these days it's "just buy a new carburetor" - i remember rebuilding a few like 20 years ago - on small engines, but now a rebuild kit is, say, $12 and a new carburetor is $20. For an extra $8 you only have to remove two bolts and fasten the new one in, rather than take a carburetor apart and replace gaskets and floats (or whatever, it's been 20 years).
word to the wise - never use the shutoff switch on anything with a carburetor - use the fuel shutoff valve. This prevents gasoline from varnishing your carburetor bowl.
I probably won't use that word again for a year, now, heavens.
I acquired a generator from a family member, and unknown to me when I needed it to power the house the thing wouldn't run unless the choke was held closed with a wire tie. You can imagine how well that ran...
So, that sounds like a carb rebuild, right? Come to find out that for about $17 shipped a seller on eBay with something like 200K feedback will sell me a brand new carb. Fitted that, it starts on first pull. There's absolutely no reason to mess around with a rebuild on something like that.
As a small engine mechanic, you you lucky. Usually those cheap carburetors will do the job, and usually the engine won't run quite as smooth. The rest of the times it's so erratic you have to buy an OEM one.
I will always clean/rebuild carburetors before replacing. And usually when replacing I will explain to the customer and get permission to spend their money on an OEM one.
these days it's "just buy a new carburetor" - i remember rebuilding a few like 20 years ago - on small engines, but now a rebuild kit is, say, $12 and a new carburetor is $20. For an extra $8 you only have to remove two bolts and fasten the new one in, rather than take a carburetor apart and replace gaskets and floats (or whatever, it's been 20 years).
word to the wise - never use the shutoff switch on anything with a carburetor - use the fuel shutoff valve. This prevents gasoline from varnishing your carburetor bowl.
I probably won't use that word again for a year, now, heavens.
I acquired a generator from a family member, and unknown to me when I needed it to power the house the thing wouldn't run unless the choke was held closed with a wire tie. You can imagine how well that ran...
So, that sounds like a carb rebuild, right? Come to find out that for about $17 shipped a seller on eBay with something like 200K feedback will sell me a brand new carb. Fitted that, it starts on first pull. There's absolutely no reason to mess around with a rebuild on something like that.
As a small engine mechanic, you you lucky. Usually those cheap carburetors will do the job, and usually the engine won't run quite as smooth. The rest of the times it's so erratic you have to buy an OEM one.
I will always clean/rebuild carburetors before replacing. And usually when replacing I will explain to the customer and get permission to spend their money on an OEM one.
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> He might be able to work on a carburetor
I'm absolutely a car guy, and I'm 41 years old.
Strangely enough, I've never owned a carburettored engine, and it seems unlikely I ever will (except, maybe, for a chainsaw)
I sat in one when it started burning on the highway, because of the carburetor :D
I think it was a Renault 11 and I'm not exactly sure how old I was, probably a bit before I got my license, so late 90s.
I suspect a common reason would be for a classic car or motorcycle.
Or general aviation since they use engines derived from ancient automotive designs. Fuel injection isn't common.
I consider the OG S2000 a classic car :)
I liked their advice - “go to the auto store and buy a bottle of something with ‘miracle’ in the name.”