Clean your carbs, boys!!

B

bluehammer

New member
Joined
Nov 5, 2003
Messages
322
Age
78
Location
Northeast Ohio
Already this year we've seen posts and pics concerning burndowns, sleds won't idle, won't start and others that relate to carbs. It is imperative that you clean your carbs before heading out to the trails. Gas from last year that has been sitting in your tank has probably taken it's toll on your mains and pilots. Now you might say that "I use a stabilizer in the spring and that should take care of it". But will it? I won't chance it. Others will say that they don't know how and will take the chance. And others will say that they don't have the money to take it to the shop. Most of us know at least someone that knows how to clean carbs, even if it means calling your buddy that doesn't ride a Yamaha. Don't be proud, just go ask him if he will help. Needless to say, those who don't may pay the price later (or sooner). As the saying goes "Pay now or pay later". Just do it!!!
 
Cleaners ?

Some high octain gas have fuel system cleaners. Shell Gold and Petro Canada Premium advertise this. Also fuel system or injector cleaners used in vehicles.

Anyone use them occasionally to clean out you sled carbs?
 
tripplec said:
Some high octain gas have fuel system cleaners. Shell Gold and Petro Canada Premium advertise this. Also fuel system or injector cleaners used in vehicles.
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I was thinking using this gas with Ring-Free from Yamaha. Should do the trick I think.
 
There's no better piece of mind that seeing with you own eyes that your carbs are clean of any gunk. Some of that other chemicals may work but I'll stick with the good old hands on cleaning. The more times you take them apart the faster you will be able to take them apart, clean and reassemble them.
 
bluehammer said:
Already this year we've seen posts and pics concerning burndowns, sleds won't idle, won't start and others that relate to carbs. It is imperative that you clean your carbs before heading out to the trails. Gas from last year that has been sitting in your tank has probably taken it's toll on your mains and pilots. Now you might say that "I use a stabilizer in the spring and that should take care of it". But will it? I won't chance it. Others will say that they don't know how and will take the chance. And others will say that they don't have the money to take it to the shop. Most of us know at least someone that knows how to clean carbs, even if it means calling your buddy that doesn't ride a Yamaha. Don't be proud, just go ask him if he will help. Needless to say, those who don't may pay the price later (or sooner). As the saying goes "Pay now or pay later". Just do it!!!
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Ditto!!! Ditto!!! Ditto!!! ;)! ;)! ;)!


His words should be manditory for everyone. It is for me.

I don't use stabilizers, additives, old fuel or anything of the sort. I summerize with heavily oiled fuel, run, fog and drain everything. I check my carbs every fall when getting ready for the season and have NEVER EVER!! had carb or burn down issues and it costs nothing but a couple of hours of time to do.

GREAT ADVICE bluehammer!!

opsled
 
I thought mine were going to be fine this year... WRONG I just happened to have them off to install remote adjusters and my pilots were blocked right off. I had to run a piece of wire from a bread tie through them. :letitsnow
 
I have got 2 sets done and 3 more to clean, plus 4 sets of powervalve to clean, I clean them every year. no additives just a can or 2 of carb cleaner every year.
 
I'd pay to see a short video on how exactly to clean the carbs on a Viper. I'm not one to just jump into it and risk messing something up. From the tech pages I think I can handle the PV cleaning and adjusting, but the carbs seem too complicated. I need to see it being done to learn. Does a video of this exist?
 
akrievins said:
I'd pay to see a short video on how exactly to clean the carbs on a Viper. I'm not one to just jump into it and risk messing something up. From the tech pages I think I can handle the PV cleaning and adjusting, but the carbs seem too complicated. I need to see it being done to learn. Does a video of this exist?
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Great post. Carbs scare me, but if I saw a video, I'd probably try it myself.
 
One thing that would help you guy's is to "under stand" how a carb and it's components exactly work,when a person "knows" how something works and really understands it , it makes it a whole lot easier to fix it.
 
daman said:
One thing that would help you guy's is to "under stand" how a carb and it's components exactly work,when a person "knows" how something works and really understands it , it makes it a whole lot easier to fix it.
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I can agree with this statement 100%, at least for me. I also know that lots of people out there just can't get into the 'physics' of how stuff works. I can't seem to stop myself when it comes to figuring out why something does what it does. Are you my long lost brother??? :rofl:
 
crewchief47 said:
I can agree with this statement 100%, at least for me. I also know that lots of people out there just can't get into the 'physics' of how stuff works. I can't seem to stop myself when it comes to figuring out why something does what it does. Are you my long lost brother??? :rofl:
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Ahhh......maybe :mrgreen: lol
 
crewchief47 said:
I can agree with this statement 100%, at least for me. I also know that lots of people out there just can't get into the 'physics' of how stuff works. I can't seem to stop myself when it comes to figuring out why something does what it does. Are you my long lost brother??? :rofl:
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When teaching aircraft maintenance I used to insist that people learned theory of operation before they tried work on the systems. Can't troubleshoot something if you don't know how it works.

As for my carbs, I took them apart to see what was what in there. That and reading the theory of operation on line and it all makes sense. Shop manual helped a lot too. I was more afraid of my power valves and ring replacement than the carbs disassembly. I understood the carbs...

Now as far as tuning the carbs, got some concerns there but I am sure I can figure it out.

First year doing my own snowmobile work.
 
You can't learn if you don't try. I bought a old beater a few years ago for $300. I tore it down to the frame. It was beat I didn't think I could hurt it anymore that it already was. After 10 weeks of restoring and searching for parts. 17 pulls of the recoil and she came to life. Now everybody thinks I am a wizard with a wrench and want me to fix there sleds.

If you get a little nervous, take pictures before you take anything apart and pictures along the way, count how many turns it takes on a screw to stop it, mark it down, etc. Go slow and take your time. Don't let anyone bother you when you are working on something like carbs if you are nervous.

I always use a white towel or rag to place the carbs on when I work on them from the bench. Well lighted area helps also and a clean ,cleared spot. Dig in and give it a shot. Only way to learn plus there are a lot of people on here that can and will jump right in and help.
 
nitris223 said:
If you get a little nervous, take pictures before you take anything apart and pictures along the way, count how many turns it takes on a screw to stop it, mark it down, etc. Go slow and take your time. Don't let anyone bother you when you are working on something like carbs if you are nervous.
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Or become a member @ TY for when you screw up...lol
 
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