Never doubt senile people. You'd be surprised.

[mindymogul]

Carb #1 was off a snowblower that sat for 3 years without even being glanced at and sat behind a shed through all elements. There was no gas in it, it was covered (mostly) and the rest of it was relatively clean. Kinda self explanatory why it didn't run. (Freebie Cumseh OHSK130)

Carb #2 however sat since 1996 in a hoard pile until it was hauled out beside the road where I adopted it and brought it home. The tank had gas and was directly connected to the carb so 22yo fuel just rotting away. It started 1st pull then immediately blew it's guts out the carb. (Freebie Cumseh HM100)

Both sat in a combo of 3/4 cup white Vinegar, 1/2c ZEP 505, and 3/4 cup apple vinegar. No brushes, ultrasonic tanks, or any thing else other than a hairdryer was used to clean them. Just 3hrs in that solution some guy at a nursing home told me and BAM. Both start and run 1st pull every time.

Listen to your elders kids. You just might learn something...

 

[KingCobra]

And what have we learned from this experience? That no matter how long a carb has sat, it is always wise to drop that one bolt retainer, drop the bowl and just clean it out and flush the gas tank and fuel line while your at it. I have no idea how that junk get's down in there( ok, I do ) but the bowl was designed to be a 'catch all' of trash coming from the gas tank. BTW, I use gas filters between the gas tank and carb now.

 

[Nosandwich]

And what have we learned from this experience? That no matter how long a carb has sat, it is always wise to drop that one bolt retainer, drop the bowl and just clean it out and flush the gas tank and fuel line while your at it. I have no idea how that junk get's down in there( ok, I do ) but the bowl was designed to be a 'catch all' of trash coming from the gas tank. BTW, I use gas filters between the gas tank and carb now.

Thank you so much.

 

[bob58o]

Sediment bowls are designed to be the catch can.
https://www.everestpartssupplies.co...ower-carburetor-gas-engine-with-sediment-bowl