O.K. the engine is in a boat and not a car but I have to start somewhere 
!

I have a Volvo Penta 260hp petrol engine, now over 20 years old, which 
got the fuel badly contaminated with water. This has caused corrosion in 
the main float chamber of the Rochester Quadrajet carburettor. My local 
specialist says the traditional method of dealing with this was a dunk 
in an acid bath but as carbs are so rare on cars now there is no-one 
locally with such an acid bath.

Does anyone know of where in the U.K.I might find such a service or does 
anyone have the recipe for the acid bath adn stabiliser ?

I have found an American company happy to re-condition it or sell me a 
re-con but the shipping costs are fairly high

Many thanks to all 
-- 
Paul Mc Cann

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:36:51 +0100, Paul Mc Cann 
wrote:


>
>
>O.K. the engine is in a boat and not a car but I have to start somewhere 


http://www.usautomotive.co.uk would be worth a go.

sponix

> Does anyone know of where in the U.K.I might find such a service or does 
> anyone have the recipe for the acid bath adn stabiliser ?


Stab in the dark, and i`m not sure if they`re still there, but there was 
a place called Carburettors Unlimited on Muirhead Avenue, Liverpool

A quick google...

Carburettors Unlimited. 204 Muirhead Av Liverpool 0151-226 1257

AFAIK they have a workshop to the rear and may have something suitable - 
alternatively, they might be able to provide a suitable replacement unit 
(I think they were Nikki distributors) ?!?

In article , Paul Mc Cann 
says...

> 
> 
> O.K. the engine is in a boat and not a car but I have to start somewhere 
> !
> 
> I have a Volvo Penta 260hp petrol engine, now over 20 years old, which 
> got the fuel badly contaminated with water. This has caused corrosion in 
> the main float chamber of the Rochester Quadrajet carburettor. My local 
> specialist says the traditional method of dealing with this was a dunk 
> in an acid bath but as carbs are so rare on cars now there is no-one 
> locally with such an acid bath.
> 
> Does anyone know of where in the U.K.I might find such a service or does 
> anyone have the recipe for the acid bath adn stabiliser ?
> 

You will find that decent engine reconditioners should have an acid 
bath. THey use them to dip blocks and heads in to clear the shite out 
of the oil galleries.


-- 
Conor

If Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened 
rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic 
music.

Conor  wrote in message
news:MPG.1d673f11f874736a98a6a6@news.individual.net...

> In article , Paul Mc Cann
> says...
> >
> >
> > O.K. the engine is in a boat and not a car but I have to start somewhere
> > !
> >
> > I have a Volvo Penta 260hp petrol engine, now over 20 years old, which
> > got the fuel badly contaminated with water. This has caused corrosion in
> > the main float chamber of the Rochester Quadrajet carburettor. My local
> > specialist says the traditional method of dealing with this was a dunk
> > in an acid bath but as carbs are so rare on cars now there is no-one
> > locally with such an acid bath.
> >
> > Does anyone know of where in the U.K.I might find such a service or does
> > anyone have the recipe for the acid bath adn stabiliser ?
> >
> You will find that decent engine reconditioners should have an acid
> bath. THey use them to dip blocks and heads in to clear the shite out
> of the oil galleries.


We do indeed but the 'acid' used therein is a mixture of carbon solvents and
will have no effect on aluminium oxide whatsoever. All the OP needs to do is
clean the carb by hand. Emery cloth, Scotchbrite abrasive or a brass brush
will remove the oxide, take out the jets and give the carb a good blow out
with compressed air. Alternatively the sulphuric acid from an old car
battery will dissolve the deposits. It will also dissolve the aluminium if
left in long enough so take care and flush out thoroughly with clean water
afterwards. Remove all jets and any rubber or plastic parts before use.
Finally, sodium hydroxide, NaOH, and certain other strong bases will
dissolve aluminium oxide but again they will also dissolve the aluminium if
left in too long.
--
Dave Baker

In article <42fd7fb2$0$18649$14726298@news.sunsite.dk>, "Dave Baker" 
<Pumaracing(NoEmails)@aol.com> says...

