Tools for Carburetor Cleaning and Service - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Tools for Carburetor Cleaning and Service

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Tools for Carburetor Cleaning and Service

AaronMN posted 02-23-2015 09:35 PM ET (US)
Are there any tools specifically for cleaning and servicing carburetors? Between the mower, ice auger, snow blower, and outboards, I feel as if they may come in handy. Small diameter wires for cleaning jets? Float level tools? Others?
deepwater posted 02-23-2015 11:46 PM ET (US)
I am not great at getting into a carburetor so I use SeaFoam and my dealer.
conch posted 02-24-2015 09:56 AM ET (US)
I keep a set of near new condition square shaft screw drivers and lots of prescription bottles with tops to hold small parts.
jimh posted 02-24-2015 10:10 AM ET (US)
I reviewed the factory service manual for an OMC V6 engine with six carburetors, in the FUEL section, in the subsection CARBURETOR SERVICING. I found the following tools mentioned:
--use OMC DRIVER PN 317003 to remove the high speed fuel orifice;
--use a small syringe to flush carburetor holes and passages
--use compressed air to blow out passages
--use a small punch to drive out throttle body core plugs
--use a Phillips head screwdriver with a torque gauge (reading in inch-pounds) to tighten certain fasteners to a specific torque
Other than the specified driver tool to fit the heads of the fuel orifice, I don't see that any of the tools needed are particularly specific to working on a carburetor. A syringe, compressed air, a punch, and a torque screwdriver can be used for many purposes. The unusual driver tool for removing the orifices is probably the only tool that will be specifically for working on these carburetors.
The specific tool that I used to clean those carburetors was my checkbook.
fno posted 02-25-2015 07:13 PM ET (US)
Cleaning a carburetor is relatively simple as long as a few rules are followed. My first carb rebuild was a 2 barrel Rochester that my father cleaned up and gave me when I was 6 or 7 years old. I failed miserably as my focus was on disassembly with no interest in putting it back together later on. Many carbs later I can suggest a few things to have on hand.
1. Gumout Jet Spray (absolutely the best crud cutter in a can)and good safety glasses (Jet Spray burns the eyes)
2. Good screwdrivers.
3. A compartmented tray (cafeteria style) or lots of electrical tape containers, or pill bottles if you are old and subject to human decay....
4. A bright work lamp and magnifiers if you are old and subject to human decay....
5. The correct rebuild kit and a parts breakdown with graphics of the carb.
Last but not least, do not start or end a rebuild at the end of a long work day, try not to drink more beers than you should before going to the dentist or doctor. Also, don't leave too much time between the disassembly and reassembly phases, especially if you are old and subject to human decay....
P.S. Always take note of how many turns out those idle and mix screws are while you remove them. Makes the tuning afterwards fairly straightforward. Good luck!!!!
jimh posted 02-26-2015 12:01 PM ET (US)
An addendum to Frank's advice:
When disassembling something in the modern era, take detailed images with a digital camera as you go. You can refer to them when re-assembling for guidance.
AaronMN posted 02-27-2015 07:58 PM ET (US)
Thank you all for the information. I appreciate your advice.--Aaron
98expeditionXLT posted 03-06-2015 12:36 PM ET (US)
Because I've become more forgetful I also started keeping notes every time I rebuild a carb because too often I miss cleaning out a barely visible small passage that causes me to have to disassemble a carb a second time. I now take my notes and pics on the iphone and save them on my computer. Since ethanol has been in the gas I find I am rebuilding carbs much more frequently.
For the boat, I add SeaFoam to the full tank at the beginning of each boating season and that seems to keep the carbs clean.
Has anyone experienced [a carburetor's] gasket swelling when using GUMOUT recently?

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Tools for Carburetor Cleaning and Service
AaronMN	posted 02-23-2015 09:35 PM ET (US) Are there any tools specifically for cleaning and servicing carburetors? Between the mower, ice auger, snow blower, and outboards, I feel as if they may come in handy. Small diameter wires for cleaning jets? Float level tools? Others?
deepwater	posted 02-23-2015 11:46 PM ET (US) I am not great at getting into a carburetor so I use SeaFoam and my dealer.
conch	posted 02-24-2015 09:56 AM ET (US) I keep a set of near new condition square shaft screw drivers and lots of prescription bottles with tops to hold small parts.
jimh	posted 02-24-2015 10:10 AM ET (US) I reviewed the factory service manual for an OMC V6 engine with six carburetors, in the FUEL section, in the subsection CARBURETOR SERVICING. I found the following tools mentioned: --use OMC DRIVER PN 317003 to remove the high speed fuel orifice; --use a small syringe to flush carburetor holes and passages --use compressed air to blow out passages --use a small punch to drive out throttle body core plugs --use a Phillips head screwdriver with a torque gauge (reading in inch-pounds) to tighten certain fasteners to a specific torque Other than the specified driver tool to fit the heads of the fuel orifice, I don't see that any of the tools needed are particularly specific to working on a carburetor. A syringe, compressed air, a punch, and a torque screwdriver can be used for many purposes. The unusual driver tool for removing the orifices is probably the only tool that will be specifically for working on these carburetors. The specific tool that I used to clean those carburetors was my checkbook.
fno	posted 02-25-2015 07:13 PM ET (US) Cleaning a carburetor is relatively simple as long as a few rules are followed. My first carb rebuild was a 2 barrel Rochester that my father cleaned up and gave me when I was 6 or 7 years old. I failed miserably as my focus was on disassembly with no interest in putting it back together later on. Many carbs later I can suggest a few things to have on hand. 1. Gumout Jet Spray (absolutely the best crud cutter in a can)and good safety glasses (Jet Spray burns the eyes) 2. Good screwdrivers. 3. A compartmented tray (cafeteria style) or lots of electrical tape containers, or pill bottles if you are old and subject to human decay.... 4. A bright work lamp and magnifiers if you are old and subject to human decay.... 5. The correct rebuild kit and a parts breakdown with graphics of the carb. Last but not least, do not start or end a rebuild at the end of a long work day, try not to drink more beers than you should before going to the dentist or doctor. Also, don't leave too much time between the disassembly and reassembly phases, especially if you are old and subject to human decay.... P.S. Always take note of how many turns out those idle and mix screws are while you remove them. Makes the tuning afterwards fairly straightforward. Good luck!!!!
jimh	posted 02-26-2015 12:01 PM ET (US) An addendum to Frank's advice: When disassembling something in the modern era, take detailed images with a digital camera as you go. You can refer to them when re-assembling for guidance.
AaronMN	posted 02-27-2015 07:58 PM ET (US) Thank you all for the information. I appreciate your advice.--Aaron
98expeditionXLT	posted 03-06-2015 12:36 PM ET (US) Because I've become more forgetful I also started keeping notes every time I rebuild a carb because too often I miss cleaning out a barely visible small passage that causes me to have to disassemble a carb a second time. I now take my notes and pics on the iphone and save them on my computer. Since ethanol has been in the gas I find I am rebuilding carbs much more frequently. For the boat, I add SeaFoam to the full tank at the beginning of each boating season and that seems to keep the carbs clean. Has anyone experienced [a carburetor's] gasket swelling when using GUMOUT recently?