Is there any way to clean a Puch airbox, or is it best just to buy a new one. They are like $30 bucks, plus shipping! Seems kinda high to me?
Is there any way to clean a Puch airbox, or is it best just to buy a new one. They are like $30 bucks, plus shipping! Seems kinda high to me?
I'm not sure about Puch Maxi/Newport boxes, but the Magnum box opens up in 2, and all there is inside is a screen, which can be lightly scrubbed and then coated w/ WD-40 to inhibit rust. From looking at the picture on mopedjunkyard.com, it looks like maybe the Maxi boxes might pry open too...? If it's just a screen inside like the Magnum boxes, then I could never imagine needing to replace it because it couldn't be cleaned. Good luck.
-Mike
Some of the maxi boxes will open up. Most, though, are sealed. You can either cut it open along the seam, clean it out, and then it should snap back together and you can put some fuel resistant sealant back on it if you want. Be careful cutting along the top, because it's hinged along thre. If you don't want to cut it open, though, you can take some brake cleaner and hold the box so that the opening for the carb is facing down and spray some brake cleaner in there for a few seconds and let the crud run out. Then you can spray some all over the screen and hold that facing down so it all runs out (or let it run out the carb opening again). The stuff I use is K&W Professional strength brake cleaner. It's in a tall yellow can with purple lettering and it has a really cool drawing of a satsquatch (sp?) on it, too.
Your best bet is to cut it open on the seam. You should be able to see where the sealant is, it should cut open with a razor blade knife.
Oi,
I wouldn't clean it with anything other than some form of petrolium distilate (i.e., gasoline or kerosene). I just don't want anything in my engine but gas or oil. Brake fluid has a lot of other stuff in it I don't like...although it does clean the hell out of most anything.
One other thing. Personally, I'd be very careful with WD40. It is NOT an oil. It's a solvent. It has exceptionally poor lubricating qualities and again, I don't want it in my engines. It would make it more difficult for the oil to do it's job in the cylinder because it's designed to "degrease" things. Not what you want happening in there. Maybe I'm being a little bit too cautious, because we are talking about a very small quantity that could possibe make it's way from the filter to the engine, but I'd rather be safe. Just my thoughts.
Not brake fluid, Brake CLEANER. It's essentially the same thing as carb cleaner, except it's stronger and doesn't soak into metal (evaporates faster). I would never use actual brake fluid for anything but hydraulic brakes. Brake fluid will soak into metal and even make metal un-paintable! But the brake cleaner works excellent for engine cleaning. You don't have to worry about brake cleaner making it's way into the engine from the filter because what doesn't drip out will evaporate in seconds.
Thanks people. You are great! I think I am going to try the brake cleaner idea. Where can I buy the adhesive that is fuel resistant?
Try an auto parts store. Ask for a sealant that fuel-safe (just so you know, silicone isn't fuel safe) and that won't eat through plastic. Although, the sealant isn't really neccessary because the box snaps back together. My Newport doesn't have any sealant around the seam and it runs great.
cool. I will just bust out the straight razor and slice it on the seem.
Does everyone clean their airboxes, or do they just usually get new ones?
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