I belong to the Atomic 4 digest and the folks there suggested I post here and see if someone here can help me out. My 1963 Defender with the original Atomic 4 wasn't getting gas like it should so I took it to the local marine repair facility here on the Olympic Peninsula, WA. The motor was still running just not getting gas very well. It would start up just fine and I’d motor out of the marina but after running for 20 minutes or so it would slowly get less and less gas. The repair facility said it was the carburetor and gave me an estimate of 400,00 to repair it. Their "mechanic" claimed he tried to rebuild it but couldn't get it to work, charged me 700.00 to give me back a boat with no carburetor and claimed it would be another 400.00 to get me a new carburetor installed. He told me "you can afford another 400.00 on top of the 700.00, what are you a doctor or a lawyer or something?" I was flabbergasted at that and said, “NO, I'm not, I’m a janitor who has dreamed of owning this sailboat for literally decades and scrimped every spare penny I could to save up for this boat.” I don't know what that mechanic did to it. I got the old carburetor back but I don't know anything about them. I don't know if he even tried to rebuild it. Now, I’m stuck with a motor that doesn’t run at all and I had to pay them or they would take my boat. I don’t know if I need a new carburetor or if the one I have can be rebuilt. I know I can’t afford the 300.00 (245.00 for the carburetor on Moyer plus core fee plus shipping) for a new carburetor plus paying someone to install it. I found Marlinspike Atomic 4 Carb Rebuild page online but I’m not sure I can do that. I’m NOT repair a motor inclined. Anything else on the sailboat I can handle. Does anyone know what to advise me to do? I didn’t get to take my sailboat out at all this year. I miss it so much.
Thanks for your help
Pamela
Thanks for your help
Pamela
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