Carb cleaning advice?

[snal]

I hope to have the pleasure of dealing with some carb cleaning issues this saturday. My (soon to be) C Dory has twin 45 Hondas, one of which seems to need this attention.
A fellow "Brat" has generously offered advice, so here's my plan...
1st...hook the engine up to a clean, portable fuel tank with fresh fuel, treated with stabil, and/or other additives, and check any filters for debris/water. 2nd....use aerosol carb cleaner on each carb. 3rd....go all out with a full tear-down of the carbs for thorough cleaning.
Any other suggestion would be much appreciated!

[C-WEED]

I would also drain the float bowls, one at a time into a clean container for inspection. Very much water might be concern to clean the fuel tanks. Don’t forget to check the tank vents to make sure they don’t point forward. The presence of very much sediment might be reason to pull each float bowl for a good cleaning. If you don't know the past history of the operation vs. sitting for long periods you might just pull one of the float bowls to see how much varnish has formed. If much has formed the added conditioners may loosen it and then plug up the passages later. Nothing worse than having erratic engine operation when you really want to be out cruising. Especially with your new boat.

Good luck

[snal]

Thanks Chris! 1994 engines with 320 hours will likely mean varnish at the least.

[gljjr]

While you may be lucky and have the fuel treatment work. I would guess that you will need to simply pull the carbs from the get go if it has been sitting for any period of time. Especially if the motor already seems to be running bad.

BTW: Congrats on the new(to you) Boat!

[snal]

[gljjr]

In Beartracks thread I posted about how I used to do multiple carb syncing. I used to use 2 (or more) cheap vacuum gauges rather than an expensive carb stick. They work just fine. I also used to use one of these (sorry for posting a link to an ebay add, I just don't know where to find them anymore).

This would probably work pretty well on a boat where it might be hard to find a vacuum port.

Do a google search on syncing carbs. There are several pages on this for motorcycles. The process would be the same on the outboard.

[Sea Angel]

snal-
The device that was pictured on the e-bay site is called :

UNI-SYN
Multiple Carburetor Synchronizer
Model-A

It cost $10.95 in the early 60s.

The manufacturer is:
EDELBROCK EQUIPMENT CO.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90016

www.edelbrock.com
check under 'carbs& access.'

They are still in business.

These are used to first set the vacuum draw at idle with the linkages disconnected. The balance is done with the throttle-stop-screws; so the additional carbs are 'balanced' with the same vacuum indication as your reference carb by watching the red float in the glass tube as you adjust their respective throttle-stop-screws.

When you reconnect the linkage, this same procedure can be used to match the linkage. It is all about balance so each carb draws the same amount of air.

Hope this is helpful and not too wordy.

[snal]

Very helpfull thank you! I haven't had time to tinker with them yet, hopefully next week.

[Dora~Jean]

Snal, check the Honda service manual (get it somewhere). I'm not familiar with the Hondas but my Yami 80's have vacuum ports to hook up either a single vacuum gauge that you move from carb to carb (must replug when thru with that port of course), or, buy cheap auto vacuum gauges and hook all up at the same time (best method). I tuned many an SU carb with my Unisyn, but access to the carb throat inlets is not possible with my engines.

[mikeporterinmd]

Definitely drain the float bowls first. Mine had a bunch of stuff in them
that I avoided running into the carb bodies.

Mike