Carb questions

[Koerk]

Good day,

After some engine issues last summer I cleaned the carb out it was pretty gummed up. Last fall after re-installing the carb I couldn't get my engine to start, now re examining the carb more closely with my (MM A4) manual at hand I noticed a brass piece in the idle passage by the flange where the Carb is mounted to the manifold, is this normal?

In addition both upper and lower idle ports are clogged. Any suggestions in clearing these small passages?

Prior to cleaning the carb In order to start the engine I needed to throttle up, this must have been a result of the blockage in the idle passage?

[Dave Neptune]

Koerk, you can use little bits of wire. Pulling a wire out of a small stainless brush works well. Also copper wire can be used too just be a bit more careful so you don't break off a pieces.

The other thing is really get after the passages with compressed air if you can at all~~well worth the effort.

Be careful of the float setting and the "sealing" of the mixing well in the center of the bowl to the top half. This must seal to have an efficient carb.

Dave Neptune

[edwardc]

The steel wire from the center of a bread tie works well.

[ndutton]

I like a welder's tip cleaning kit.

[Ram41662]

I'm with Neil here, but I also use an airless spray gun tip cleaning kit. The probes start out at 0.011" and go up from there.

[Dave Neptune]

Careful with some types of welding tip cleaners as they are somewhat of a broach and can cut aluminum ports like the idle ports on our Zeniths. Even take it easy on the jets too.

The soft wire Edward recommends is an excellent soft poker too.

Dave Neptune

[Koerk]

Thank you for the helpfull tips.

just one big questions in answered in the top picture there is a piece of brass blocking the idle passage is this normal or has the idle jet broken and lodged it self?

[edwardc]

Thank you for the helpfull tips.

just one big questions in answered in the top picture there is a piece of brass blocking the idle passage is this normal or has the idle jet broken and lodged it self?

I believe that's a normal closeout plug for a drill passage that feeds the small idle ports. It shows up in this (B&W) photo of a late model carb from the MMI catalog.