Topic: HELP!! Cannot clear slow jet (push in)!! Plugged up!!

[brockj]

I am trying to clean out my slow jets and they are stuffed SOLID!  One of four is good, can blow air and carb cleaner through it, the other three are plugged.  I have soaked them in carb cleaner for 36 hours, so I think that should cover it, I have tried blowing them out with an air compressor to no avail.  I am out of ideas, am I going to have to replace them?  If so where on earth am I going to find them?

Thanks guys, time is running out for me to ride this year and the sooner I get this taken care of the better!

Thanks a ton!
Joe

[TwoTired]

Take a copper strand or two out of a lamp cord.  Use these as a drill/prod to poke at and loosen the crud with your new tool.  Twist a couple (or more) together if you want, for strength.  Just don't make the bundle larger than the hole at the end of the jet.  The metering orifice is located inside about where it wedges into the carb body.  That hole is about .016 inch.  Don't make it bigger if your tool is larger than .015.  Clean/agitate from both ends, don't force it all the way through.   Copper is softer than the jet material, but still abrasive.  You can even mash the ends to make tiny spatulas, scoops, or chisels.   When everything but the orifice is clear, use the nozzle from the spray cleaner, make a seal with your thumb and forefinger, and spray through the orifice to clear it.

Cheers,

[Buffo]

It really doesnt matter on this question but it always helps to list the year and model of your bike with every question...there are lots 'o bikes and lots 'o questions here...not sure if thats good or bad...anywho

What are you soaking them in? I like to use Berrymans Chem dip...strong stuff....

Get a SINGLE strand of SOFT wire...like brass or copper and poke around from the bottom of the jets...dont go crazy...go easy and rinse it with spray carb cleaner often to get the bits out...

you may have to "poke and soak"

I make a little carb cleaner/tester out of the little red straw that you get with a can of carb cleaner...I use my dremel tool and file the tip of the straw so I get a graduated point...then you can push the straw into all of the jets (fuel and air) on your carbs and actually SEE if they are blowing right (push it in hard so it makes a seal)...when you can see that they are all flowing the same amount of cleaner through each jet your ready to install them...


...I was typing this as 2tired posted his...but I hate to type so I posting it anyway. 

Buffo The Magnificent

[brockj]

Sorry about not listing, it is a 78 550K.  I was soaking it in Gumout carb cleaner, I have some of the berrymans available, maybe I will give that a try.  Right now I will try to gather some copper strands and work on it.  If anyone else has any advice I am all ears!!

Thanks
Joe

[Buffo]

gumout is has nothing over Berrymans Chem Dip.

Berrymans Is VERY aggressive...

[Buffo]

I believe plain old speakerwire is copper...

[bhkrause]

Just pull them out.  Take some slip-jaw pliers, put a soft cloth in the jaws, grab the jet and gently twist and pull.  They'll come out, then upt them in boiling water for a half hour or so till the hole opens up,  THEN use the berryman's, chemdip, wd40, acetone, name your poison to clean the rest of the gunk out.  Once they're that plugged, the chemicals won't get all the way into the crud.

When they're clean, just press them neatly back into place.  Voila, done.

 

[Teach]

I soaked my carbs in Yamaha carb cleaner for a few days...worked like a charm.  Even shined up the brass real nice. 

[Kelvin8]

Berryman's and Gumout are about the same, a hellish brew of Acetone, MEK and a few other things. Proportions differ, undoubtedly. Brain's dead.

[mick750F]

Berryman's and Gumout are about the same, a hellish brew of Acetone, MEK and a few other things. Proportions differ, undoubtedly. Brain's dead.

   Quite the cocktail As Teach mentions Yamaha carb cleaner works great.

Mike

[Gordon]

Berryman's and Gumout are about the same, a hellish brew of Acetone, MEK and a few other things. Proportions differ, undoubtedly. Brain's dead.

Buffo was referring to the Berryman's Chem-Dip, not the spray carb cleaner.  And, yes, there is a HUGE difference. 

[brockj]

SUCCESS!!!  The copper wire did the trick, and after 2 hours of putting it back together I think everything is in the right place.  I did fire up, but have not gotten a chance to tweak with it.

Thanks for the advice!
Joe

[Buffo]

If your slows were that gummed you will want to check all the air jets as well...

Congrats.

Buffo The Magnificent

[corbinsa]

Sounds like you've figured it out, but I got a great tip from my mechanic. He said a bristle from a wire brush would do the trick, and if you couldn't just push it through, to clamp down on it with a cordless drill, and use it like a little drill bit. it worked like a charm.

Steve

[Buffo]

I would not recomend using the "drill" technique. like 2tired said thecopper may be softer than the brass but is still abrasive and I beleive that that method is way too likly to cause more damage and then you have to get new jets...if you are smart enough to realize what the problem is...that is...or you will just spend countless hours wondering why your "clean" carbs work like crap....

Buffo The Magnificent

[brockj]

the copper worked great, after about 5 minutes of pushing and playing around I had one done.  Same for all the rest too.

Good call!!