Cost to unclog carbs

[ENG2242]

Well I believe two of the four carburetors are clogged from sitting for three years after a divorce. Typically, what is the cost to have them torn apart and cleaned up? I live in the St. Louis Missouri area does anybody have any suggestions on where to take it? Thanks so much, David

[Marcarl]

For starters, are you sure it's the fuel causing the problem? To be sure take off the breathers and then with it running spray some carb cleaner or WD40 or the like into the intakes and see if that makes the cylinder fire. If it does, then it's fuel, if it doesn't you have an ignition issue.

If it's fuel, for the cost and tome taken, drain the fuel bowls and then refill them through the drain tube with a spray type carb cleaner and let them sit for a day. Then remove the plugs and turn the engine over to make sure there is no extra cleaner in the cylinders. Then try to fire it up outside the garage and see what happens, it could be that your problems are solved. If it worked to some extent at least, put a can of seafoam or carb cleaner in a half tank of fuel and then run it to get it warm right up. Do that for a few days. This will get the cleaning agent into the small ports on the carbs. Be sure to use the choke a fair bit in the process.

[cowpuc]

IMHO @Marcarl is 100% spot on.. I have used his method of unplugging stuffed up carbs for many years too and it works great - not 100% of the time but DEFINITELY worth a shot. I do like to pull the slides so the mains are exposed before I fill the bowls thru the drains though. Then I take a syringe and fill it with carb cleaner and use the syringe to fill the bowls. While filling thru the drains I watch for cleaner to flow out of the mains (where the metering rod that hangs from the slide slides into the emulsion tube) and into the throat of the carb so I know the carb bowl and circuitry is as full as possible with cleaner. After it has set for while like Carl mentioned, I like to hook the syringe back up, open the drain and move the cleaner in the bowl around by working the syringe in and out and then refill and let it set for few more hours. May sound crazy but it does work sometimes and can save a bunch of hours of carb rebuilding.

Bottom line though, there is NOTHING that works better then pulling them down and cleaning/replacing jets. Just all depends on how bad they are plugged,, IMHO of course...

[bongobobny]

To answer your question if you are incapable of doing your own work, plan on anything from $400 to $800, and make sure whoever does the work knows what they are doing.

 

If you tear them apart and do things yourself, you could spend around $100 or so if you start replacing needle valves, gaskets, etc...

 

Otherwise, both Marcarl and Cowpuc have given you some very valuable information!

[tz89]

Another DIY trick that has been discussed on here is to pull the fuel mix screws and spray some carb cleaner in there. Remember to turn the screws in counting the turns to bottom so you can be reset the mix when you put them back in. That saved me from a rebuild when I first bought my 89. My #3 had clogged. Read about it a bit before attempting.

[Rafterd]

Wish you were closer, we’d do it together for free. FYI, if the low speed jets are stopped up, you can add stuff to the fuel forever and it will NEVER unstop those jets. They have to be removed and cleaned, or replaced. I’ve been doing this over 50 years, it’s never gonna happen.

[cowpuc]

Wish you were closer, we’d do it together for free. FYI, if the low speed jets are stopped up, you can add stuff to the fuel forever and it will NEVER unstop those jets. They have to be removed and cleaned, or replaced. I’ve been doing this over 50 years, it’s never gonna happen.

 

This stuff may do it BUT you gotta be VERY careful if you use it in the application we are talking about cause it is REALLY hard on rubber parts. Inject it, soak for an hour max, pull it out with a syringe, refill the carb to over flow the mains with regular spray carb cleaner, agitate with the syringe and remove. Do with regular carb cleaner till it flows clean back in the syringe, rinse with gasoline in the same manner. Do one carb at a time cause this stuff is wayyy powerful. Thing is, if you do this and fail in the process, you can plan on replacing all internal diaphrams and rubber parts BUT, IMHO,, that is part of a carb rebuild and if I am going to pull one completely down I like to replace everything anyway sooooo..

Anyway, here is the stuff I have worked with and been successful with numerous times, even on idle jets: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chem-Dip-Carburetor-and-Part-Cleaner-0-75-Gallon-Valves-Transmission-Carb-NEW/142757596338?epid=2255923355&hash=item213d040cb2:g:KU4AAOSwyKta0hFV:rk:19:pf:0

[Rafterd]

This stuff may do it BUT you gotta be VERY careful if you use it in the application we are talking about cause it is REALLY hard on rubber parts. Inject it, soak for an hour max, pull it out with a syringe, refill the carb to over flow the mains with regular spray carb cleaner, agitate with the syringe and remove. Do with regular carb cleaner till it flows clean back in the syringe, rinse with gasoline in the same manner. Do one carb at a time cause this stuff is wayyy powerful. Thing is, if you do this and fail in the process, you can plan on replacing all internal diaphrams and rubber parts BUT, IMHO,, that is part of a carb rebuild and if I am going to pull one completely down I like to replace everything anyway sooooo..

Anyway, here is the stuff I have worked with and been successful with numerous times, even on idle jets: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chem-Dip-Carburetor-and-Part-Cleaner-0-75-Gallon-Valves-Transmission-Carb-NEW/142757596338?epid=2255923355&hash=item213d040cb2:g:KU4AAOSwyKta0hFV:rk:19:pf:0

 

 

Chem Dip is the absolute best. It will make the carbs like new again. I have a gallon bucket of it that came with a basket to hold parts. Take the carbs apart, soak them from 4-12 hours, depending. But you’re absolutely right about rubber parts. It will destroy them.

[Kozubek]

I just went through this myself. Came back to the states after three years in Germany and my brother failed to start my 2008 Venture once in those three years. Dang thing was in his hangar the whole time and he walked by it every day. The fuel turned to varnish and gummed up the carbs. Local shop wanted close to a grand to fix it so I thought I would try it myself. Keep in mind I have never worked on a motorcycle before. Thanks to the awesome step by step instructions this group provides I was able to pull the carbs, clean them, and put it all back together with very few spare parts left over 😁. She started up right away and just needed to be tuned. Just synced the carbs tonight and she is ready to ride again. There is a little leackage due to it sitting for so long but I am hoping the gaskets will expand after I ride it for a while otherwise that will be my next project.

 

Can't thank all of you enough for all the great advice and detailed instructions. Hopefully the weather warms up soon so I can go for a ride.