Carb Bank Cleaning Gaskets ?

[Mase]

I am cleaning out an old IS carb bank I stored 10 years ago.  Everything looks good, jets are clear and there is only a slight dusting of old fuel left behind with no other remnants. 

I have two areas of concern after watching the D-Ray YouTube videos.  The gaskets on the fuel bowls are in there pretty good.  Not sure what to try and get them out without prying on them and am considering using Simple Green if it won't cause them to swell.

He states that carb cleaner will cause anything rubber to swell but I have used it for years and years on 45 year old QJets and they never had a problem with the old carb cleaner or the new stuff.

Can I use carb cleaner just to get the stubborn fuel bowl gaskets out without them swelling?  Also, I do not have a tool made to fetch the tiny O-Ring at the pilot screw and am hoping to leave it in, clean the needle, replace it back into its place covering the O-Ring and using carb cleaner on the rest of the carb body and internals.  Would this be okay to do?

Appreciate the assistance.

[pancho]

If you plan on replacing the fuel bowl gaskets, use a plastic pointed tool to remove the old ones, do not scratch up the bowl with a dental pick. If you plan on reusing the gasket, I would leave it in place and not mess with it.  As long as those carbs have been sitting up I would tend to want to replace the orings and gaskets. All parts are available on eBay.


Here is the Redeye gaskets on eBay.   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carburetor-Bowl-Gasket-Kit-Valkyrie-GL1500C-CD-CT-CF-/330978891651?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AValkyrie+1500&hash=item4d0fe11783&vxp=mtr

[salty1]

You might be aware of redeye gasket kits.
http://redeye.ecrater.com/c/414983/carb-intake-seal-kits

[pancho]

Where did the gunk come out of,, the bowl??

[valkyriemc]

I just did my carbs last week and it's running great. Had idle issues that fuel cleaner wouldn't correct after several tries. Was apart for two weeks waiting on parts, and time to work on it. I bought new slow jets -35's (keihin) from jetsrus.com. I was going to put in 38's but changed my mind. (They are ready to go out -unused - to a member for a reasonable amount.) Didn't replace the bowl gaskets, they seemed ok. I sprayed carb cleaner in all the orifices most every night, and used compressed air. Put 12 paper bowls on the bench and kept everything together for each carb. Pre tested the carb rack by hanging it to check for leaks etc., prior to reinstallation in bike. Opened each drain screw and checked for gas filling bowls. Note; moved in new house so garage was/is somewhat disorganized..  Weather is great, heading down to Daytona Bike Week Wednesday!

.

[salty1]

Using the ladder was pretty clever! 

[Brian]

When I rebuilt my carbs last year I used the gas tank off the bike. I placed it up on a tool box with the carbs sitting in an old cookie sheet below it just as if everything was on the frame and motor. I let this set up stand for three days to make sure nothing leaked through. FYI, the OEM vacuum gas valve is no longer on the tank after I caught that POS leaking through.