How important is using compressed air during carb cleaning?

This is my first carb rebuild and I'm just about ready to begin reassembly. I've read lots of material on this site about the process including the instructions from chacal, plus I have a Clymer manual. If anybody has any piece of info they wish someone had shared with them the first time around, I'm all ears.

My basic question, though, has to do with the use of an air compressor to blow the carbs out. I don't have one. After dipping and scrubbing, I've been carefully cleaning out the passages with fine wires, drill bits, etc, then spraying them with carb cleaner and letting them dry on a paper towel. I can see where compressed air would drive out most of the cleaner and certainly be faster, but it is essential for some reason I'm not aware of?

Thanks!

 

No, for the reasons you ARE aware of.

-Tip 1: Be vewwy vewwy careful using fine wires and drill bits, you do not want to score or gouge any passages. I prefer HD bristles plucked from a parts-cleaning brush.

-Tip 2: Good spray carb cleaner (like Berryman's Chemtool B12) comes out of the can with quite a bit of force; it can be used to good effect to "blow" stuff out.

-Tip 3: Pick up a couple of cans of compressed air at Radio Shack.

 

Re: How important is using compressed air during carb cleani

I think I've been pretty delicate with the fine passage cleaning.

I hadn't thought about cans of compressed air. Sort of forgot those were even available.

Thanks again!

 

Re: How important is using compressed air during carb cleani

I have a measley 2hp compressor that I love. I use to do them without compressed air and this way is so much better. I bet you can pick up a compressor off Craig's List for a little bit of nothing. That's where I am looking for my sand blaster that will hopefully be in my garage soon.

 

I heard a warning a long time ago about blowing out solvents using compressed air, then breathing the air. The chemical gets to the very bottom of your lungs. I haven't heard this warning much on this site.

So, be careful folks. And watch your eyes too !!

 

Put a piece of Heat Shrink attached to the end of a Carb Cleaning Tube and you can "Blow Out" all the critical Passages needing to have flow.

The Fuel Bowl Starter Jet Reservoir Well and Metering Jets.
The Enrichment Circuit Siphon Tube.
The Pilot Fuel Jet & Others.
The Pilot Air Jet and Passage.
The Main Air Jet and Passage.
The Float Valves.

You can handle the chore without a compressor.
The Heat Shrink fits over the Siphon Tube and Pilot Jet.
The Siphon Tube gets a good Flush if the Enrichment Valvles are Out or open.
A Pilot Jet fits right in the Heat Shrink and you'll see a nice stream of Cleaner exiting the Jet.
(Which, ... if you aren't holding-on to it tightly ... is going to get launched ... hand-on to it.)

 

needed? No. Really nice to have? you betcha!

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 3446222-20
It works great for carbs, nail guns, most anything that I've used it for. Haven't tried painting with it yet, but I will.