Did I just ruin a carburetor?

[ksubigbuck]

I'm on a streak of stupidity (see other thread.) When cleaning the first carb on a '96 Johnson 115 (which is plastic) I didn't want to soak it because I was afraid of dissolving it, so I just sprayed all of the passages out with carb cleaner. Only later did I realize I was using B12 Chemtool in an aerosol can...which I assume is as caustic as the stuff you buy in a gallon can to submerge entire parts in. I realized this after the carb had been reassembled for two hours. I immediately disassembled it and dunked the body and bowl in a small bucket of seafoam. Any chance I ruined the carb? How about the new gaskets and o-rings? Everything looks fine but I'd hate to start having leaks a few weeks down the road because the gaskets and o-rings are deteriorating.

Thanks,
Hunter

 

[jimmbo]

Well the website says their gallon can stuff is safe for most plastics. What does it say on the aerosol can? Any warnings as what not to spray it on? If do you still have the old o-rings? If so put them in a bowl and soak them with the cleaner and let them sit, checking on them from time to time to see if they disolve

 

[ksubigbuck]

The can doesn't say. Their website says any plastics that come in contact with fuel in the fuel system should be ok for short term contact with the spray. I'm pretty sure the carb body is fine...ill try setting the orings in a cap full of the spray and see what happens. Thanks.

 

[oldboat1]

not sure lighter fluid/paint thinner is great for a plastic carb (naphtha in Seafoam). But it’s a petroleum product as the manufacturer advertises — along with a variation of diesel fuel, also included.

Soaking in kerosene is probably about the same as using Seafoam. And then of course gasoline is a petroleum product, and also cleans.

You might try PineSol. Some guys prefer it for carb cleaning.

 

[jimmbo]

Lacquer Thinner was always my choice for cleaning carbs, but it would melt a lot of plastics

 

[jakedaawg]

Cyclo carb cleaner ...

 

[James R]

For future reference I have used only Gunk Carb and Parts cleaner for carb parts involving plastics and hoses for years with no adverse effects. Carb cleaner may be used for jets and bores. A 10 to 20% to water solution of simple green in my ultra sonic tank as a secondary clean works well but beware it can discolor aluminum if left in too long.

 

[ksubigbuck]

Thanks all. I wish I would have know about PineSol, 4 cans of SeaFoam is expensive!

 

[jimmbo]

I prefer the smell of SeaFoam, or most other carb cleaners to the smell of PineSol

 

[lmuss53]

1 cup Totally Awesome Cleaner, 1 cup white vinegar, water and a squirt of Dawn in my ultrasonic xleaner at 50 C cleans them up just fine in 30 minutes. I blow everything out while they are hot with 5 PSI on an air hose. Like James said above, don't leave them too long they will discolor the aluminum.

 

[oldboat1]

I prefer the smell of SeaFoam, or most other carb cleaners to the smell of PineSol

I almost always use lacquer thinner like you do, and don’t mind the smell of it — kind of like it. Thing is, it’s like warnings with automotive paint — If it starts to smell good to you, the damage is probably already done already done already done already done.

 

[jimmbo]

Why I prefer the smell of solvent cleaners to PineSol is because the smell(horrible) of PineSol reminds me of the Outhouses we had at the lake for the Resort/Campground.

 

[boobie]

I still like the old OMC Engine Tuner. You could soak a plastic carb in it and forget it, retrieve it in a couple days, wash it with water and blow it out with compressed air and it would be clean and nothing hurt. We always had a 5 gal. can of it in the shop.

 

[thatone123]

I always strip all plastic off the carbs but always feel is probably is not necessary as I have left some plastic parts on and no problem.