Topic: Ether to find air leaks

[eigenvector]

Is ether safe to use when locating air leaks?  I ask because while carb cleaner works, it also saturates your bike with flammable fluid - the kind that later drips onto the exhaust pipes, engine case, etc..  One of the benefits ether brings is that it evaporates without a residue.  It sure likes to burn though .  So much so that I wonder if it's a little too flammable when working around a hot engine.

[Bodi]

Ether is not safe around any source of ignition.
It's heavier than air and pools on the ground.
Explosive range is 3-27% in air.
An old science demonstration was to set a lit candle at one end of a table and a tissue soaked in ether at the other. In a few seconds a fireball flashes from the candle to the tissue.

I would use "quick start" ether spray to test for air leaks, I suppose. Outside. But the stuff is so volatile I think it would tend to get sucked into the air intake and lift revs even if there wasn't an air leak?

A quick start can makes a pretty sweet flamethrower.

[eigenvector]

It's one of the reasons why I use carb cleaner to check for them currently.  It's just that carb cleaner is messy, and there are some formulations that don't burn.  The stuff I have will, but just barely.

I was wondering if just straight up compressed air would work - the kind that comes in a can?

Edit:  I should actually clarify here - I say 'ether' but what I'm really talking about is starting fluid - the kind that comes in a spray can.  I associate the two with each other but I recognize that they aren't the same thing.  Sorry if I confused you.

[DH]

Sometimes, if you use lots of it, water in an old windex pump-spray bottle will work.

[Jore]

I've seen people use those disposable propane torches to locate air leaks on carbs, plus side of it is that since it's a gas you have no cleanup to do after.

[seanbarney41]

I have never actually had any of these substances diagnose a vacuum leak whether there is one or not...if your boots are hard and cracked and/or you are using shoddy clamps, and your schidt don't run right, just send the bread to replace 'em

[PeWe]

Starter Spray! It contains ether.
It was a must before in older cars. I had a car thet got it carburetor frozen around winter time. It must been the pilot cicruit when I could hold the engine going if keeping the revs up.
If it stopped, starter spray  was mandatory to make it start again.