I've been told by the local tecumseh/briggs dealer not to dunk a carb in carb cleaner. I also know that I have done it when using spray carb cleaner didn't get the "gunk" out. I was just wondering what the proffessionals on this site thought. Am I hurting anything by dunking the carb??

You can use a carburetor dip to clean out carburetors. You can't leave them in the dip very long if they have any plastic parts in them that cannot be removed, otherwise it's fine to use a dip.

I've always removed all plastic possible and if it has a plastic fuel inlet, tie it up out of the solution. So I should be good. thanks for the help.

Yup your good to go...

Even if the fuel inlet came loose due to the cleaner, it's replaceable.

I used to watch my grandfather boil his clogged up carbs in a bucket of water , they all used to work afterwards. Done it myself a few times to cure fuel problems.