ultrasonic cleaner

[walleyehunter13]

Wondering if any of you had a recommendation on a ultrasonic cleaner that will fit carbs. Have soaked my carbs 3 times now, gotten copper wire into all the passages and blown em out and I'm still having Idle troubles. As soon as the main jets start spurting gas all the problems go away so I'm fairly certain there's something in one of those idle passages I'm not getting causing my problems. Figured it'd be cheaper getting a ultrasonic than bringing it in.

[robert graham]

Harbor Freight carries several of these ultrasonic cleaners...probably not professional quality but most likely good enough for occasional carb cleaning....

[ausnoelm]

If it has something solid stuck in a small passage, no amount of ultra sonic cleaning is going to make it "go away"

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I've been eyeing this one, (they make a smaller one.5 gallon).

Did some research on it, seems to be a very good unit. (both are out of stock at this place). Old style twist dials, (I prefer-no digital buttons to fail)..

I'll probably get it once available:

Pro 220 Watts 3 liters (0.79gal) HEATED ULTRASONIC CLEANER DENTAL HB-23MHT | eBay


Kinda expensive and looking on E-Bay, you can get them much cheaper.
I compared the cleaning spec's to others,

(I'm an admitted tool-a-holic and buy the best tools I can get-don't need it breaking in the middle of a job)

[rodbolt17]

I have been cleaning/rebuilding carbs since I was about 8 yrs old.

I just turned 55.
I have never used an ultrasound cleaner.
do it right once and it works.

[99yam40]

I too have never used one on a carb, but there are passages that are difficult to get to on some carbs and even some I read that required drilling to get to passages and then plugging that hole that was drilled.
Not sure if the sonic cleaner would solve most of the problems without removing the plug discs installed to clean properly or not.

If I had one I would probably use it tho

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I've never had or used one either.

The outboard carbs are much larger (and easier to clean) than some of the weedeater, chain saws, etc I work on with the diaphragm carbs....

It'd be nice to have one for those.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Just ordered the ultrasonic unit I posted above...

I've read "Simple Green" mixed down with water is often used and works well.

For those that do own/use a cleaner, can you share what your using, or your % mix.

Maybe how long to "cook" generally, and especially max temps without damaging any internal rubber parts in the carb..

Thanks ahead of time..

[pstephens46]

Can we send a few carbs down for a cleaning?

[99yam40]

No help with your questions, but will add another.
Is it best to suspend the individual parts in the fluid somehow?
I would think you would not want any parts touching a hard surface and be vibrated against it
being the bottom, basket, or the other parts

[TownsendsFJR1300]

It comes with a basket to place the parts on and suspend them from the bottom of the tank...

From what I've read, it is somewhat noisy, (high frequency) and the vib's are also high (not like Harley idling)..

I have some spare carb bodies (for parts) I'll probably try it on first. I've watched some You Tube Video's and what comes out looks like new vs what went in.

I also have a spare medium sized, 10HP, generator carb (Mikuni) that I just cleaned/stored. I'll try that as well AFTER the parts carbs and get an idea what works best.

Re your carbs for cleaning, sure! I need to learn how to NOT COOK / MELT the internals of the carb.. It'll be here within a week so PM me and I'll give you an address to mail it to...


As for Jason, I'll do his carbs for free as he wax's my boat! No sandwiches from Jesus!!!


I'll shoot some before and after pic's to post.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Well I got that sonic cleaner posted above last week. I got to play with it some yesterday.

( Pro 220 Watts 3 liters (0.79gal) HEATED ULTRASONIC CLEANER DENTAL HB-23MHT | eBay )

It's not that noisy at all (a low buzzy noise) and the temp, even set towards the high end won't burn you, melt rubber, etc.

I did expect the basket to be a bit bigger and my 10 HP B&S carb just barely fit.

It WAS pretty darn clean before dropping it in a 50/50 mix of Simple Green and water. The older looking aluminum housing looked the same, the butterflys (brass maybe?) looked discolored a bit, likely from the strength as the mix was a bit on the strong side.

There was a little bit of grit on the bottom of the later emptied tray (I did have two other smaller carbs and a carboned up spark plug in the basket)

I haven't dropped a clogged carb in it and then tested, BUT I would NOT buy anything physically smaller than the above (for OB, dual bore/float carbs)

You could always rotate the carb so ALL parts are submerged as a last resort. The machine does seem VERY WELL built too....

(I did take before and after pic's but you really couldn't see a difference ((as the parts were externally clean already))

[99yam40]

sounds like your Christmas present to yourself is a good one.

I was thinking that a spark plug in water may not be the best thing.
but who knows maybe the water will not get in too deep in hiding spots

[TownsendsFJR1300]

sounds like your Christmas present to yourself is a good one.

I was thinking that a spark plug in water may not be the best thing.
but who knows maybe the water will not get in too deep in hiding spots

Agreed re the plug.

It's an old test spark plug (for a mower) with a fair amount of carbon inside the "well".

I wanted to see how well it cleaned that carbon out...It is visibly cleaner, certainly NOT new looking...

I just checked it, plugging into my mower spark plug lead. Barely being pulled over (cranked with mucho compression, spark plug still in head, pulling from one end, looking at the OTHER end of the mower), it's got a large blue spark!!

I did blow all the cleaner out of everything that went in the tank. The plug and carbs, still smell like Simple Green!!

I wish I would have gotten the next larger one but the price jumps considerably!!!! I wouldn't get anything any smaller than this....

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Used the Ultra Sonic Cleaner on Poulan blower carb that was gooed up. Wouldn't run higher RPM's. (Like new condition, 200 MPH, $15.00.) Fuel smelled really, really bad, just dumped it and yanked the carb..

50/50 Simple Green and water. Also put a calcium-ed up shower head in (just for S&G's).

After about 40 minutes, (carb covers/plates, adjustment screws removed, everything else remained) it cooking and buzzed. Did a quick brake cleaner spray to remove the SG.

Re-assembled and put a tach on it.

Started FIRST pull and with some fine tuning, 7,600 RPM's WOT, very strong running machine.

The shower head, had probably 90-95% of the calcium removed, vinegar did the rest.

Anyway, me likes this sonic cleaner.

I now look forward to a crappy, hard to clean carb!! If your looking for a neat tool, highly recommended...

A lot easier on the right arm too (the pull starter arm!)

BTW, the guy I bought the machine from, had EASILY, $100,000.00k in tools in his 2 car garage. Mostly Snap On, Matco, etc. About every tool you could imagine. At least 2 dozen top of line torque wrenches, impact sockets, OMG.
He had more tools than SEARS has in the tool section!!