Cleaning carbs

tnc110

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Are there any gaskets that I need to have on hand to do this or just an oring that can be reused? The ole girl doesnt want to idle so i guess its time to clean.
 
More than likely you will be able re-use the rubber gasket that seats into the rim of the bowl. Last time mine were really gunked up and I cleaned them lightly. Other than that, no other gaskets or o-rings other than under the fuel screw (don't lose that one!!). Read the Tech Faq on cleaning carbs, MrViper and Crewchief's write-ups make it almost too easy!
 
I have ben using a pair of needle nose pliers for the past few years to remove the float pivot pin to get out the needle/seat. Couldnt find that special pair that seemed to wotk the best this last time around. Went to Lowes looking for a similar pair or check out the "center punch" or "automatic punch" that I have read on here others use. Pliers were $15, Punch was $12........Figured what the hell....I will buy both and give the punch a whirl...... HOLLY SWEET BABY JESUS DOES THAT WORK LIKE A CHARM! Grabbed the punch. Holding it with a good firm grip and gave er a good push........PIN FLEW RIGHT OUT THE OTHER SIDE......Beginers luck I thought, Same with 2nd and 3rd pin! Will no longer be using pliers!
 
Check the o-ring on "Seat" of the Needle & Seat, sometimes these harden up and may even shrink slightly, and then the Seat doesn't fit/seal firmly in the carb body.

I haven't found it to be common that these o-rings need replacement, but I just cleaned a set of Viper carbs and these are the first ones that the seats just slipped into the carb with no drag, they fit so loosely that if I held the carbs straight up the Seats would have fallen out. It also looked like the o-rings may have been "peeled" or "wiped" a little from when they were originally installed, as there was a small amount of black material stuck to the seat body directly adjacent/below the oring. The black material wasn't all the way around the seat, but approx 1/3 of the way around, and it was similar in consistency to the hardened o-ring.

I imagine that o-ring is metric, I haven't found one the same size yet but will keep looking. I used a slightly smaller diameter, but thicker, standard version that seemed to fit well, at least for now...
 
Just cleaned them last night...it was much easier than I initially thought. I have individual pod filters so that helped. Glad I did it, all 3 pilot jets had restrictions/blockage. Should idle just fine now.

One hint I might suggest would be to have a hand full of the bowl screws on hand. Some of mine had badly stripped heads and it would have been nice to replace them...next time i will. I took a hammer and rapped each screw with the screw driver and hammer before attempting to loosen...all of them came out without too much fuss. I was prepared to cut slots in the heads with a dremmel cut off wheel...some of them where pretty bad!

Great forum guys, thanks for all the insight!
 
tnc110 said:
Just cleaned them last night...it was much easier than I initially thought. I have individual pod filters so that helped. Glad I did it, all 3 pilot jets had restrictions/blockage. Should idle just fine now.

One hint I might suggest would be to have a hand full of the bowl screws on hand. Some of mine had badly stripped heads and it would have been nice to replace them...next time i will. I took a hammer and rapped each screw with the screw driver and hammer before attempting to loosen...all of them came out without too much fuss. I was prepared to cut slots in the heads with a dremmel cut off wheel...some of them where pretty bad!

Great forum guys, thanks for all the insight!

Pretty common for them to be upgraded/replaced to an allen/hex head. Another tip/trick a few of use to is swipe a muffin pan out of the cupboard. Nice little divider to chuck parts from each carb into as your tear apart.
 


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