Snoopy11 5,714 #1 Posted November 28, 2022 Hello my fine people. Some of you know that I have been working on a 718-Z with the Kohler Magnum 18. It has a Walboro carb on it. Well, after all the work I have done, I cranked it up today, ran it for 5 minutes and it lost mid and high RPM power, it would only idle. SO... I knew that the carburetor was gummed up. I took it apart, luckily for me I had a carburetor kit in stock to replace all the gaskets and such. Anyway, I didn't have any carburetor cleaner on hand... and I didn't feel like running to the part's store... So... I decided to test a theory that I have thought about for a while. The plain, good old-fashioned water hose. I was able to flush the inside of the carburetor out, completely rinsing all the gunk, holding the hose close to the jet area to clean it out... etc. It seemed to work exceptionally well and upon drying the carburetor with my heat gun and reassembly, my problems were completely gone. I just thought I would share this... it really worked for me and I didn't have to use any special cleaners or tools. In the past, I have used compressed air, carburetor tools, etc... and I could have used either of those methods, but I decided to give the water hose a shot. I can't really think of any reason that it can't be recommended, but wanted to post it here for all of your consideration and thoughts... as it may be something I do again in the future preferably over the other methods... Don 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #2 Posted November 28, 2022 A diagram for those interested: Basically, I used the outdoor water hose and sprayed water into the fuel inlet needle, which unblocked the main jet. Don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cafoose 3,355 #3 Posted November 28, 2022 Maybe try one of these : 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,562 #4 Posted November 28, 2022 The only clear disadvantage to using strictly water that I am think of right away is that it won't chemically dissolve the muck that can collect in really small passages. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #5 Posted November 28, 2022 13 minutes ago, cafoose said: Maybe try one of these I do have an old waterpick laying around... next time I might try that!!! 8 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: water won't chemically dissolve the muck that can collect in really small passages ha ha... sounds like you haven't encountered Southern Indiana water... Seriously though, I do think that you have a point there. In my case, I know that the old fuel line kinda disintegrated when I removed it... so a piece of that was plugging the jet. Pushing that out with hose water in my case solve my problem. There wasn't much 'other' muck in my particular carburetor. I find it interesting that the carb was relatively clean for a machine that ran zero...zip... nada... fuel filter... for years... Don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #6 Posted November 28, 2022 4 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said: an old waterpick Wonder how that would hold up to being filled with carb cleaner? LOL! Seriously though, that's not a bad idea atoll ! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cafoose 3,355 #7 Posted November 28, 2022 16 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said: I do have an old waterpick laying around... next time I might try that!!! Lemme know how it works 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,597 #8 Posted November 28, 2022 This is my favorite carb cleaner. It removes every thing, paint, gaskets, junk, all gone. Spray it on, let it soak about 15 to 20 min, scrub it up a little, spray with brake cleaner, blow it off. Usually no more than 2 application's needed. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,284 #9 Posted November 28, 2022 1 hour ago, Achto said: It removes every thing, 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,137 #10 Posted November 28, 2022 After a soak in this: A soak in this with the heat on With this as the cleaning solution: 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,632 #11 Posted November 28, 2022 @Snoopy11 personally do not have any carb issues , have 2 filters between tank and carbs , and put neck full of STABIL fuel treatment in every tank top off , my fuel bowls are all clean and starts are quick and consistent, btw I too have a walboro carb , thats the best instant starter , immediate choke back off , set up I have . just a lot of detail tweaking as I went . no special fuels either , hope you find it , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,597 #12 Posted November 28, 2022 (edited) 24 minutes ago, squonk said: With this as the cleaning solution: Do you have issues with this product turning the aluminum black? Edited November 28, 2022 by Achto 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,137 #13 Posted November 28, 2022 (edited) 44 minutes ago, Achto said: Do you have issues with this product turning the aluminum black? Looks like Al you minimum to me! 1 part cleaner to 3 parts water with the heat on 10 -15 minutes Edited November 28, 2022 by squonk 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,137 #14 Posted November 28, 2022 (edited) 2 minutes ago, squonk said: Edited November 28, 2022 by squonk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Freightliner Guy 1,327 #15 Posted November 28, 2022 12 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said: Wonder how that would hold up to being filled with carb cleaner? LOL! Seriously though, that's not a bad idea atoll ! Until you go to use it on your teeth Oofta that’d cause some brain damage 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,562 #16 Posted November 28, 2022 40 minutes ago, squonk said: Al you minimum Is that similar to loomeeyummyumm ? 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doc724 925 #17 Posted November 29, 2022 I no longer have any of my wonderful tractors, however from time to time I check into RS just to see what is going on. One never knows what kind of great solutions can be used on a golf cart 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
