Seafoam

My carbs '82 750 SECA are all gunked up. I swung by a shop today, the man said if I pulled my carbs out myself, he'd charge me $240 to clean them up for me... then we can talk about making an adjustment.

I guess I'm running a little on the lean side.

I have no problem paying that price if it helps my bike run properly. It's my daily driver and I don't want to risk some future problems. At the same time, people that buy an $800 bike from craigs list don't just plunk down $240 without trying some alternatives first.

I want to try a quick fix in the mean time. I just grabbed a bottle of Seafoam at Advance Auto.

One guy told me to put 3 teaspoons in a full tank.

The other guy told me to just dump in the whole bottle.


I really want to pour in the whole bottle, I have a full tank of gas and my bike is right outside.

So tell me, can I just pour in the whole bottle. Will it make my bike blow up? Please advise!

 

Do what the can says.

 

I think the instructions on the can are more for preventative maintenance rather than the quick fix I'm looking for.

 

The quickest fix is taking your carbs off and following RICKOMATIC's carb cleaning method...otherwise its going to become a habit taking them on and off trying quick fixes....experience speaking here.

 

If you really want to get the carbs cleaned, wait until this gas is low... like beyond reserve so that there is only a bit of gas left in the tank. Maybe half a gallon? Start the bike and pour in half a bottle of seafoam star the bike for about ten minutes and keep the throttle going so it doesn't die to make sure you're getting the concentrated stuff in the carbs, then shut off the bike and let it soak. The longer the better. I let it sit for at least 12 hours on a boat.

Start it up the next day in a well ventilated area because it's going to smoke like crazy. That's normal because it's cleaning all the gunk out of your engine. When it's not smoking as much or if the smoke clears up, drain the gas/seafoam mix and fill back up with regular gas. Add a bit of seafoam to each tank to continue the cleaning process. If the carbs are going to get cleaned with seafoam, that should do it. If not, then tear them apart.

 

Do not use carb cleaner to clean dirty carbs. Use it to keep varnish etc off, and preventative maint.

Use it to 'free' sludge etc in dirty carbs, and that dirt has to go somewhere -straight into your passages and jets. Been there, done that. Not cool.

 

Agreed

There are NO quick fixes for dirty carbs
There is no such thing as sort of clean carbs
You WILL clean your carbs time after time until you do it right

There just is no substitute for doing right.

Also don't spend $240 - do it yourself. Takes a few bucks for carb cleaner and several hours of your time. A bit more if you need to replace worn parts.

 

I completely agree with the comments above.

If you're GOING to use SeaFoam, I wouldn't use more than 1oz. per gallon of gas. It's not a panacea.

 

Ok, ok. I put in some. like 1/3 of the bottle. It's just a tad more than 1 oz per gallon, but at least it may (or may not) loosen some of the gunk up. Guess I'll just wait until my next day off and then get my hands dirty!

 

Then the fun begins. The problem with seafoam is that while it will dissolve some stuff it will loosen crud that will move and could cause even more problems for you.

Seafoam is great stuff and I run some a few times a year for maintenance in my bike and my boats.

 

I'd have to agree with Bill on this one. The Seafoam will break lose the crud, but it still has to go some where. It may just settle in some of those small journals and cause more problems. It may clear things up for you too, so it's a shot in the dark.
I use it more to prevent the crud from building up in the first place. I run 1 oz. per gallon thru both bikes a couple time a season to prevent the carbs from needing to be cleaned. Good luck!

 

Ok anyone in this forum would clean them for half of what that guy is telling you. But in all seriousness. Do it yourself. Follow rickomatics instructions and you will be fine. If you need any help you know where to ask for free!!!! Well keep us updated. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

Last fall I put the amount recommended on the container in my gas tank. I don't know the history of the bike before I bought it 04/08. I do know that my bike ran like $h!t for a while until all the gunk that got worked loose worked through the carbs. I consider myself lucky to have avoided needing to clean the carbs for the moment but I realize I'm going to have to bite the bullet next winter.

mikeg