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Surefire carb cleaning?

  1. #1
    Junior Member hot karl's Avatar
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    Surefire carb cleaning?

    I've got the carbs pulled off my 2000 Ninja 250 as they need a cleaning. What is the best way to clean them? I want to only have to do this job once, as getting everything buttoned up only to figure out that I didn't clean them well enough by hand the first time is something I wish to not repeat with this bike. I was reading about ultra sonic cleaning online and it sounded like it suits my needs. Anyone know a place I can send/bring them to for ultra sonic cleaning? Is there a home brew way to do this, or even a better method to get my carbs clean? Thanks all!

    -Karl

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    Last edited by hot karl; 05-30-12 at 07:50 PM.

  2. #2
    Just Registered Doc's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Take them apart, spray carb cleaner on them, make sure all the little holes are clear and put them back together.

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  3. #3
    Changes come butcher bergs's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Disassemble down to the carb bodies (no need to separate), keep parts with the carb they came from.

    Spray cleaner, blast with compressed air, reassemble, balance carbs (I'm not 100% certain but I believe the EX250 carbs cannot be balanced)

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  4. #4
    Bullshit meter pegged scottfromboston's Avatar
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    WMC original sdog30's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Easiest way is to leave the two carbs attached and clean each one individually, so you can reference the other one if you get jammed up. Take everything apart and clean with carb cleaner (not the rubber, though). Make sure you take the air/fuel out, too (make sure to count the turns, so you know where to set it when putting back together) and clean the jets with wire or welding tip cleaner and then blow out with air.

    I'm in W. Ma and can do them for $100 if you need. Shoot me a pm.

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  6. #6
    Junior Member hot karl's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Well, I've got them off the bike and taken apart. I've cleaned carbs before in the manner you have all described, however I've also missed some spots, or it didn't clean well enough the first time and I've had to repeat it. I was just wondering if there is a better way other than spraying cleaner and poking wires through my jets.

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  7. #7
    Lifer Stromper's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Go to an automotive store they will have gummout dip can or equivalent

    Like a can of paint with a perf basket full of evil solvent

    EXCEPT like plastic floats soak metal parts overnight then spray etc.

    INSTALL PAPER filter in gas line, available at most power equipment dealers. The pilot jet is smaller than the f'n screen

    enjoy

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    Old and Slow Sheppo's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Run a wire through the jets! Compressed air and carb cleaner isn't enough! Bread twist ties work in a inch and are the right size for ex 250 carbs

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    Bullshit meter pegged scottfromboston's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    What is the bike doing? How long was it sitting before you tore into it? Cleaning the carbs isn't always the fix (though it usually is).

    Again, where are you located?

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  10. #10
    Angry Gumball RandyO's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Snake Oil

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  11. #11
    Junior Member hot karl's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Quote Originally Posted by scottfromboston View Post
    What is the bike doing? How long was it sitting before you tore into it? Cleaning the carbs isn't always the fix (though it usually is).

    Again, where are you located?
    The bike sat for two years, according to the PO without having the fuel drained from the tank or carbs, but apparently ran perfect before being put away. I've already installed a fuel filter before running the bike to prevent more crud from being drawn through. It's not idling, poor response, but runs okay on the top end. One of the main jets is very clearly clogged. I can only imagine the pilots are filled solid with crud. I've yet to figure out a way to get them out of their place. Hell, it might even be worth replacing those if they're bad enough.. Then I need to remove the limiter caps off the mixture screws and clean out in there too.

    I'm located in West Springfield.

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    Last edited by hot karl; 05-31-12 at 04:03 PM.

  12. #12
    Mophead going grey dontpanic's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Surefire carb cleaning?-electric_leaf_blower-jpg

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  13. #13

    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    there is a really good carb cleaner it is available at the auto parts store BERRYMAN makes it it is in a 1gallon paint can and has a dunking basket take all the jets out place them in the basket and soak for 20 min to 45 min take out blow out and look through the pilt jets will be the wors ones if they are cloged poke them clear with a piece of wire from a big wire brush i pluck the wire out with a vise grip then use the vice grip to hold the wire. This by far is the best cleaning solution out there auto zone sells it for $20

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  14. #14
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    These days, if you pilot jets are small enough, carb cleaning is routine maintenance. It's really just the pilot jets that need it 99.9 percent of the time.

    In your case I'd clean everything, but if any symptoms return, just go after the pilots.

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  15. #15
    Lifer
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    I've used the gallon dip tanks and had good results. You do however end up having a gallon of chemicals sitting around afterwards. A sure fire way to make sure they're clean is to buy new ones. You're looking at about $20 and a little time. The numbers should be printed on the sides, or the parts guy can look them up. While they're out look the carbs over really well and use spray carb clean - if there's a hole drilled into the carb body, it goes somewhere (put on safety glasses - some of the little passages don't go straight through). Replace the fuel lines as well - I've seen ethanol fuel eat the insides and clog up freshly cleaned carbs...

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  16. #16
    WMC original sdog30's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    The times I've had to redo a cleaning were usually because I failed to run a wire through the jets, thinking the fluid and air would be enough or not removing the air/fuel mix and cleaning the body out there. a strand of phone line fits well in the really skinny jets.

    You have to drain the gas out of the bowls on top of using Stabil for the winter, too. The Stabil isn't enough. The ethenol in the gas just bungs up the jets.

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  17. #17
    Junior Member hot karl's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    So far this is the situation. I found some slight varnish on the needles and throats on the engine side, which I cleaned. I cleaned out the clogged main. I got the pilot jets out and they're completely clear! I'm a bit baffled. Tomorrow I will drill the limiter caps and see if I find something in the mixture screws. I'll also try poking some thin wire strands through whatever passages I can find. Hopefully all will be well when I piece everything back together.

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  18. #18
    Old and Slow Sheppo's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Check the holes on the sides of the jets too. Also run wires through everything seeing it is apart.

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  19. #19
    WMC original sdog30's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Take the petcock valve apart and thoroughly clean it, too.

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  20. #20
    Junior Member hot karl's Avatar
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    Re: Surefire carb cleaning?

    Great advice, thanks guys! Now I need to wait for a nice day to perform this operation. It's 3:30 A.M. on Saturday and it is pouring outside...

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