> 
> Conor  wrote in message
> news:MPG.1d673f11f874736a98a6a6@news.individual.net...
> > In article , Paul Mc Cann
> > says...
> > >
> > >
> > > O.K. the engine is in a boat and not a car but I have to start somewhere
> > > !
> > >
> > > I have a Volvo Penta 260hp petrol engine, now over 20 years old, which
> > > got the fuel badly contaminated with water. This has caused corrosion in
> > > the main float chamber of the Rochester Quadrajet carburettor. My local
> > > specialist says the traditional method of dealing with this was a dunk
> > > in an acid bath but as carbs are so rare on cars now there is no-one
> > > locally with such an acid bath.
> > >
> > > Does anyone know of where in the U.K.I might find such a service or does
> > > anyone have the recipe for the acid bath adn stabiliser ?
> > >
> > You will find that decent engine reconditioners should have an acid
> > bath. THey use them to dip blocks and heads in to clear the shite out
> > of the oil galleries.
> 
> We do indeed but the 'acid' used therein is a mixture of carbon solvents and
> will have no effect on aluminium oxide whatsoever. All the OP needs to do is
> clean the carb by hand. Emery cloth, Scotchbrite abrasive or a brass brush
> will remove the oxide, take out the jets and give the carb a good blow out
> with compressed air. Alternatively the sulphuric acid from an old car
> battery will dissolve the deposits. It will also dissolve the aluminium if
> left in long enough so take care and flush out thoroughly with clean water
> afterwards. Remove all jets and any rubber or plastic parts before use.
> Finally, sodium hydroxide, NaOH, and certain other strong bases will
> dissolve aluminium oxide but again they will also dissolve the aluminium if
> left in too long.
> --
> Dave Baker
> 
> 
> 

The carburettor specialist I have it with said the acid bath they used 
was a mixture of hydrochloric and sulphuric acid. Various people had 
their own well guarded secret recipes !

The stabilisation bath also played an important part. Effort had to be 
made to stop the corrosion re-occuring.

The guy has been repairing carbs for years so I don't think he is 
spoofing.

I know, to my cost, that drain cleaner will not only clean but also 
dissolve aluminium, having left an aluminium drip tray from a barbecue 
in drain claner over night ;-(
-- 
Paul Mc Cann

"Paul Mc Cann"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.1d67a0f4355320fb989819@news1.eircom.net...

> In article <42fd7fb2$0$18649$14726298@news.sunsite.dk>, "Dave Baker"
> <Pumaracing(NoEmails)@aol.com> says...
>>
>> Conor  wrote in message
>> news:MPG.1d673f11f874736a98a6a6@news.individual.net...
>> > In article , Paul Mc Cann
>> > says...
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > O.K. the engine is in a boat and not a car but I have to start 
>> > > somewhere
>> > > !
>> > >
>> > > I have a Volvo Penta 260hp petrol engine, now over 20 years old, 
>> > > which
>> > > got the fuel badly contaminated with water. This has caused corrosion 
>> > > in
>> > > the main float chamber of the Rochester Quadrajet carburettor. My 
>> > > local
>> > > specialist says the traditional method of dealing with this was a 
>> > > dunk
>> > > in an acid bath but as carbs are so rare on cars now there is no-one
>> > > locally with such an acid bath.
>> > >
>> > > Does anyone know of where in the U.K.I might find such a service or 
>> > > does
>> > > anyone have the recipe for the acid bath adn stabiliser ?
>> > >
>> > You will find that decent engine reconditioners should have an acid
>> > bath. THey use them to dip blocks and heads in to clear the shite out
>> > of the oil galleries.
>>
>> We do indeed but the 'acid' used therein is a mixture of carbon solvents 
>> and
>> will have no effect on aluminium oxide whatsoever. All the OP needs to do 
>> is
>> clean the carb by hand. Emery cloth, Scotchbrite abrasive or a brass 
>> brush
>> will remove the oxide, take out the jets and give the carb a good blow 
>> out
>> with compressed air. Alternatively the sulphuric acid from an old car
>> battery will dissolve the deposits. It will also dissolve the aluminium 
>> if
>> left in long enough so take care and flush out thoroughly with clean 
>> water
>> afterwards. Remove all jets and any rubber or plastic parts before use.
>> Finally, sodium hydroxide, NaOH, and certain other strong bases will
>> dissolve aluminium oxide but again they will also dissolve the aluminium 
>> if
>> left in too long.
>> --
>> Dave Baker
>>
>>
>>
> The carburettor specialist I have it with said the acid bath they used
> was a mixture of hydrochloric and sulphuric acid. Various people had
> their own well guarded secret recipes !
>
> The stabilisation bath also played an important part. Effort had to be
> made to stop the corrosion re-occuring.
>
> The guy has been repairing carbs for years so I don't think he is
> spoofing.
>
> I know, to my cost, that drain cleaner will not only clean but also
> dissolve aluminium, having left an aluminium drip tray from a barbecue
> in drain claner over night ;-(


same as caustic soda