what is the best way to get my motorcycle carbs clean ??

Question

My yamaha r6 runs a bit better after I sprayed the carbs on it but still runs crappy. I know i need to take the carbs apart but dont know how too really but i've been using seafoam and it works better now. The bike is getting better but anyone recommend something else other than seafoam(B-12 maybe?). My friend says the carb cleaner works best when u take it on the highway and open the throttle...anyone try that? Any advice on fixing it would be great, i dont have 200 t0 spend at the bike shop.

Answer 1

About the only way to clean them is to pull them all off. Take the float bowls off of the bottom of the carburetors and spray carb cleaner into the main jet and a small hole that holds the slow jet. If the carburetor has those rubber diaphragms in the top of it, make sure those aren't ripped or damaged. You need to consult a manual on adjusting the mixture screws and setting the rest of it unless someone here knows what the specific settings are. Good luck.

Answer 2

If you're mechanically inclined, pulling and disassembling the carbs isn't too big of a deal. If you're not, be careful because you could make a bad situation worse. Follow the advice of the gent who spoke of spraying WD-40 to check for air leaks first. If that makes no difference, get some carb spray cleaner such as Gumout. Remove the drain screws from the float bowls, stick the little red pipe into the hole and spray it good, aiming it in different directions and see what comes out. If there seems to be a lot of fine rust, you better peer inside the gas tank and make sure it isn't rusty. That fine rust will go through the in-tank screen and make things run lousy. I don't know about your bike in particular, but there should be another small screw on the side of the carb that will control either fuel or air (depending upon the individual application) on the idle circuit. First, gently screw them all the way in, counting how many revolutions are made, then back them all the way out. Be careful because there will be springs inside. Squirt carb cleaner in there too but wear goggles because the stuff sometimes squirts back into your eyes and that really smarts! Replace the screws turning them all the way in and backing them out the orginal number of times. It it still runs bad, remove the screws on the top of the carb and CAREFULLY withdraw the throttle slide. There'll be a rubber diaphram under the metal cover and below that will be a big coil spring, Don't rip the diaphram or loose the spring. If you look down in the opening of the carb, you'll see a small pencil lead sized hole that leads to the main jet. Again remove the drain screws and squirt cleaner into the main jet hole. Be careful inserting the throttle slide back into the opening, it it doesn't go all the way in, the tapered needle on the bottom of the slide might be missing the hole. Don't force it or scratch the needle. Wiggle the needle and try again. If worse comes to worse, there should be a couple of small screws inside the throttle slide that keep the needle in place. Loosen but don't remove them and you should be able to get the needle in the main jet opening. Don't forget to tighten the screws afterwards and don't over do it. If the intake ducting is easy to remove, do so and use your finger to guide the needle into the needle jet. One other thing, note when the thing runs bad, it at idle try blowing compressed air into the idle screw hole but if it runs bad at high speeds, it's likely the main jet circuit. I've had carbs apart more times than you know and believe me, I'd rather try the above first than go through the hassle of physically removing them from the bike. Also, don't mess with the screw adjustments on the linkage or you'll have to syncronize the carbs. That means adjusting both so that they pull equal amounts of vacume. You'll need the proper gauges or you can also adjust them equally by using a piece or wire or small drill bit slipped between the butterfly and throttle bore. Adjust them until there is a slight amount of drag on both carbs. I've found that to be just as accurate as using a guage but you mut have the intake side ducting open to do so.

Answer 3

Best Motorcycle Carb Cleaner

Answer 4

The carbs themselves are likely fairly easy to remove, disassemble and clean. Putting them back together and remounting them, also not that difficult. However, multi carbs can be a real pain to synchronize. I've never done it myself, but have listened to enough mechanically inclined people gripe about it to realize it's the worst part of the job.

If you're comfortable with everything up to that point, go ahead. Getting them synced shouldn't cost nearly as much to get done at a shop.

But try the in tank carb cleaner first, if it works, problem solved.

Answer 5

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RE:
what is the best way to get my motorcycle carbs clean ??
My yamaha r6 runs a bit better after I sprayed the carbs on it but still runs crappy. I know i need to take the carbs apart but dont know how too really but i've been using seafoam and it works better now. The bike is getting better but anyone recommend something else other than seafoam(B-12...

Answer 6

Are you sure you don't have an air leak around your intake manifolds? An Air leak can trick you into believing its another problem. Here's what you do to verify an air leak....Start the bike up and let it get to operating temp. While its idling spray carb some WD 40 or carb cleaner around the outside of the intake manifold, if the engine sputters at all while your spraying you've just identified a air leak. It will need to be repaired. Your carbs may just fine.

Answer 7

I've used gas additive carb/injector cleaner to good effect, usually the one made by STP. Buy the little bottle and pour about a quarter of it into your full tank.
I know it says "pour the whole thing in" but hey, it's supposed to treat 20 gallons. Seal up the bottle really tight (I use glad wrap) for future use.

Be sure you get the stuff that's supposed to be added to the gas tank! STP makes stuff that isn't supposed to be added to gas that has a similar name.

EDIT:
Check the crankcase oil level. The oil level is supposed to be between the two marks. If you have too much oil, let some out. Having too much oil might cause your motorcycle to run badly (it does to mine, anyway -- 1985 Virago 700).

Answer 8

carb cleaner, and the carb is really easy to get back together, just take it out unscrew the screws that hold it together, and then remove the jets, because if they get clogged up that can cause the bike to die after being ran hard, spray carb cleaner through the jets AFTER you make sure there is no dirt in there.. then check the o-ring typ thing that keeps gas from leaking out of the carb, that could be a cheap fix but you would probably notice if it was leaking gas. god luck

Answer 9

Amazed that I found this topic already answered! It's like you've read my mind!

Answer 10

pressure wash it with amonia or just spray them with a spray bottle of amonia and then hose them off works everytime