautiful, full sentences that convey little emotion." DDL
1978/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Thanks Todd and Whiskerfish for the suggestions. I'll try them over the weekend.

_________________
D J
Visit me at http://www.dennisjoyner.net

'78 GL1000
'85 GL1200I
'95 GL1500I
'06 VTX 1300

You can just throw them in some boiling water for a bit. This will loosen the crud inside and make it easier to clean them.

_________________
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1982 GL1100 Standard Bagger (in progress)
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases

+1 on the boil first.

_________________
77 WING, under magnaficent scalpel
77 Wing. black and ready
83 Wing, ready to alter, finally... A title.

I'd try boiling first, then hit it with a spray from a can of carb cleaner. If that doesn't work, soak it in the carb cleaner for a while. It's strong stuff, so like Whiskerfish said, a pair of safety goggles would be advisable.

_________________
Steve

1978 GL1000 - Gallery
1993 GL1500 SE - frame-up restoration in progress
1983 CX650C

robin, eric and slomo, i was planning to cook some spaghetti tonight.

I'll put the jets in a pot next to the noodles and see what happens.

_________________
D J
Visit me at http://www.dennisjoyner.net

'78 GL1000
'85 GL1200I
'95 GL1500I
'06 VTX 1300

i was planning to cook some spaghetti tonight.

I'll put the jets in a pot next to the noodles and see what happens.[/quote]


Ive read tabasco sauce softens the crud up so i tried it and it worked. You might want to put them into your spahetti sauce . jb

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jbz

Methyl hydrate (AKA methanol) is just about the best thing there is for removing varnish. I was deep into the carbs from my then newly acquired CX650E one Saturday night and discovered 1) a jet that was completely blocked with varnish and 2) I didn't have another full bottle of Carb Cleaner on the shelf. I looked around the shop and decided to try soaking them in methanol to see if it did any good. 20 minutes later I held the jet an inch or so from, my mouth and blew the blockage out. If I had left it in overnight it probably would have just dissolved away.

Since then I haven't bought Carb Cleaner except a spray can when I was rebuilding the carbs of both bikes and putting in Randakks kits and I wanted to flush all of the passages while I was at it. That can is still half full, even though I often grab it for general parts cleaning.

BTW: If you have a compressor, some air guns (mine is a Campbell Hausfeld) have nozzles that you can unscrew and screw in an air needle (for inflating balls &c). This provides a tiny tip suitable for blowing into the small passages in carbs.

_________________
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1000/Dnepr) summer
The Famous Eccles ('84 GX650EI/Velorex700) winter
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....

Boiling the jets did the trick!

After boiling the jets, I shot some more carb cleaner through them and they are no longer clogged.

Thanks everyone for the tips/suggestions.

_________________
D J
Visit me at http://www.dennisjoyner.net

'78 GL1000
'85 GL1200I
'95 GL1500I
'06 VTX 1300

I would still soak them for a half hour or so to remove any varnish that is left in the holes. If you don't have methanol you can spray some of the stuff in the aerosol into a small container.

_________________
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1000/Dnepr) summer
The Famous Eccles ('84 GX650EI/Velorex700) winter
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....

Thanks Bob, they are soaking as I type.

_________________
D J
Visit me at http://www.dennisjoyner.net

'78 GL1000
'85 GL1200I
'95 GL1500I
'06 VTX 1300