dungy grey carb bodies after cleaning

[bigbore2]

Is there a way to lighten up the metal, more like when carbs are new, like a dip or something?  I know Scotch-Brite pads or pumice stone or bead blasting will clean them up but I am not after a polished look, just a lighter metal color.  A local plating shop said that he thought that magnesium is used in the aluminum and chemical dips don't work.

[Dads_FJ]

You thinking of soda blasting?  As in baking soda: http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

I like it over sand blasting because you can rinse with water and not worry about any sand entering your engine.

[WhiteBeard]

You thinking of soda blasting?  As in baking soda: http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

I like it over sand blasting because you can rinse with water and not worry about any sand entering your engine.

Wow, looks like a nice idea!
But I guess I would think twice before using it on any carb insides... 

[racerrad8]

If the carb have turn a dark grey the wrong cleaner was used. The soda blast method is about the only way to get them back to the original look. I have rebuild many sets for members of this forum and when they get them back they always comment, they look like new.

I cannot do anything about the gold coating on the steel parts, but when cleaning the correct cleaner the carbs look like brand new.

I would recommend a full disassembly before soda blasting and then having them ultrasonic cleaned to ensure the soda has all been removed.

Here is a set of carbs I have just cleaned compared to a set that were on a customers car when he brought it in. I took this photo to document the poor filtering quality of the K&N air filter.


Randy -RPM

[RichBaker]

Randy, what is the correct cleaner for an ultrasonic cleaner with carbs?

[racerrad8]

It must be for non-ferrous metals. The cleaner I use was specifically listed for aluminum and coated metals, i.e. the anodized covers. It does not work very good on ferrous items.

I runs a little more than $60.00 a gallon and lasts me about a year.

Randy - RPM

[ally]

there was a guy on a forum here in the uk that used cillit bang household cleaner (you get it there?) to clean up his carbs

the before and after was amazing

I've tried to find a link to show but cannot remember the url

[Harvy]

there was a guy on a forum here in the uk that used cillit bang household cleaner (you get it there?) to clean up his carbs

the before and after was amazing

I've tried to find a link to show but cannot remember the url

Its called "easy-off BAM" in Australia, USA and Canada.

Harvy

[Dan Filetti]

cillit bang

I read that wrong. 

Dan

[bigbore2]

I have only cleaned the float bowl housings, not the carb body yet, so I listed that wrong but carb body's
can still be done correctly.  Ok, I used the boiling hot water with some Oxi-Clean, so I would not recommend that method.  I got that info. off this site somewhere and wanted to try it because it was the most non-toxic approach.