soaking my 2002 carbs in gas/petrol?

[gs500Ant]

hi all,

i cant seem to get the middle jet seats out of my 2002 carbs,
i think i can see an o-ring down there, (not main jet or pilot jet)

is it ok to soak my 2002 carbs in petrol (sorry gas!) for 24 hours with those 2 jet seats still in the carbs?

[JB848]

I wish I could help you on this. In my experience it's OK to soak them in gas..they are in gas or gas mist most of their lives so? But, that being said, I've never soaked anything associated with carburetors unless I had a complete gasket kit and intentions on replacing everything.

If this is time sensitive you might want to PM the Carb Guru Buddha?

[gs500Ant]

thanks JB848,

i'l wait and see if the master Buddha replies to this first,dont want to be rude and butt-in

[JB848]

To plagiarize Buddha...

Cool

[bassmechanicsz]

if i remember correctly when i took my carbs apart (04) i don't remember their being an o-ring on the mids.  Their was one under the tower thing that the main goes into.  you could try putting the screwdriver in the slot of the jet and then tap it with a hammer to try to break it free.  I wouldn't think soaking them in gas for 24 hours would cause a problem since as JB848 said the have gas going through them for the life of them.  Just as a precautionary I would just change out the o-ring if their is one while you have them apart since they are a cheap part anyways.

[The Buddha]

Yea soak em ... float seats are soaking in gas all the time.
In a few days the diaphragms get a bit weird and delicate feeling. But they do dry out just fine. So if you're dunking them in gas for more than a few hours, take off the top and get the diaphragms out. However I have soaked carbs with stuck diaphragms in gas for a day or 2 till they came out. Then soak em without it, put cleaner, alcohol, spray on crap etc etc in it.
Cool.
Buddha.

[gs500Ant]

thanks guys

and all hail the Buddha

[tt_four]

I know the one pictoral I followed in the Wiki said to tap the main jet after you unscrew it to loosen the needle jet(if that's what it's called). I wasn't comfortable hitting the main jet for fear of messing up the beginning of the threads, especially if the jet is brass. I did however take a bolt that I could actually screw into the needle jet, and screwed it in after I had removed the main jet, and tapped that gently with a hammer without much worry of messing up any threads. It also helped because it was a long enough bolt that I tapped it most of the way out. I put the carbs back together but have yet run fuel through them or try to start the bike, so I don't know for sure that there isn't anything damaged, but I'm hoping.

[The Buddha]

When refitting you can use a longer screw to pull it back in. Only caution is - there is that little peg in the carb body that dictates the way the emulsion tube needs to be installed. That is it, get that linied up and smooth sailing I mean screwing ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[The Buddha]

And I hit em all the time, use a plastic or wooden screwdriver handle, start out with light blows and go from there ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

And I hit em all the time, use a plastic or wooden screwdriver handle, start out with light blows and go from there ...
Cool.
Buddha.

if light blows don't work, should I try the air hammer on my compressor?

[Pigeonroost]

Be it right or be it wrong; I have had success soaking old stuck and funky gas clogged carbs in mineral spirits and also WD40 when I did not have mineral spirits handy.  Neither seemed to harm the rubber parts even when I forgot to check them for a week or so.

prs

[gs500Ant]

great info and advise there guys,just reminded me-must get carbs out of soak in garage!

[The Buddha]

And I hit em all the time, use a plastic or wooden screwdriver handle, start out with light blows and go from there ...
Cool.
Buddha.

if light blows don't work, should I try the air hammer on my compressor?

I'd try a blow torch ...  ...
Clown, even the light blows, I hit it with a rubber handle - really rubber, not even hard plastic types and from under it to the body, not side ways.
Cool.
Buddha.

[JB848]

LMAO Buddha recommends a Blow torch?