Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell carburettor?!
Carburettor is the English version of the technology, with American English typically using carburetor with a single 't'. Carb / carbs is common in both regions.
Carburettor is the English version of the technology, with American English typically using carburetor with a single 't'. Carb / carbs is common in both regions.
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Can you refurbish my carburettor?
The short answer is, yes! We most often work on motorbike carburettors, and can source components and refurbish carburettors from many brands, including:
Can you refurbish my carburettor?
The short answer is, yes! We most often work on motorbike carburettors, and can source components and refurbish carburettors from many brands, including:
- Amal carburettors
- Solex carburettors
- Stromberg carburettors
- Keihin carburettors
- Mikuni carburettors
- SU carburettors
- Bing carburettors
- Bendix carburettors
This covers the major component suppliers that manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Triumph, Moto Guzzi and the like often specify.
When contacting us it's important to quote the actual carburettor that you have (if you're able to) alongside the bike, as manufacturers often mix and match between model years, outputs and supply regions. This helps us to order the correct parts quickly, speeding up the work and getting you back on the road quickly.
In addition to motorcycle carbs, lots of classic cars are still in use which operate carburettors and so we see a number of Mercedes, Mini, Austin, BMW, Triumph, Rover and many other brands. Typically these are brands such as Weber, Zenith, SU and Solex.
Alongside bikes and cars we also work on many types of machinery carburetion, such as strimmers, chainsaws, blowers, mowers and all sorts of other, more specialist items.
Whilst the application can be quite varied, the basic function of a carburettor is often very similar, and so long as we can source any parts needed it's therefore something that we can help you with. The same goes for boats, static engines and just about anything else!
In addition to motorcycle carbs, lots of classic cars are still in use which operate carburettors and so we see a number of Mercedes, Mini, Austin, BMW, Triumph, Rover and many other brands. Typically these are brands such as Weber, Zenith, SU and Solex.
Alongside bikes and cars we also work on many types of machinery carburetion, such as strimmers, chainsaws, blowers, mowers and all sorts of other, more specialist items.
Whilst the application can be quite varied, the basic function of a carburettor is often very similar, and so long as we can source any parts needed it's therefore something that we can help you with. The same goes for boats, static engines and just about anything else!
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Who does carburettor cleaning and refurbishing near me?
We do! With our national coverage postal service if you can remove and package up your carb, we can refurbish it for you. Return postage is included in our pricing and typical return times are 7-10 days, depending on requirements and parts availability.
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How does an ultrasonic cleaner clean my carb?
There are lots of advantages to using an ultrasonic cleaning system on your carburettor when it's due a service. This intensive but safe cleaning method can be used with almost any materials and can remove a huge amount of contaminants in a short time without damage to delicate components.
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The heated ultrasonic cleaning process cleans both the external and internal surfaces of your carburettor, removing carbon, tar, wax, gum, oil, varnish and many other deposits that can be introduced to a carb over the course of its life from the pathways that cannot be cleaned manually.
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Ultrasonic cleaning is not the only part of the cleaning process however, and your carb will be washed, degreased, dried and inspected for any wear, damage or similar issue that might have been hidden by gunk by hand before it goes into the cleaner.
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If there are any defects that would prevent your unit from operating correctly once cleaned and rebuilt we will contact you at this point to agree how you'd like to proceed.
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If there are any defects that would prevent your unit from operating correctly once cleaned and rebuilt we will contact you at this point to agree how you'd like to proceed.
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The carburettor then goes into the heated ultrasonic cleaner, which uses high pressure, high frequency sound waves to agitate the parts with a cleaning solution. This process is fantastic at loosening and removing deposits not just on flat surfaces, but also penetrating into gaps, holes, cracks and crevices to clean every surface that the liquid contacts. This gives a more thorough and effective clean than you could ever achieve by hand.
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Even a relatively clean looking carburettor will leave the cleaning solution filthy at the end of the cleaning cycle, and all this dirt being removed is improving either the performance (internal) or appearance (external) of your carb. it's a very satisfying process to watch!
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It's important to note that this process will not remove rust or heavy stains on your carburettor, and whilst we do employ additional cleaning measures to address these where possible after the ultrasonic cleaning process, a change in state of the surface - either through oxidisation or discolouration from heat for example, cannot be agitated away. Put bluntly, the ultrasonic cleaner does more for performance than it does for appearance, but it'll certainly look a lot better than it did after we're finished!
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It's important to note that this process will not remove rust or heavy stains on your carburettor, and whilst we do employ additional cleaning measures to address these where possible after the ultrasonic cleaning process, a change in state of the surface - either through oxidisation or discolouration from heat for example, cannot be agitated away. Put bluntly, the ultrasonic cleaner does more for performance than it does for appearance, but it'll certainly look a lot better than it did after we're finished!
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How can dirt affect my carburettor?
