Found loose screw in carburetor

[tritonyawl2]

Removing the flame arrester I found this small screw lying loose in the mouth of the carburetor. The photo shows the tip of a pen for scale. Engine seems to run fine. 3 hr trip coming up. Advise?

[Dave Neptune]

The only screws I can think of that would be "enclosed inside the carb throat and arrestor are the screws on the butterfly shaft. All else are external. Is it a brass screw or steel? Look down the throat to see if one is missing, there should be 2.

Dave Neptune

[tritonyawl2]

It's brass. I'll go out to the boat and see what I can.

[JOHN COOKSON]

Dave
Could it be the screw for the poppet valve? I no longer have a boat so I can't check myself.

ex TRUE GRIT

[Dave Neptune]

John, I don't see how the screw could work it's way to the throat. It could be just a broken screw that was in the arrester when installed. The piece would not experience enough velocity to move it "UP" the manifold to get to the cylinders IMHO. And where is the rest of the screw?

Dave Neptune

[tritonyawl2]

I will post another picture later today to show you where I found the screw. The engine ran fine just now.

[roadnsky]

I think that piece looks a lot like one of the two screws holding the butterfly valve as Dave said.
Are you missing one of those screws?
See pics...

[tritonyawl2]

I don't think so. My photo is not as sharp, but it looks like both of those screws are in place

[Dave Neptune]

Those are the choke screws the throttle shaft has 2 more.

Dave Neptune