Stuck Carb Slide

Dr. Frankenstein · Post by **Dr. Frankenstein** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:46 am

I have an interesting problem: the carburetor slide in the carb of an Early model 305 is stuck/"glued" to the inside of the carburetor throat.

I have tried pulling it out with the throttle cable, and gently prying it up from the bottom, but there is very little room to get a screwdriver blade under it, and I certainly don't want to bugger up the slide, or the little notch at the bottom of it.

I have soaked it in PB Blaster, carb cleaner(one of those paint-can-sized things from the parts store), soaked it in gasoline for a long while, tried WD-40, carb cleaner, brake cleaner - all to no avail. That thing is in there TIGHT! I think it's "glued" to the carb throat with old gas residue, but I have NO idea why/how it's holding on so tight!

I don't want to pry any harder on the bottom of the slide because I don't want to damage the air/gas flow characteristics of the carb - but what else can I do??

Yes, it is entirely disassembled except for this sticky slide.

Hahnda · Post by **Hahnda** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:14 am

Try a heat gun. If you don't have one a hair dryer on high may even work.

Seadog · Post by **Seadog** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:16 am

Lacquer thinner works well or you could try an ultrasonic cleaner (but not with lacquer thinner).

Dr. Frankenstein · Post by **Dr. Frankenstein** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:38 am

Heat gun?? Have you tried this successfully before?

Hahnda · Post by **Hahnda** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:42 am

I use a heat gun on stuck slides all the time. Usually takes about 30 seconds and they slide right out.

Dr. Frankenstein · Post by **Dr. Frankenstein** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:55 am

Does it matter which setting, High or Low..? I just don't want to damage it, although that possibility is probably pretty remote...

Hahnda · Post by **Hahnda** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:01 am

I use the high setting but low is probably safer. You just need to be smart about it. You would have to sit there quite a while with the gun on the carb to start doing some damage. It goes quicker than you think. You just need to soften up that old gas glue.