Is it okay to use carb cleaner on the float, float valve, and diaphragm?

I'm cleaning my carburetor and I'm unsure how to clean these parts. Will the carb cleaner damage the plastic and rubber parts or is it fine to use? How would I clean it otherwise?

 

Best not to get carb cleaner on the rubber parts. The best information I have found on cleaning them is the Church of Clean thread. I will find it and post a link momentarily, unless someone else gets to it first.

 

Here it is. There is a lot of information but it will help you clean your carbs the right way.

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/in-the-church-of-clean.14692/

 

you do not want to soak rubber parts or floats in cleaner, but you also want to remove the parts so you can clean the passages behind them or you are just surface cleaning them.
pilot jet has passages to its air jet and mixture screws , main jet has air passages going to it and an emulsion tube which has to be removed to clean out the asperation holes in it then there is the enrichment tube that needs to be cleaned and the plungers have to be removed because the pin in them is set in rubber.
the needle valves need to be inspected they can only come out if you remove the floats.
you can clean with out braking the racks apart. general opinion is to replace all seals when cleaning carbs unless you know they have been replaced.
you can spray the floats just dry them with canned air after

 

But what if I'm just spraying the rubber parts with carb cleaner? Would that be the same as soaking it?

 

no its not the same as soaking. just not a good pratice. you can spray them after with silicone spray to remove any carb cleaner. you can use seafoam spray sea foam claims you can soak rubber in it for years.
have you take apart the carbs ?
you would not want ant spray to get inside where the diaphrams are and sit there because they are very expensive to replace

 

I agree , try not to get carb cleaner on rubber or plastic parts. I won't hurt if you get a little on there but it can easily damage them. So it best to keep it away.
I clean plastic and rubber with silicone spray and a old tooth brush. Spray , brush and wipe clean always works.

 

I'm working on the first carb with all the parts are taken out. I guess I'll try silicone spray. Is there any specific brand?

 

Brand does not matter, I use whatever Walmart or the auto parts store has on the shelf.