I'm rebuilding the carbs on this engine. The Seloc manual shows a small white plastic seat they call a "bearing" on the tip of the slow idle needle adjustment. This bearing is included in the kit I have.
Since the day I owned it, it has been a little rough on a slow gradual acceleration, but smoothed out past a certain RPM, so I assumed it might be something in the low speed circuit of the carb. Got the rebuild kits and they have everything for many carb variations over the years. I've run this boat 25 years so I figured a complete rebuild is probably a good idea. When I took it apart, everything looked perfect, even the float needle valve shows no wear at all which was really surprising. Looked like it had just been rebuilt! So, probably dirt somewhere (some fine black powdery debris did come out of the various passages). I can't see a plastic needle "bearing" in the slow idle needle passage (but it's really hard to see down there). Someone suggested that a blunted wood screw could be used to thread into it and pull it out. Tried that very carefully, I could see the screw's thread marks on metal where it begins to taper, but nothing touched the orifice - no plastic needle bearing seems to be in the one passage I checked. Before I risk any further possible damage, did this particular carb have needle valve "bearings", or were they never installed when the last person did a rebuild?
I bought a set of used slow idle needles because the original ones in there showed quit a bit of asymmetrical wear at the tips which made me think they must be resting against something harder than plastic seats. If anyone knows the answer to this question, I'd appreciate sharing the knowledge as it is difficult to find information on a 50 year old engine! Thanks.
Also, what's the worst thing that could happen if I instal them? Wouldn't I still be able to adjust the needles to get a correct slow idle? I've worked on cars and motorcycle carbs, but I don't really understand what the needles do...I think they control the amount of gas sucked in at slow idle (or is it air restriction). I just blindly follow the manual, clean and replace parts and hope for the best! Thanks again.
Since the day I owned it, it has been a little rough on a slow gradual acceleration, but smoothed out past a certain RPM, so I assumed it might be something in the low speed circuit of the carb. Got the rebuild kits and they have everything for many carb variations over the years. I've run this boat 25 years so I figured a complete rebuild is probably a good idea. When I took it apart, everything looked perfect, even the float needle valve shows no wear at all which was really surprising. Looked like it had just been rebuilt! So, probably dirt somewhere (some fine black powdery debris did come out of the various passages). I can't see a plastic needle "bearing" in the slow idle needle passage (but it's really hard to see down there). Someone suggested that a blunted wood screw could be used to thread into it and pull it out. Tried that very carefully, I could see the screw's thread marks on metal where it begins to taper, but nothing touched the orifice - no plastic needle bearing seems to be in the one passage I checked. Before I risk any further possible damage, did this particular carb have needle valve "bearings", or were they never installed when the last person did a rebuild?
I bought a set of used slow idle needles because the original ones in there showed quit a bit of asymmetrical wear at the tips which made me think they must be resting against something harder than plastic seats. If anyone knows the answer to this question, I'd appreciate sharing the knowledge as it is difficult to find information on a 50 year old engine! Thanks.
Also, what's the worst thing that could happen if I instal them? Wouldn't I still be able to adjust the needles to get a correct slow idle? I've worked on cars and motorcycle carbs, but I don't really understand what the needles do...I think they control the amount of gas sucked in at slow idle (or is it air restriction). I just blindly follow the manual, clean and replace parts and hope for the best! Thanks again.