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28 September 2023 How to clean a motorcycle carburettor
Although it’s been a long time since the carburettor was superseded by the fancier, more accurate fuel injection systems, it can still be found on many motorcycles and smaller engines. The carburettor hasn’t died out just yet thanks to its simplicity, inexpensive design and proven reliability.
The key advantage of this mechanical marvel is that it is very easy and cheap to maintain. With the use of a motorcycle carburettor cleaner and a few simple tools, you may be able to restore the component by yourself. That’s the beauty of it.
Why you should clean your motorcycle carburettor
The critical component ensures that the fuel and air are mixed together in the correct ratio. It delivers the mixture to the combustion chambers via the nozzles. However, over time, contaminants can build up, causing blockages. This can occur as a result of fuel impurities or combustion residues.
Clogging can prevent your engine from receiving the right amount of fuel or cause the mixture to be too rich or lean, causing serious performance issues such as misfires, stalling, and rough idling. This is why it is important to clean your motorcycle carburettor on a fairly regular basis.
How to clean a carburettor
Attention:
- Please make sure to check your vehicle owner’s manual or repair manual for specific instructions. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines carefully.
- Safety first! Make sure the motorcycle is switched off and the engine and carburettor are cool before proceeding.
- Please remember to wear eye protection and protective work gloves when using the equipment and handling the components.
Guide to cleaning motorcycle carb
Although it seems like a pain, most carburettors will need to be removed and disassembled for thorough cleaning.There are online tutorials on how to clean a carburettor without removing it, but this guide will include the most common method which involves disassembly. Most carbs can be easily disassembled with basic hand tools such as a Phillips screwdriver.
- Step 1 - Remove the motorcycle air filter
First shut off the fuel supply and disconnect the spark plug wire. Locate the air filter and remove it by detaching the housing and fastener.
Check for any blockages and gently clear away dirt and debris using compressed air or filter cleaner. Remove any connections or hoses. Try to take a note of where each part goes/is attached.
- Step 2 - Remove the carburettor
This involves removing any hoses, clamps, cables and fasteners holding the component in place using pliers and a screwdriver. You can remove loose dirt and debris from the housing using compressed air.
- Step 3 - Place it on a clean, flat surface
This step is self-explanatory. You don’t want to drop or lose anything.
- Step 4 - Remove the float
To do this, you will first need to remove the fastener holding the float bowl in place. Be careful not to spill any fuel left in the float as you detach it.
- Step 5 - Remove the jets and inspect them
You should be able to see if there are blockages. Spraying them with a motorcycle carburettor cleaner should help to get rid of contaminants. Be gentle when cleaning with a wire brush or cloth as the brass components can get scratched easily.
- Step 6 - Soak the parts in carb cleaner
Dilute and apply the cleaner according to the product’s instructions. Don’t forget to clean the smaller components and scrub carefully.
- Step 7 - Make sure the parts are completely dry
Some products may require you to rinse the parts beforehand.
- Step 8 - Reassemble
In some cases, cleaning the carb is not enough to restore it. Instead, you can find compatible replacement parts online by simply entering keywords, e.g. “Yamaha carburettor”, or the OEM part number.