Residue builds up over time and can effect the performance of your carburettor, sometimes significantly. Impurities from fuel, particularly when it's been left for a long time, can start to clog the small passage ways that regulate the air and fuel that enters your combustion chambers. These might include wax, varnishing, oils, gum and tar carbon and any other 'gunk and lumps' that might have found their way into your fuel tank and lines .
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These deposits can affect the air-fuel mix ratio, and running lean or rich will have a resulting effect on your bike's engine temperatures, efficiency and power. The venturi effect of the carburettor can also be affected, with the carefully designed airflow being disrupted and speeds that the mixture travels affecting the throttle response and initial torque characteristics of your bike.
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Put simply, dirt can slowly reduce the performance of your carburettor and with no immediate change, and you motorcycle might have been suffering from the issues that it causes over a very long, gradual process of time.
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How much does it cost to rebuild a carburettor?
The cost to rebuild your carburettor will vary based on a few variables. These include:
- The size of the carb
- The number of units it comprises
- The model, age and complexity of the unit
- The availability of parts
We understand that not everyone wants to get a custom quote for their carb to be cleaned or serviced, so we've built some of the most common services into our new website to make it really easy and fast to get the best deal on a clean or refurbishment.
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If you have special requirements, want to modify or upgrade, know that you've got unique, rare or special kit then just give us a call or email. We're geeks for this stuff and would be happy to chat through what you need and produce a custom quote for you.
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We understand that nobody wants to be hit with unexpected costs so we cover anything that we possibly can under the standard pricing terms. If for any reason, however, there's a change in the cost to give you what you're after we will always call you to discuss what you'd like to do before undertaking any work.
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Is it better to rebuild a carburettor or buy a new one?
In almost all instances your unit can be restored to full working order with a thorough clean, inspection and rebuild. It's rare that a carb is beyond saving and often times buying a new one is either incredibly expensive, or they just don't exist anymore!
Rather than the lottery of a buying second hand replacement unit and hoping it's in better condition than the one you have, a professional ultrasonic clean and rebuild will deliver much better value for money and the confidence of reliability for years to come.
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How do I refurbish my carburettor?
Send it to us! it's simple, the price you see for a standard clean or clean and rebuild covers cleaning, materials, parts, labour and postage. We aim to turn your part around and get it back out to you in 3-5 days depending on how busy we are, and we'll keep you updated on progress the whole way through.
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What are the symptoms of a bad carburettor?
One of the reasons that working on carburettors is so often trusted to professionals is that the symptoms of a bad unit are so varied. Depending on how tired, dirty or broken your carb is, you might be experiencing:
- Lack of throttle response
- Hesitation during acceleration or while cruising
- Loss of torque
- Increased fuel consumption
- Fouling of plugs and resulting issues
- Excessive carbon build-up in the engine and exhaust
These symptoms will often happen gradually over time, and so can be hard to spot and resolve. If you think your carburettor could be causing this on your bike, why not get it serviced? You'll likely resolve the issue, and it's cheap insurance for an enjoyable, reliable bike and healthy engine.
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What are the benefits of a clean carburettor?
A cleaner carburettor operates more efficiently, and efficiency means lower fuel consumption for the same speed and distance travelled. It also means more power! Not only will your unit look better, it will keep your bike running well for years to come, and avoid issues further through the system such as carbon build-up and plug fouling.
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What happens to my carburettor during a service?
We adjust our process for each unit based on its requirements, however the typical process includes the following:
- Unit received and dismantled
- Parts hand washed to remove large deposits
- Parts inspected
- Heated ultrasonic cleaning cycle completed
- Carburettor rebuilt using OEM quality components
- Item is despatched back to you first-class
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What are the benefits of a clean brake claiper?
Brake calipers are close to the road and go through many heat cycles. They're unsprung and so experience a lot of vibration too, and these extreme conditions can lead them to wear faster than almost any other component on your bike.
Cleaning your brake caliper has a number of benefits. firstly, removing the grit, corrosion, dirt and grime from the surfaces leads to smoother operation. Many people think that this means the bike stops better and whilst this is true, it's only half the story. Bindi9ng brakes will rob you of horsepower, spoil your handling and prematurely wear out the friction surfaces on your pads and rotors. The solution?
Cleaning your calipers! its that simple. Or is it? Taking a wire brush to a caliper might make it look better, but there are delicate seals and surfaces that might get damaged with a heavy manual process. On the other hand, heated ultrasonic cleaning will remove the many contaminants from the surfaces without damage.
Another benefit of ultrasonic cleaning is that it removes so many contaminants that after cleaning is a great time to paint your calipers. So many DIY jobs end up with a poor looking or lasting finish because oils and dirt remain in the surcafe of the caliper and, once heated through heavy braking, spoil the paint. an ultrasonic cleaned and then painted caliper will resist corrosion and be easier to clean when routinely washing your bike, meaning that you can benefit from both stop and go performance improvements for a long time.
What happens to my brake caliper during a service?
Coming Soon
What are the benefits of upgrading my brake caliper fixings?
Coming Soon
How much does it cost to rebuild a caliper?
Coming Soon
How can dirt affect my brake caliper?
Coming Soon