Maintaining Winter Power Equipment

Folks in winter climes make significant investments in snow blowers for work and snowmobiles for play. Work and play won’t happen when your winter power equipment fails to function due to a dirty carburetor. This is why homeowners and winter sport enthusiasts – and small engine repair services – depend on an ultrasonic carburetor cleaning kit to maintain winter power equipment.

The Winter Power Equipment Market

According to a report in Global Newswire the global snowmobile market size is estimated to be worth US$ 1498.7 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 1778.1 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.9% during the review period.

Similarly, a report in Arizton states that the U.S. and Canada snow blower market is expected to reach USD 934.73 million by 2027 from USD 631.91 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 6.74% during the forecast period. The market is expected to witness sales of 1.7 million units by 2027.

How Ultrasonic Cleaning Helps Maintain Winter Power Equipment

When cleaning and tuning up snow blowers and snowmobiles speed and thoroughness are keys to fast turnaround and excellent results.

Carburetors especially are subject to accumulations of varnish, gum and carbon deposits as well as soil, grit and other contaminants that both reduce engine efficiency and increase wear. Aerosol sprays or brushing with potentially dangerous solvents are no match for fast, safe cavitation action in an ultrasonic cleaner.

And cavitation action is the reason. It’s caused by the violent but safe implosion of millions of minute vacuum bubbles when they contact dirty engine parts immersed in a biodegradable ultrasonic cleaning solution.

Bubbles violently implode on all areas contacted by the solution - including small cracks and orifices unreachable with manual brushing or spraying - to blast and carry away contaminants. This is another reason why ultrasonic cleaners are so efficient. Minimal disassembly is required for complex parts.

For an in-depth look at ultrasonic cleaning, please visit our learning center.

A Quick Intro to Cleaning Winter Power Equipment

For cleaning carburetors on snow blowers and snowmobiles, we suggest an ultrasonic cleaning kit especially designed for carburetors and other small engine components.

The kits, offered in 3 sizes, contain all you need to remove dirt, grease, varnish and other deposits from winter power equipment carburetors as well as other engine components during maintenance or overhaul off season.

And better, they are perfect maintaining lawn mower, chain saw, roto-tiller, motor scooter, motorcycle engines and other small power equipment engines.

While procedures are clearly spelled out in the manual accompanying the kit, here's a three step intro to cleaning your snowmobile or snow blower carburetor and other greasy parts.

FIRST STEP:

After removing the carburetor from your equipment brush off gross contaminants that will reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning action.

Note that all parts to be cleaned must be wetted by the cleaning solution. This may entail providing access to certain sealed components such as the carburetor float chamber.

NEXT STEP: PREPARE THE CLEANING SOLUTION

The kit comes with 2.5 liters of elma tec clean A4 cleaning solution concentrate, specifically designed for cleaning greasy engine parts and carburetors.

When diluted with water to make a 1 to 5% solution - depending on the condition of parts being cleaned - a 2.5 liter container of elma tec clean A4 concentrate makes approximately 15 gallons of cleaning solution.

NEXT STEP: THE CLEANING CYCLE:

Cleaning cycles are developed with experience. Here’s a suggested start:

• Fill the tank half full of water and add enough elma tec clean A4 for a full tank. Then continue adding water to the fill line.

• Set the thermostat to 60-70⁰C and start the ultrasound to mix and degas the solution. Degassing, which can take 10 to 20 minutes depending on tank capacity, drives off air that inhibits cavitation in fresh cleaning solutions.

• While this is happening place the carburetor in the cleaning basket. If cleaning more than one, or several engine parts, take care that they do not contact each other.

• Lower the basket into the solution, cover the tank to mute noise and reduce evaporation, and set the timer for 15 minutes.

• At the end of the cycle remove the basket and check the results. If satisfied allow them to air dry or use a hot air-drying gun.

Reassemble your equipment and get to work blowing snow or riding the drifts!

Maintaining Your Ultrasonic Cleaner

Private winter power equipment and engine repair shop owners can take extra steps to maintain their cleaning solutions and equipment.

Oils and other contaminants that rise to the surface of the bath should be skimmed off and set aside for disposal following local regulations.

Cleaning solutions should be replaced when they become visibly dirty and cleaning cycles take longer.

When the tank is drained (and the spent solution properly discarded along with other contaminants) take the time to give it a thorough cleaning to remove particles that fall to the bottom and can cause damage. Follow instructions in the user manual and never a scouring media or abrasive cleanser.

Fill the tank with fresh solution and you are ready to continue.

Winter Power Equipment Cleaning Summary

For the winter snowmobile enthusiast, homeowner with a snow blower or owners of small engine repair shops, an ultrasonic carburetor cleaning kit can quickly pay for itself for itself by saving time and by increasing the productivity and throughput in the shop.

Contact the scientists at iUltrasonic for help in selecting and operating the correctly sized ultrasonic carburetor cleaner for your winter power equipment.