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MG MGA - carburettor cleaning

Is CLR safe to use on aluminum carb parts, and will it remove the white (aluminum oxide?) corosion products? If not , what is best to use. The float is stuck in the bowl. Will the centre stud come unscrewed if I try? Other option is to solder on a tab I can pull on. These carbs have sat for 25 years or so.
Art Pearse

Acids are generally OK for short term use on aluminum, CLR is citric or phosphoric acid I think. DO NOT use alkalies (lye, Draino, etc).
Never had a stud unscrewed, even when the nuts were seized on; they may be cast in place.
I would try boiling it in water first, might loosen the crud up - they are usually not stuck too solidly. Might add some vinegar or pop (phosphoric acid) to the water. That will also start on cleaning the brass and steel bits.
FRM
FR Millmore

I overhauled four carbs and all for had the floats stuck. I soaked them in an oil-gas mixture for two days. Then, using a large one-hole rubber stoppsr on the center stud and pushing down hard on the float I turned them loose.
H Speer

Henry - good one on the stopper!
Boiling in coke or vinegar for an hour didn't work on the scuzzy carb I tried. Mihjt work if you soaked it a day or three. That white stuff is evil.
There is a product called "aluminum brightener" sold for homeowner use on storm doors etc, from hardware stores. I poured it in straight and left it for 1.5hrs. That took the very heavy white stuff out. I put a piece of brass in there, since I didn't have a float. It turned blackish but didn't dissolve.
There is a product used by jewelry stringers for heavy necklaces called Tiger Tail or Accuflex or Beadflex - a very fine, very flexible many stranded stainless cable, nylon coated. A loop of that can be worked down around the float to help remove it.

FRM
FR Millmore

Boiling in 1:3 CLR certainly removes crud and brightens it up. But the floats are still stuck. Keep boiling some more! I might just glue a handle on with silicone seal, easy to cut off afterwards.
Art Pearse

Success!. Took a wooden stick, drilled a central hole to clear the stud, then used hot melt glue on the end of the stick to grab the float. Float came out easily with a twist. Then immersed in boiling water to soften the glue and release the stick. Unfortunaetly, one of the floats has a leak somewhere in the tube.
Art Pearse

This thread was discussed between 28/06/2009 and 30/06/2009

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