A misdirected post.
mjb.
----
>It is my belief (with some unintentional testing...) that carburettor
>cleaner does not actually dissolve the carb diaphragm. The diaphragm
>is a cross-linked rubber, and it would take more than solvent to
>dissolve it.
>BUT, carburettor cleaner will swell the diaphragm quite severely
>(on order of 125-150% in my experience.)
I learned about this from personal experience. A few years ago I rebuilt the
carburetors on my motorcycle. Quite foolishly I tossed the slides with their
attached diaphragms into the carburetor cleaner. To my horror, each one grew
about 25%, enough that fitting them inside the carburetor bodies was impossible.
"No problem", I thought. "I will just order replacement diaphragms."
Unfortunately, each diaphragm was permanently attached to its slide and would
have to be purchased together... at a cost of $75 per carburetor... and I had
four carburetors! =8-o
Before handing over $300 because of my own studpidity, I talked to the Honda
mechanic who suggested carefully heating each diaphragm over a light bulb to
vaporize the carburetor cleaner. I went home and tried it. Vola, it worked!
With a little judicious heating I was soon back in business -- and a little
wiser.
Dustin Kassman
dhk@cv.hp.com
Tinkers Damn
'71 MGB-GT
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