A clean, well-tuned carburetor is a key factor in the performance of your lawnmower and nothing makes cleaning carburetors faster, safer and easier than an ultrasonic cleaner. Whether you operate a gardening business or do it yourself, you’ll be amazed at just how thorough an ultrasonic cleaner can be in removing varnish, grease, oil and other contaminants from your lawnmower.

Here you will learn:

• •How an Ultrasonic Carburetor Cleaner Works

• •How to Select and Set Up your Ultrasonic Cleaner

• •How to Remove, Clean and Reinstall your lawnmower carburetor

How Ultrasonic Parts Cleaners Work on your Lawnmower Carburetor

Ultrasonic cleaners are used in a wide range of applications to remove virtually any soil or contamination by using the power of cavitation action. This is the term used to describe the implosion of billions of minute bubbles contacting carb parts being cleaned. The bubbles are created by generator-powered ultrasonic transducers bonded to an ultrasonic cleaning tank and typically operate at an ultrasonic frequency of 37 to 42 kHz (37,000 to 42,000 cycles per second).

When the bubbles implode contaminants are quickly and safely blasted away from wetted surfaces without damaging delicate carb parts. So tiny are the bubbles that they penetrate minute cracks, crevices and blind holes impossible to reach by hand scrubbing using conventional parts washers or aerosol sprays The aqueous parts washers will complete the job in less than an hour, meanwhile freeing you up to attend to other tasks. And it will do it in an environmentally friendly manner because the ultrasonic carburetor cleaning formula is a biodegradable concentrate that minimizes disposal problems.

How to Select and Set Up your Lawnmower Ultrasonic Carb Cleaner

Ultrasonic carb cleaners come in a variety of sizes from bench top units to a floor-mounted industrial ultrasonic cleaning machine, so you can select any size you need. Our most popular 1½ gallon models for cleaning one carburetor at a time are the TOV150-6L and EH150EL. Select an ultrasonic carb cleaner equipped with a heater to improve the ultrasonic carburetor cleaning process.

Whatever the model and size ultrasonic carb cleaner you use there are steps to take before cleaning begins.

1. Fill the ultrasonic carb cleaner tank to the fill line (or approximately 2/3 full) with ultrasonic cleaner solution diluted per manufacturer’s recommendations.
2. Turn on the ultrasonic cleaner, set the heater to approximately 70°C, and operate the ultrasound for about 30 minutes to drive off cavitation inhibiting entrained air. Degassing is complete when bubbles stop coming to the surface and must be performed every time the bath sonicator is filled with fresh cleaning solution.

How to Remove, Clean and Reinstall your Lawnmower Carburetor

Step 1: Removing the Carburetor

The first thing to be done is to make sure that the fuel line is shut off. The means in order to do this would vary in different lawnmower models. Since most of the lawnmowers have a fuel knob to control the fuel flow, you will just need to turn it to switch it off.

You may now remove the air filter cover. Using a ratchet or socket, remove the nut holding the air filter to the lawnmower assembly. Once the cover has been removed, it’s time to get the air filter and the gas line off as well. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to disconnect the gas line. It is important to replace a cracked gas line or a dirty air filter right away since these could contribute to more problems for your lawnmower.

Using your screwdriver, remove the screws holding the carburetor to the lawnmower body. Make sure that you have already disconnected the linkage and any other springs that may get in the way. Remember where all the parts go since you will also put them back later.

Lastly, pull the primer line from the primer bulb. Your lawnmower may come equipped with either a stop switch wire or a speed control. Either way, these parts will have to be disconnected. Once disconnected, you should now be able to simply pull the carb off your lawnmower.

You now hold in your hand, your lawnmower carburetor.

Congratulations! You have successfully removed your carb from your lawnmower! You may now proceed with the next step.

Step 2: Cleaning the Carburetor

Although you can clean your carburetor without any disassembly you will achieve the most thorough cleaning with partial disassembly to allow the solution into the float chamber. Remember that only surfaces that are wetted by the cleaning solution will be cleaned. Fine mesh baskets can be used to hold very small parts.

Set the thermostat to 70°C. While the solution is heating, place your carburetor parts in the basket taking care that they do not touch each other. Once the operating temperature is reached lower the basket into the cleaning solution and set the timer for 40 minutes. Cleaning time depends on the condition of the carburetor and may have to be adjusted.

At the end of the cycle remove the components from the bath. If they are not clean replace them in the bath until the cleaning is complete. Then rinse them in fresh water to remove all traces of the cleaning solution and allow them to dry.

Safety note: DO NOT reach into an operating ultrasonic bath. Instead remove the basket if you want to inspect or rearrange the parts.

Step 3: Reinstalling the Carburetor

Connect the stop switch wire or speed control wire back to its original position. Reattach the primer line to the primer bulb just like before. Connect all other linkages and springs that you have unplugged. Return the carburetor to its original location. Reattach the screws holding the carb to the lawnmower body. Ensure that it stays secure.

Once the carburetor is in place, you will need to make sure that your gas line is free from any cracks and your air filter is not dirty. Again using your needle nose pliers, connect the gas line back into the mower. Return the air filter and seal it in making sure to screw the air filter cover back on. You may now turn the knob so that the fuel flows to the machine.

Admire the piece of work you just put back together.

Voila! Start the machine, and your lawnmower should be good to go.

More Operating Tips

Oils that rise to the surface of the bath should be skimmed off and disposed of properly. When the solution becomes discolored or cleaning time takes longer it is time to replace it. Drain the tank and dispose of the spent solution according to local regulations. Take the time to remove sludge that settled to the bottom of the tank. Clean the tank using a cleaning process recommended by the manufacturer.

Questions: Contact the iUltrasonic ultrasonic cleaning experts at 973 821-4400

Disclaimer: This advice is not provided by a licensed mechanic. Follow at your own risk. We assume no liability for any damages caused by following the advice in this article.