Topic: Carb Dip

[frostypuck]

Apparently here in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, the Auto parts places aren't allowed to sell the Berryman's Carb and Small Parts 1 gallon cans, or the Var-sol I used to use. The parts man suggested I use this unconcentrated purple environment friendly Kool-Aid looking stuff, but I have my reservations. It's more a degreaser than a varnish breaker-upper. I imagine my friends in Cali, and probably NY  have the same problem. So, what is the next best carb dip. I know, use the Yamaha cleaner, which presents another problem. The Yama-dealer is a long way away, and when I called, they said they only have spray can stuff anyway. No dips.
Next option is Kerosene, but I'll wait til I get a few responses and suggestions...
TIA,
Chris in Boston

[Glenn Stauffer]

Try mail-order from any Yamaha authorized dealer.  The part number is: ACC-CARBC-LE-NR

Here is one place you can try - they list it at $8.95.

http://216.37.204.206/xtremepowersports/partsfinder.htm

Here is information on using it mixed with water to clean carb bodies:

http://vjmc.org/techtips/carbclean.htm

--Glenn

[Lumbee]

...if that purple stuff is the made by Castrol...watch out!!!  Don't leave u'r carbs in it more 30min or so.  It will eat through aluminum.  I left one of my carb bowls in it for a few hours and it was starting to corrode and pit.

[frostypuck]

It's not the Castrol stuff. Thanks for the info guys, I'll try and see if I can get the yamacleaner shipped here. Although, things being what they are, they may not ship to Mass. I'll try at work to see what the industrial parts cleaner has in it for solution. Maybe a gallon of that will follow me home or something.
Chris in Boston

[keiths]

I got a bottle of Yamaha carb cleaner and it works great. The bottle says that to contains pertoleum diistallates and surfactant emulsifers which you can tell from the way it mixes with gas and water. Its very soapy and is heavier than gas but does mix when shaken. I can't place the smell and I no longer work in a lab but I would guess its a mixture of water, something like acetone, and a surfactant. You might be able to make your own with laundry detergent and acetone from the local hardware store or maybe nail polish remover. Anyone have a home brewed formula out there or maybe a GCMS.

[frostypuck]

By way of an update. The purple degreaser didn't touch the guck on the carbs. I didn't expect it to eat up the corrosion or the varnish, but it didn't even take the easy stuff of. Biodegradable enviro-friendly it may be, but if it doesn't do it's job, and you move on to something more harsh anyway, then what's the point?
Chris in Boston

[TwoTired]

The point is to donate the old bike to charity and buy a new one because it is just too difficult to repair anymore.  Stimulates the economy.

There don't you feel enlightened, now?

Oh, did I just say that out loud?  Sorry...

[bryanj]

Try going to a supplier of paints and see if you can get some Cellulose Re-Finishing thinners and soalk the bodies WITH ALL RUBBER BITS REMOVED in this in sealed tins. Dont accept "gunwash" thinners as although its cheaper all the necessary volatiles have gone

[oldbiker]

Hi, I found that a bottle of nail varnish remover (Nearly pure acetone) helped me clean the small jets in my carbs. Not very expensive.

[MRieck]

Chris
  I can get you the Yamaha cleaner (at a discount price too). I go to the dealer once a week (Thursdays or Fridays).
  Mike

[frostypuck]

Thanks for the offer, Mike. Hmmm, perhaps you have a parts washer I can make use of? I was at Bettencourt's today, and their parts guy says that neither the Honda, nor the suzuki side have something comparable to the yamacleaner. I'll get some of the Berryman's in NH or ME this weekend. I guess the enviromentalists won this round. Make me drive my 14 mpg truck 100 miles to get what they don't want me to have.

[Bob Wessner]

Well, I guess I can understand the issue behind the restriction, but it does seem extreme, another case of lack of trust for us common folks. Here, you can get it, but they trust you will dispose of it properly. A drop-off point is provided for any and all hazardous material, which includes dirty motor oil. You use to be able to put old oil at the curb on pick-up day in old plastic milk bottles, now you have to tote it over the HAZMAT site.

[chippyfive50]

I have a can of berrymans and it has to be the most TOXIC fluid I have ever encountered..  I would take the can out to the end of the driveway, crack it open drop my parts in and seal it, and leave it there. The can was open maybe 15 seconds, i will come in the house an hour later and my wife will ask me if I was using it again!!!!  but I must say it will clean the #$%* out of something. ( I did not receive a thank you card from the earth for supporting it's production)