At least I finally got it into a garage.
Some things have held a little shine from 2006.
You know the gas has evaporated when things start living in your carbs and tubes.
Now, how do you clean decades of varnish and other dreck? The first carb cleaning (2006) didn't do much good because I used that freezing cancer stuff--carb and choke cleaner. It took out some varnish, but three more years of settling undid any good I might have done.
Earlier this year, I read about cleaning carbs in this article: http://knol.google.com/k/evan/how-to-clean-a-motorcycle-carburetor/1cxrwhqe214sz/2?domain=knol.google.com&locale=en#
I tried boiling my varnished KLR-650 carb in lemon juice, and the results were astounding. I [thought I] knew how to clean a carb before, but the lemon juice boil changed everything. After such results, I am certain that it is the answer to restoring these carburetors. So that's what I did...all afternoon.
The carbs might not be too pretty since the juice affects the finish, but remember what they looked like. The most important thing was to clean all the jets, which I'm sure I did. I came up with a nifty way to test the jets, which I will discuss in another entry. I'll have a video, too.
Boiling:
So the carbs are clean (or at least I think they are until I test them). They should be fine until I get the rest of the bike together. It won't hurt to let them settle for a while.
Organization, people.
Just so you can see how clean the bowl is. Sure it's not tip-top, but it is much better.
What's left on the bike?
Missing parts
Front brake master cylinder
Front right mirror
Various tubes
Parts that need serious love
Gas tank
Battery (maybe a new one...)
Handlebars (maybe new ones...)
Things to shine
Wheels
Engine
Carbs
...er...everything chromely.
