eBay Ultrasonic Cleaner?

FrankenDesmo · 15-03-2020, 11:07 AM

I figured rather than send my carbs off for a sonic bath, I'd just buy my own... can't be the last time I'd ever use it!

Anyone had any experience with the likes of what you can get off eBay, such as: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383021512223 (I'd be going for the 6L one at £87).

the lodger · 15-03-2020, 12:31 PM

I was donated a small bath by my wife who is a chiropodist. It has no heater or anything digital but it works just fine as a carb cleaner. If I was buying one I would make sure the bath was big enough to clean all of the carb in one go ( with mine I have to turn them over , which is a bit tedious ! ).
Note that you must use the correct cleaning fluid for the metal your carb is made out of. It's not expensive and is does go a long way as you only use a 10% solution.

Mr Gazza · 15-03-2020, 12:51 PM

I am using one exactly like your ebay one. It has very kindly been lent to me by Utopia and Capo.
It works well. I only give it maximum of 15 minute bursts as the instructions recommend, to protect the machine. But you can repeat that ad nauseum until the parts are as clean as you desire. A bit of agitation with a brush between bursts helps with stubborn deposits. (Don't put your hands in when it's running though!) The more you can take apart before cleaning the better.
I do use it quite warm with the heater on, but the actual ultra-sounding does raise the temperature by itself. After about 30 minutes or less the heater can be turned off.

Do use the correct "carb and parts cleaner" though as lodger says. I tend to rinse the parts with clutch and brake cleaner after their bath, just to remove water and cleaner, so's it doesn't corrode them later.

Good luck with it, and if you can stay in the same room when it's running you're even deafer than me!

350TSS · 15-03-2020, 12:55 PM

I, too have looked at these and never quite managed the money out of my wallet, still wavering.
I am not sure the 6 litre size will take a pair of Monster carbs as the tank size is quoted at 300 x 150 x 150 from that you have to take away the wire basket which must reduce it by 10 to 15mm in each dimension and then you are supposed to have a 25mm air gap at the top of the chamber, though probably not essential. Carbs could, I suppose, be stood on end and done one at a time
There is a jump in price to £126 for the 10 litre but no increase in depth and the 15 litre is £128 (also the same depth)
Maybe others have experience and can comment upon what they have actually bought?

350TSS · 15-03-2020, 12:58 PM

Sorry, others posted whilst I was composing

FrankenDesmo · 15-03-2020, 05:28 PM

The after dinner job tonight will be measuring the carb bodies - I figured I'd be doing them one at a time, but need to verify that I can get a whole one in.

the lodger · 15-03-2020, 06:10 PM

I got my fluid from these people. I know they have a good reputation if you want to avoid ebay stuff

https://www.allendale-ultrasonics.co.uk/

FrankenDesmo · 15-03-2020, 06:52 PM

Cheers, I'll def get the fluid from them. The machines are significantly more expensive, though, which makes me wonder if the ebay one is going to be problematic, or is it one of those cases where the cheapie is just as good as the "proper" equivalent?

Might just have to take one for the team and find out.

Mr Gazza · 15-03-2020, 07:32 PM

What you have to remember is that it's only a jewellery cleaner and is built for light cleaning. A proper garage parts cleaner is a different thing, and is more robust to take into account longer running times and higher temps.
If you just respect the maximum 15 minute running time with the jewellery cleaner type, let it rest for 5 minutes and then give it another blast. The temp will build up in the fluid over several blasts and you can still do say a 2 hour cleaning time for heavy soils.

The more expensive ones are also made heavier in case they get a cylinder block or some such lumped into them. So I would say just take care of the one you want to order and it will be fine for carbs and probably anything heavier that you can fit in. If you're that worried about it just take it to a professional as you previously considered.

..And finally it's the cleaning fluid that you use that defines what it will clean, so use carb and parts cleaner and I think you will be fine.

Darkness · 16-03-2020, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankenDesmo

The after dinner job tonight will be measuring the carb bodies - I figured I'd be doing them one at a time, but need to verify that I can get a whole one in.

Did you manage to measure the carbs, as I’ve a stripped pair of 750 Elefant carbs to hand?

FrankenDesmo · 16-03-2020, 08:14 AM

Ah right, they'll do the job but not as quickly. Sounds fine to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkness

Did you manage to measure the carbs, as I’ve a stripped pair of 750 Elefant carbs to hand?

Aye, one body without float bowl or diaphragm cap is roughly 105mm x 100mm x 100mm. That's with the throttle butterfly etc still attached.

FrankenDesmo · 16-03-2020, 09:52 AM

Right, that's a 6L cleaner ordered as well as 5L of Carb cleaner from Allendale Ultrasonics.

I'll let you all know how it goes

jerry · 16-03-2020, 10:15 AM

Interesting thread keep the info flowing

FrankenDesmo · 18-03-2020, 06:54 PM

Cleaner & Fluid both arrived this evening, and I'm not back at work till Tuesday, so guess what I'll be doing tomorrow

Stay tuned folks.

the lodger · 18-03-2020, 07:55 PM

I use a glass jar to put all the jets in when using the cleaner. Sorry to state what may be obvious but you don't leave individual jets in the bottom of the tank because everything you are cleaning must be sitting on the cage, Give the outside of the carb a good clean before using the tank.

15-03-2020, 11:07 AM	#1
FrankenDesmo Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Glasgow Bike: M900 Posts: 108	eBay Ultrasonic Cleaner? I figured rather than send my carbs off for a sonic bath, I'd just buy my own... can't be the last time I'd ever use it! Anyone had any experience with the likes of what you can get off eBay, such as: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383021512223 (I'd be going for the 6L one at £87).

15-03-2020, 12:31 PM	#2
the lodger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Chorley Bike: M900 Posts: 160	I was donated a small bath by my wife who is a chiropodist. It has no heater or anything digital but it works just fine as a carb cleaner. If I was buying one I would make sure the bath was big enough to clean all of the carb in one go ( with mine I have to turn them over , which is a bit tedious ! ). Note that you must use the correct cleaning fluid for the metal your carb is made out of. It's not expensive and is does go a long way as you only use a 10% solution. __________________ Contents may settle !

15-03-2020, 12:51 PM	#3
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,801	I am using one exactly like your ebay one. It has very kindly been lent to me by Utopia and Capo. It works well. I only give it maximum of 15 minute bursts as the instructions recommend, to protect the machine. But you can repeat that ad nauseum until the parts are as clean as you desire. A bit of agitation with a brush between bursts helps with stubborn deposits. (Don't put your hands in when it's running though!) The more you can take apart before cleaning the better. I do use it quite warm with the heater on, but the actual ultra-sounding does raise the temperature by itself. After about 30 minutes or less the heater can be turned off. Do use the correct "carb and parts cleaner" though as lodger says. I tend to rinse the parts with clutch and brake cleaner after their bath, just to remove water and cleaner, so's it doesn't corrode them later. Good luck with it, and if you can stay in the same room when it's running you're even deafer than me! __________________

15-03-2020, 06:10 PM	#7
the lodger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Chorley Bike: M900 Posts: 160	I got my fluid from these people. I know they have a good reputation if you want to avoid ebay stuff https://www.allendale-ultrasonics.co.uk/ __________________ Contents may settle !

15-03-2020, 07:32 PM	#9
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,801	What you have to remember is that it's only a jewellery cleaner and is built for light cleaning. A proper garage parts cleaner is a different thing, and is more robust to take into account longer running times and higher temps. If you just respect the maximum 15 minute running time with the jewellery cleaner type, let it rest for 5 minutes and then give it another blast. The temp will build up in the fluid over several blasts and you can still do say a 2 hour cleaning time for heavy soils. The more expensive ones are also made heavier in case they get a cylinder block or some such lumped into them. So I would say just take care of the one you want to order and it will be fine for carbs and probably anything heavier that you can fit in. If you're that worried about it just take it to a professional as you previously considered. ..And finally it's the cleaning fluid that you use that defines what it will clean, so use carb and parts cleaner and I think you will be fine. __________________

15-03-2020, 12:55 PM	#4
350TSS Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Shipbourne Bike: M900 Posts: 1,419	I, too have looked at these and never quite managed the money out of my wallet, still wavering. I am not sure the 6 litre size will take a pair of Monster carbs as the tank size is quoted at 300 x 150 x 150 from that you have to take away the wire basket which must reduce it by 10 to 15mm in each dimension and then you are supposed to have a 25mm air gap at the top of the chamber, though probably not essential. Carbs could, I suppose, be stood on end and done one at a time There is a jump in price to £126 for the 10 litre but no increase in depth and the 15 litre is £128 (also the same depth) Maybe others have experience and can comment upon what they have actually bought?

15-03-2020, 12:58 PM	#5
350TSS Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Shipbourne Bike: M900 Posts: 1,419	Sorry, others posted whilst I was composing

15-03-2020, 05:28 PM	#6
FrankenDesmo Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Glasgow Bike: M900 Posts: 108	The after dinner job tonight will be measuring the carb bodies - I figured I'd be doing them one at a time, but need to verify that I can get a whole one in.

15-03-2020, 06:52 PM	#8
FrankenDesmo Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Glasgow Bike: M900 Posts: 108	Cheers, I'll def get the fluid from them. The machines are significantly more expensive, though, which makes me wonder if the ebay one is going to be problematic, or is it one of those cases where the cheapie is just as good as the "proper" equivalent? Might just have to take one for the team and find out.

16-03-2020, 09:52 AM	#12
FrankenDesmo Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Glasgow Bike: M900 Posts: 108	Right, that's a 6L cleaner ordered as well as 5L of Carb cleaner from Allendale Ultrasonics. I'll let you all know how it goes

16-03-2020, 10:15 AM	#13
jerry Old Git Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cricklade Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,810	Interesting thread keep the info flowing __________________ MONSTERMAN

18-03-2020, 06:54 PM	#14
FrankenDesmo Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Glasgow Bike: M900 Posts: 108	Cleaner & Fluid both arrived this evening, and I'm not back at work till Tuesday, so guess what I'll be doing tomorrow Stay tuned folks.

18-03-2020, 07:55 PM	#15
the lodger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Chorley Bike: M900 Posts: 160	I use a glass jar to put all the jets in when using the cleaner. Sorry to state what may be obvious but you don't leave individual jets in the bottom of the tank because everything you are cleaning must be sitting on the cage, Give the outside of the carb a good clean before using the tank. __________________ Contents may settle !