Clogged carbs... could be from Kreem

 


I ride a '95 GSXR 750

My current problem is that my carbs are getting a build up of white
paste in the jets. I just had them over hauled on Sunday, 8/31, and
the number 4 carb's main jet was totally clogged with the stuff. Right
after the carbs were cleaned and sync'd the bike was running great.
This morning I took the bike for a long ride through the twisties, and
over the course of the ride the bike went from accelerating smoothly
to noticeable hesitation in the mid range. It's not an issue of
altitude, because i don't live much above sea level, and it ran pretty
crummy as I pulled into the driveway.

When I acquired the bike a couple years ago it didn't have a gas tank.
The tank I found for it had some visible rust inside it, so I cleaned
the rust out with a mixture of sulphuric acid diluted with water, and
wood screws, then I coated the inside with Kreem. I also installed in-
line fuel filters below the tank to the fuel lines. Here's the thing I
don't see any flaking of the coating inside the tank when I look into
it, but I can't imagine what else would generate the white paste that
clogged the number 1, and number 4 carbs. Oddly the number 2, and
number 3 carbs were clean. Anyway, I now need to take the bike back,
and pay to have the carbs cleaned again. Of course before I go to this
expense I have to figure out what is causing the carbs to clog in the
first place. The bike sat for about three months, and I dumped the gas
before I turned it over, but the carbs were clogged anyway. I was able
to get it to drive, but with really decreased power, and only on three
cylinders. I ran it through 4 tanks of gas, and poured a full can of
sea foam in each time. That didn't help, so I took it to a mechanic,
who cleaned out the carbs.

If I discover that it is the tank liner can I take the tank to a
radiator shop, and have them clear out the liner? I recall that in
class you mentioned this as one way to get rust out. You also
mentioned that if I take the tank to a radiator shop I should wrap the
tank completely to protect the paint. I have four questions:

1) Can a radiator shop remove tank liner and anything else that may
flake off into the carbs?
2) Does anyone recommend a good radiator shop in Los Angeles?
3) What should I cover the outside of the tank with to protect the
paint?
4) Do you think that using a liberal amount of sea foam in the tank
may have caused some of the tank liner to lift off, blend with the
fuel, and clog the carbs?

 


<snip>

I don't think there's any doubt that it's the Kreem that's causing
problems. I'm surprised the inline filters didn't catch it, though. I
think you're setting yourself up for a lfetime of pain, hassle and
expense in trying to get the whole thing sorted out by someone else,
actually.

Hunt round for a good used tank. It'll be far simpler and cheaper in
the long run.

 




Indeed.  Even if it has signs of mild rust.  Filters can deal with rust.

And regardless of whether or not it contributed to your current problem,
putting any additive in ~4 gal. of gas that was intended for ~ 20 gal. of
gas is pretty......unwise.

 



Sea Foam is a mixture of something called "pale oil" and naphtha,
which is just low octane gasoline.

Kreem is intended to survive being exposed to pump gasoline with
alcohol additives continuously, so why should low octane gasoline
affect properly cured Kreem?

 


One kit, complete with stripper for the old liner:

http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=HDCTRK&dept 

There are other treatments around also.

 I think, but am not 100% sure, that MEK could remove the Kreme.

I did not protect my tank when I used POR-15 though I probably
would if I used MEK or other stripper.