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Anyone use an ultrasonic machine to clean carburetors?

2271 Views 32 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  Nan_wpg
I have a small ultrasonic, never used. Considering using it to clean dirty carbs instead of ordering replacements. Anyone do this, and any tips?
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just thinking logically. i have dealt with many damaged seals and if you can't find a good used one off another machine it generally sucks to spend $20 on a seal kit when you can get a complete carb.
Ok mr Spock! Actually, I was thinking similarly, that’s why I wanted to try. It went from no start to one pull start. And I saved all the originals from other machine recently, so might as well give them a try. You’re right, if I need new seals all around, much easier just to go new.
Can you take a bath in an ultrasonic tub?
I wouldn't recommend it... The large units are quite noisy. Hearing protection is OSHA required.
Ultrasonic can damage internal organs,
I have a unit retired from a dentist's office. It has a heated unit built in. It does clean most carbs.

However I occasionally find that it will not break up everything in small passages, most notably anything that is crystalized. It also has trouble with carbs that have gas/oil so old that it has turned to a tar like substance.
Ultrasonic can damage internal organs,
Ok, dirty it is.
For small parts or to conserve cleaning solution, place the parts covered in solution in a zip sealed plastic bag. Put the bag in your cleaner filled with plain water. Turn on and presto, change-o, clean parts without having to toss a bunch of cleaning solution. The ultra sound travels through the plastic bag into the part in the cleaning solution.
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I have a unit retired from a dentist's office. It has a heated unit built in. It does clean most carbs.

However I occasionally find that it will not break up everything in small passages, most notably anything that is crystalized. It also has trouble with carbs that have gas/oil so old that it has turned to a tar like substance.
To test the functionality, hang aluminum foil in the solution, turn the ultrasonic cleaner on, holes should appear in the aluminum foil. If not, it's broken.
To test the functionality, hang aluminum foil in the solution, turn the ultrasonic cleaner on, holes should appear in the aluminum foil. If not, it's broken.
But perhaps not with aluminum-safe cleaner?

For aluminum, you need to use Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner.
But perhaps not with aluminum-safe cleaner?

For aluminum, you need to use Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner.
I've never heard of this. Is this what you use?
I've never heard of this. Is this what you use?
We used SC52 Cleaning Concentrate, which is moderately acidic & formulated to strip metal oxides and metallic coatings. Cleaning Solution SC52
You could run virtually any ferrous or nonferrous metal through it without damage...
  • May be used on all ferrous and nonferrous metals:
    • Aluminum
    • Iron
    • Brass
    • Copper
    • Pewter
    • And other metals
I believe the Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner is similar.
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I've never heard of this. Is this what you use?
But perhaps not with aluminum-safe cleaner?

For aluminum, you need to use Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner.
Yes excellent, and aluminum comes out shiny rather then black.
I sprayed carbs with carb cleaner > Took apart and soaked in berrymans carb cleaner > ultrasonic cleaner w/ simple green purple > rinse/dry > reassemble with new carb kit = my 1981 blower and 1998 mower start on the first pull. (Blower is started via electric start but it fires up instantly).

both machines get trufuel or aspen exclusively.
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