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I'm trying to restore my 7HT carburetor and am wondering about the finish. There's a lot of dried gas and dirt but it also looks like there may be some sort of clear finish on the metal. Two questions: (1) What's the bet way to remove all the crud without damaging interior passages and (2) should the cleaned metal be recoated with something?
Good question. Just a few days ago I took steel wool and the exterior of the carb cleaner up pretty nice. I just remembered I have some little steel brushes that I am going use to get in corners.
(1) What's the bet way to remove all the crud without damaging interior passages
Get a gallon of carb dip, it comes in a paint can. Have to soak it for a while, and then blow out all the orifices with shop air. Make sure they are all free and clear, most carbs have a bunch of 'em. Idle air bleeds, emulsion tubes, power valve channel restrictors etc etc. For coatings I think they used zinc chromate, probably banned by now.
I have used polish to clean up the cast/alumination in the past. I buffed it with Mr. Dremel. I've never tried to seal it with clear but if you protected the inner surfaces with rags or masking it might work ?
On the last 847 I rebuilt I used the Eastwood carb paint. It turned out ok but I prefer the patina look so on my 8ba 94 rebuild, I cleared it after I mounted it, I like that look better. The stainless and brass dremel brush kits at HB are what you need to clean it and get into all the crevices.
The base painted matte black makes it pop. I polished all of the metal levers and attaching parts in a walnut tumbler.
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think I'll see if I can find some of the "carb dip". Wondering about the clear coat - will it be resistant to the gasoline?
Be careful because a lot of the one gallon carb dips they sell in parts stores are water based and not worth a crap. Try to find the chemical based soak if possible. Berrymans makes a great one that is even still available in California (with the exception of So Cal). It come in a 5 gal can but they also sell a one gallon replenisher that gets gets you the good stuff in a smaller quantity. I have used it for years both professionally and in the home shop.
I'm not familiar with that carb. But if it has the typical goldish color dichromate finish. soaking it in carb cleaner for a long period of time will remove the finish. I still haven't found a good way to clean carbs with a dichromate finish that doesn't remove the finish. When younger, working as a mechanic, every carb that went into the cleaning tank for 15 to 20 minutes came out clean and with less finish on it.
Be careful because a lot of the one gallon carb dips they sell in parts stores are water based and not worth a crap. Try to find the chemical based soak if possible.
I soaked each part in Berryman chem-dip for a couple of hours and most of the crud came off but there's still some sort of the original finish on the outside. It almost feels like a plastic coating. Guess I'l have to it a bit longer to get everything clean. Still debating whether or not to try and recoat it or leave it plain.
Dan, that almost looks like some sort of clear coat instead of the vintage dichromate. I also use the Berryman's Chem Dip with great results. Try some orange citrus degreaser as a follow up after rinsing with water. Really cleans up the aluminum and gets the stinky residue off.
