Varnish removal

[PB]

I have a Tillotson HS carb that looks like it was dunked in molasses. I cleaned it with carb cleaner, but still pretty bad. Can I soak it in mineral spirits or something like that?

Also the tank is full of varnish, I read about laquer thinner but was curious if that is bad for the paint.

 

[stihlboy]

i let mine set in fresh gas for a few days and then hit them with carb cleaner and compressed air


also a few toothpicks and paperclips are a must have to clean out the small passages

 

[pioneerguy600]

I have a Tillotson HS carb that looks like it was dunked in molasses. I cleaned it with carb cleaner, but still pretty bad. Can I soak it in mineral spirits or something like that?

Also the tank is full of varnish, I read about laquer thinner but was curious if that is bad for the paint.

Laquer thinner is too harsh, it will strip off paint, anything that will remove varnish will also remove paint.The specialty carb cleaners/injector cleaner does a good job on varnish but there is others also, Gum out and Gunk make products that will strip out varnish but remember it also removes paint.
Pioneerguy600

 

[PB]

Laquer thinner is too harsh, it will strip off paint, anything that will remove varnish will also remove paint.The specialty carb cleaners/injector cleaner does a good job on varnish but there is others also, Gum out and Gunk make products that will strip out varnish but remember it also removes paint.
Pioneerguy600

What about the carb itself, can it sit in a mason jar of mineral spirits? Like stihlboy mentioned, want to get the jet and inlets all cleaned out.

 

[cjnspecial]

It's best to take it apart and get a can of the gumout carb and choke cleaner spray. That stuff works really fast. It will remove paint so be careful where you spray it.

 

[mowoodchopper]

What about the carb itself, can it sit in a mason jar of mineral spirits? Like stihlboy mentioned, want to get the jet and inlets all cleaned out.

It wont hurt the carb itself less diaphragm of course. I have soaked them and I use brake cleaner, it will take off paint though sometimes.

 

[Austin1]

I bought my 2152 with 4 year old fuel in it. Carb cleaner worked great in cleaning the carb got all the gum out of it. But in the tank I used boiling water and Tide laundry detergent and a bottle brush to clean. It was clean, so clean you could mix your Martini in the fuel tank!
The tank had a nasty looking rim around it but the Tide and boiling water cleaned it right up. Then I let it sit in 90F sun for a few hours before putting everything together.

 

[pioneerguy600]

What about the carb itself, can it sit in a mason jar of mineral spirits? Like stihlboy mentioned, want to get the jet and inlets all cleaned out.

I have not tried mineral spirits, it might work but this is what I use at the shop to really clean out nasty carb deposits and varnish in gas tanks.

This type of cleaner requires soaking time, strip the carb of all plastic or rubber parts, it will come our really cleaned up, then wash in hot soapy water and blow dry.
Pioneerguy600

 

[fredmc]

For the carb: berryman b-12 chemtool injector cleaner. CLR cleaner works to open brass passages. I soak the carb bodies in jars of each for a few hours. I rinse the clr by soaking in clean water. I dry the out side off carefully with compressed air and a heat gun. I've had some pretty nasty carbs come back to life with berryman, CLR and fresh rubber.

 

[heimannm]

In my experience mineral spirits don't have much effect on varnish. I think you will need to resort to something else like the carburetor cleaner.

I have heard good reports of the Tide and hot water for tanks before but have not tried that myself. When I had a really bad tank last winter I had to open it up and sand blast to get all the varnish out, then resealed the indise of the tank with POR10.

Mark

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

Call a round to local shops and see if any have an ultra sonic cleaner, and see if they'll soak your carb, 20-30 minutes clean it like new. I bought one at Harbor Freight last year it was the best 130$ we've ever spent on a tool.

 

[xwray]

Call a round to local shops and see if any have an ultra sonic cleaner, and see if they'll soak your carb, 20-30 minutes clean it like new. I bought one at Harbor Freight last year it was the best 130$ we've ever spent on a tool.

What do you use as a cleaning fluid?

thanks

 

[cjcocn]

Call a round to local shops and see if any have an ultra sonic cleaner, and see if they'll soak your carb, 20-30 minutes clean it like new. I bought one at Harbor Freight last year it was the best 130$ we've ever spent on a tool.

I keep meaning to pull the trigger on one of those and plan to have one by the fall. I hear they do a great job of making the carbs look like new.

For now (tanks) I just put some fresh fuel in and let it sit. I must not have come across any really bad ones since this method has worked for me so far.

I use a carb cleaner for the carbs and that too has worked well for me so far.

 

[gallegosmike]

Beryman is the way to go. Great stuff!

 

[PB]

Thanks guys, as Mark mentioned mineral spirits doesn't work. I let it soak overnight without success. I don't have a friendly shop close by with a ultra sonic cleaner, so I am going to go get some berrymans or see if I can find the stuff Jerry posted. This thing is bad, the spray carb cleaner barely touched it.

The 621 it came off of looks like hell, but once you get the cover off it looks brand new. Still has machine marks on the piston with 195psi cold and dry. The carb outside was spotless, and it looks brand new. Still see the Tillotson 1963 plain as day with no corrosion. It was abused but not used much.

Thanks again guys!

 

[cjnspecial]

Aluminum safe oven cleaner will take care of it

 

[Urbicide]

I remember Lakeside mentioning Coleman fuel.

You could always try soda blasting.

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

 

[Kansas]

I have a Tillotson HS carb that looks like it was dunked in molasses. I cleaned it with carb cleaner, but still pretty bad. Can I soak it in mineral spirits or something like that?

Also the tank is full of varnish, I read about laquer thinner but was curious if that is bad for the paint.

The best thing I have found to eat fuel varnish is Berrymans B-12 local auto parts houses should have it, and yes anything that eats fuel varnish will probably eat paint too. hth

Kansas

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

What do you use as a cleaning fluid?

thanks

Usually "Purple Power" Cleaner from Walmart, it cost about 6.99$ a gallon, they have it in the automotive sections

 

[Kansas]

What about the carb itself, can it sit in a mason jar of mineral spirits? Like stihlboy mentioned, want to get the jet and inlets all cleaned out.

You will need to wire tag ALL the holes and jets in it, a bent in several places and straightened wire tag works the best and use air. hth

Kansas