Name that problem

[SurfinCR]

ok so i started pulling the engine apart. and here is what i found. now correct me if i am wrong but isnt that a little too much carbon. the pipe on the bike is an aftermarket vance and hines, knowing the guy i bought it from nothing was done to the carbs. i want to know what i should do since i have the same pipe on the 89 engine i have in the frame now but instead of using the 88 carbs which seemed smaller i used the 89



*mods please feel free to resize pics if too big.

[SweetLou]

I am not sure if that is a lot or not considering the year of the engine, and how many miles are on it. Looks like it could defiantely use a cleaning though. Maybe due to the aftermarket exhaust, it needs a jet kit.

[SurfinCR]

thats what i was thinking. and while i have it apart why not. whats the best way to go about that?

[The CyberPoet]

It may be carbon, or might be sulfated ash build-up. The real question is how hard it is (carbon build-up is much harder than sulfated ash build-up; if you rub it on steel with lots of pressure, carbon build-up will gouge steel, sulfated ash normally won't). Both can be kept to a minimum by using a good quality oil with a decent detergent load, using higher-quality fuels (not higher octane, just fuels with more detergents in them), and occassionally pushing a good fuel system cleaner through (such as Techron fuel system cleaner, like the last tank before each oil change). It's a whole lot easier than trying to remove it manually...

You basically have two ways of removing it:
1. Manual labor (dremel, hand-powered tools) to buff it away, OR
2. Chemistry (the right chemicals to eat it away but leave the metal undamaged).

I'd go the chemistry route, even if I was going to port & polish the parts afterwards; much less risk of damaging the parts (esp. if it's carbon and not sulfated ash).

Good Luck!
=-= The CyberPoet

[Yellow]

This thread has some tips on cleaning it up:

http://www.maximum-suzuki.com/ibf/index.php?showtopic=39589

[ThAzKat]

It is pretty good considering that a aftermarket pipe with stock carbs should run lean. Unless the pipe is just a slipon can. To me IMHO it is typical of a Kat, especially if you have to use the choke alot in the climate you are in. I have definitely seen worse before.

[md86]

I heard an old bike mech from way back talking about how to clean carbon from a running engine . Basically spraying a solution of either antifreeze/water (50/50) or regular dish soap and water into the intake of one cylinder at a time while it's running , rev it to keep it alive as that one cylinder stops sparking , then move on to the next . He said they used to do it all the time on cars and bikes , and it worked great with no bad side-effects . Discuss . :-m

[ThAzKat]

When the engine is together you can use transmission fluid in each cyl. at a time or a product called "Sea Foam", it used to be used for 2 stroke engines on boats due to the carbon build up on them.

[trinc]

When the engine is together you can use transmission fluid in each cyl. at a time or a product called "Sea Foam", it used to be used for 2 stroke engines on boats due to the carbon build up on them.

tranny fluid is what i've used.

tim

[ThAzKat]

I have used Trans fluid on seized 2 strokes many times, most of the time the just get too hot.

[SurfinCR]

hmm i am going to have to give it a try. i took a break from the engine for a bit but when i get beack to it i will have to try.

[md86]

Hmmm , intersteing . I was thinknig about trying to do something like this to clean out my engine . I'm pretty sure there's gonna be alot of carbon built up in there because of running WAY too rich for too long . So , trans fluid or "Sea Foam" will work in much the same way ? Put some of this junk in the intake or the sparkplug hole and let it run or what ?

[Mr. Clean]

Fill your tank up with a high quality fuel and pour about 1/4 quart tranny fluid into the tank. At least that is how I do it.

[ThAzKat]

actually carbon build up can have it's pro's and con's, the pro is higher compression the con is miss fire.

[The CyberPoet]

actually carbon build up can have it's pro's and con's, the pro is higher compression the con is miss fire.

There are more cons to it that just that:
1. Localized heat spots. Carbon takes quite a while to get hot, but once truly hot, it can carry enough heat to do damage to the underlying metals. The hot carbon can also trigger pre-combustion.
2. Pure carbon is harder than typical engine metals, meaning if it breaks off a chunk, that chunk can scratch the #$&% out of your piston sleeves, etc., until it gets blown out the exhaust valve. If it lodges under a valve or a big chunk lodges between a valve and the piston head, it can ruin the valve.

And that's just the tip of the iceburg...

Again, Techron is a simple, fairly cheap, very cost-effective solution that won't foul up your plugs

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet