My first newb question (many to follow)

[Grahamworks]

[1970 cb350 K2- Full disclaimer: first bike- first build]
Maybe someone can lead me down the right road before I damage something.

I am disassembling the carbs (first timer). How do you remove the diaphragm slide thing? (sorry for being so technical).
The diaphragm itself looks good, and I don't want to damage it obviously. The lip of the diaphragm itself was not stuck down too badly, but in all the photos I have seen the diaphragm and the slide assembly seems to come right out. Am I missing something obvious, or do I just need to keep at it? There is no movement in it at all, and I am really shy about damaging that diaphragm.


Thanks ahead of time for any help,
Chris
Photo: the spring has since been removed, and the rubber all the way around is free.

 

[Redbird]

The slides are probably gummed up and stuck in their bores.
Gently lift the edges of the diaphram and spray carb cleaner around the slide. Do the same throught the carb throat. Let it soak a minute and reach a finger in and try pushing the slide up/out. Repeat as necesary.

 

[Sonreir]

Probably important to note that carb cleaner and rubber are not often good friends. You may want to try to keep that stuff off of the diaphragm.

 

[Grahamworks]

Thanks guys. So I tried the spray and pray method several times in the past hour. Damn thing didn't budge. So I decided to crack open the other carb, so I could get a frame of reference of how this thing slides out. I couldn't believe it! This one slips right out with no coaxing. On the stuck one, if I didn't know better I would assume that there was no moving part there at all. It is solid. So, I while continue with the careful spraying for awhile. As a last resort, is there some way I could soak the carb in something, leaving the actual rubber part of the diaphragm out of the bath to keep it from getting ruined? In other words the carb would be in a coffee can or something filled until the liquid is about 3/4 of the way up the carb. If so, what would you suggest as the solvent? Mineral spirits or something like that?

Stumped,
Chris

 

[Sonreir]

Boiling lemon juice works sweet. No joke. Smells pretty damn funky though.

 

[Grahamworks]

Boiling lemon juice works sweet. No joke. Smells pretty damn funky though.

I have heard that one before. It showed up on DTT quite a few times when I was searching around. Do you know if it affects the rubber diaphragm negatively in any way?

 

[Sonreir]

Not sure. I cleaned my own carbs this way and it didn't seem to do any harm to the o-rings, but I was able to remove the diaphragms before I dunked them.

 

[Redbird]

Probably important to note that carb cleaner and rubber are not often good friends.

No shit? I thought carb cleaner was formulated specifically not to attack the rubber carb parts

 

[Sonreir]

No personal horror stories to tell. I'm just repeating what I've heard. Sorry. I should have prefaced my previous statement.

 

[Redbird]

I hope that didn't sound like I was challenging you or anything.
It just struck me odd to hear Car Cleaner might harm parts in a Carb. lol

However, after I posted that, I did a little quick searching and found that some carb cleaners are not "oil free".
I guess I learned something new today

 

[Grahamworks]

Re: My first newb question (resolved)

SUCCESS-
It took me a long while. I tried the spray and pray for another 1/2hour or so. Then I did my next idea which was to stick only the end farthest from the diaphragm into a mineral spirits bath. I was next was going to try the lemon juice thing. The only thing holding me back, after doing some internet research, was the smell while boiling. Since I want to stay married, I decided that was going to be my last resort.


Fortunately after about an 1 1/2 hours in the bath, I went at it again and it budged... just a little, but it budged. A little more carb spray from the inside, and quite a bit of finger strength finally did the trick.


Thanks guys! As I said, I am new to this. Today I learned that with mechanical things, sometimes parts can get really really really...really stuck- and you have to keep at it.


Attached is a photo of the bitch.

 

[dano]

good job! i had this same problem about a month ago. i ran it under hot water for a few minutes and it came free.

 

[VonYinzer]

Right on man. Make sure to really clean out the channel where the diaphram seats now. It was probobly full of gummy old gas or even gasket sealer.

 

[Grahamworks]

good job! i had this same problem about a month ago. i ran it under hot water for a few minutes and it came free.

Run it under hot water... Damn, that seems so simple. I bet it would have worked for me too. Sometimes I over think the solution to my problems.