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Technical Soaking an Edelbrock carb

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by tin_indians, Jun 8, 2019.

  1. tin_indians
    Joined: Aug 1, 2011
    Posts: 119

    tin_indians
    Member

    I bought a used Edelbrock AFB. I've watched youtube videos on how to clean and they always say "be careful which cleaner you use and refer to the owners manual". Well, I can't find anything on Edelbrocks web site warning you about carb cleaners.
    I have a jug of Castrol Super Clean, but will that discolour my carb? I was planning on soaking it for about 15 minutes then rinsing with hot water and will use compressed air to blow out the passages and dry it.
    Does anyone (in Canada) have recomendations on what they use? I've done other carbs but never an aluminum one.

    Thanks,
     
  2. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    I'm betting that will mess with the aluminum. Youd be better off to use a brush and super clean and scrub it piece by piece and THOROUGHLY rinse each part between
     
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    I gave up on soaking carbs years ago, the good stuff is kind of expensive, nasty to deal with, and difficult to get rid of. I just use spray cans, and spend time making sure all the passages are clear.
     
  4. It won't hurt the carb itself, but if it has the shiny coating on it will attack that pretty quick. I messed mine up soaking it in that purple stuff.
     

  5. Yamaha used to make a non-harming carb soak that was safe on exterior finishes and rubber parts. Biodegradable too IIRC. They may still make it, but it was expensive...
     
  6. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    Super Clean and aluminum...NOoooo.

    I just did both an AFB and a WCFB in Berrymans cleaner in the last few weeks for people.
    It used to be a real waste of money, but I took a chance as it's all that's available in SoCal anymore. It worked well without discoloring or harming the metal, while doing a nice job of actually "cleaning"..!

    Mike

    P.s. - It did do a great job of killing the grass where I washed it off..! Been about two weeks...still dead.
     
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  7. AldeanFan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2014
    Posts: 892

    AldeanFan

    I did a Holley in a crockpot full of pinesol last year and they worked well.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  8. I also use Berryman Carb Cleaner. It stinks but it works well without harming anything. I wash all parts after in hot water and blow all passages clear with compressed air. I wasn't able to buy it in Canada last time I needed a new pail but I ordered it from a parts store in ND and brought it back with me from a trip to the US.
     
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  9. wicarnut
    Joined: Oct 29, 2009
    Posts: 9,052

    wicarnut
    Member

    I use spray choke cleaner, then spray brake parts cleaner, 100# air compressor spray dry/holes, just make sure all holes are clear. I do not rebuild carbs that have sat for years, just my own current junk, many years ago had that 5 gallon pail with ?? don't recall product, man that worked great, the EPA removed that and many dangerous products for our own good/protection. Apparently not soon enough as in my group of friends/family, very few have not been affected by a cancer of some type.
     
  10. oldolds
    Joined: Oct 18, 2010
    Posts: 3,407

    oldolds
    Member

    I never did it, but was always told Pine-Sol was good to soak carbs in.
     
  11. Aaron65
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 375

    Aaron65
    Member
    from Michigan

    I sometimes use Pine-Sol in a crockpot. It works OK. Don't leave it too long because it will strip some coatings (it took the gold coating off an old Holley I soaked). With an Edelbrock, I'd probably just use spray cleaner and an air compressor for passages.
     
  12. I used Pinesol to soak an Edelbrock carb . I left the carb in way too long and it took the nice shiny finish off the carb and the cad plating off the linkages and other parts. It was clean though and it smelled pretty good. I think it would have been fine if only soaked for an hour or so


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  13. Try Awesome products from the Dollar Tree Store. It works well, and rinses right off, then use air to blow dry
     
  14. I've used Pine-Sol on motorcycle carbs, and spray carb cleaner. Compressed air to blow out passages.
     
  15. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 3,518

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    I have soaked and cleaned many in Carbon Tet . , that is gone so now it’s the crock pot and Dawn Dish Washing Liquid . After a good Soda Blasting . They look fantastic . Holley ‘s will loose the gold tint , polished parts will loose the shine .
     
  16. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    I wonder if a WD 40 soak would work? That stuff is a pretty good cleaner and deoxidizer.
     
  17. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,263

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have a heated ultrasonic cleaner, and most often use just water.

    If I could find a way to reliably mitigate the shine on an Edelbrock, without doing harm, I would.
     
  18. I use lemon juice and water 20 minutes boiling, works for me............
     
  19. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    a light dusting in the bead blaster does wonders, but cleanup can be fun
     
  20. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Berryman's B12 Chemtool was/is my favorite. But now, with 'all the time in the world' (NOT!) I use white vinegar, (short soak, mostly toothbrush and water rinse immediately then air pressure with tiny nozzle)
    Jets are ALWAYS strung onto a 20" length of cotton string, one end tied to the vise and the other stretched with left hand. Right hand on the jet, full length of string vigorous polish, run jet up and down, turning it slightly each stroke. Polish the bores, (DON'T drill/ream them!) Expect a nice idle, smooth fuel atomization, notable if any scale was there. (trust me, that whitish 'wash' will be visible before polishing...)
     
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  21. Mahty
    Joined: Nov 20, 2016
    Posts: 51

    Mahty

    My son just rebuilt a couple carbs and soaked them in Metal Rescue for about 45 min. They were super clean and all the white corrosion and varnish came right off with a toothbrush. Bit pricey, but the finish is perfect.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     

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