Carb Preparation/Cleaning

[linckeil]

WMK-9 carbs on a 1972 1400

as some of you may know, I recently picked up a 1972 1400. the motor has been sitting for years. it all appears very clean, but i want to know what i should do with the carbs before i try to fire it up and while i still have easy access to carb removal. should i completely remove the carbs and submerge them in cleaner? should i disassemble the carbs and clean each component? should i flush them out while they are on the motor?

any recomendations as to what i should do and what cleaner/chemicals to use? are there any wear points or other areas of interest on the carbs i should pay particular attention to?

thanks.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

Remove the carbs and clean them, don't soak them some of the soak cleaner will eat the carbs. Disassemble them clean them with carb spray blow out the idle passages from the needle passage to the venturi holes, the idle pickup tube need special attention, make sure its clean. Then the float bowl and high speed jet. Reseal the welch plugs and ck float level along with the float spring height. Set the low speed needles at 11/2 turns reassemble to the engine and reset carbs low speeds in the water in gear

 

[Laddies]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

Before starting, change the w/pump impeller and gear lube then prelube the engine and fire it up

 

[linckeil]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

ok, so i took off the carbs and took them entirely apart - with the exception of the welch plugs. the carbs looked very clean. i didn't want to mess with the welch plugs because i'm not entirely sure how they come off... i cleaned everything extremely well and being the carbs were in good shape to begin with, i think i'm ok leaving the welch plugs in. what do you think? am i going to regret not taking these plugs out?

and whats the best place for a gasket/seal kit for these carbs? i know i can get the kits at napa for $22 per carb. any suggestions on a place to buy these kits? i also am going for new floats and a kit to rebuild each fuel pump while i'm at it.

thanks.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

Most of the parts are still available at your local Mercury Dealer, but you might have to bring part numbers.

There are various parts lookup sites on the web.

If you are feeling ambitious go for new needle/seats and floats too.

While you are at it, do a check valve kit on the fuel pump too It's just a fancy name for a fuel pump kit with new check valves.

 

[linckeil]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

the best deals on these parts that i've been able to find so far are at this website:

http://www.boatersland.com/

any opinions on the welch plugs? is it ok to leave them in, or should i remove them?

and i also need a new timing belt for the motor. mercury part # 20140. i've found it's still available from mercury, but its over $30 for this little belt. i haven't found any aftermarket manufacturers of this belt. is there a cheaper substitute out there, or is the mercury part my only option?

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

Do you have something against your local Mercury Dealer, or live so far away from one that they aren't accessable?

Personally I prefer to use my local dealer, and appreciate the help they can be while working through those "tough issues".

I doubt the online supplier will pop off that flywheel for you so you can change that belt, and save you the $50-$100 for the puller that you may need almost never in the future.

Those belts rarely go bad, and when they do (strip all the cogs off or break) it's most always result of distributor lock up, or bearing failure.

I'm not aware of an aftermarket alternitive.

Spend the money on a waterpump kit instead, if you haven't bought one yet.

Although I have, and do from time to time use the Sierra line of parts, and find them acceptable for the most part, I have come to understand there are also "other brand" parts on the market from unknown sources that I personally would not choose.

 

[linckeil]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

nothing against my local dealer, but i called a couple of them and both were surprised to hear my motor has a distributor. so if thats an indication of their experience with these older motors, then i'll look else where for what i need. i'm sure they know the newer motors inside and out, but that doesn't help me.

and i actually found a really nice flywheel puller/hook combo on ebay for $20 that does a great job. and i perfer to take on these projects myself rather than have a shop work on them. its a learning experience for me and the great people on this board help me through any of the tough issues that i doubt most dealers today in 2007 would want to touch on a 35 year old motor.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

If you are using the block numbers from a later model motor that had an ADI ignition system, they would be correct to assume that it has no distributor.

 

[linckeil]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

yes, if i gave them the block numbers of a non distributor motor then of course they would be correct in assuming i don't have a distributor. but why would you think i would be giving them block numbers off a motor i do not have?? i don't understand your point?

bottom line is i gave the year and model motor i have to the local dealers and they were surprised to hear it has a distributor. one guy looked up the diagram on his system and told me the picture must be wrong because the distributor mounts upside down.....

if your point is to support local dealers, then yes, i agree and i do under most all circumstances buy locally. but when guys at the parts desk have a response like i indicated above, ones confidence in their experience with these older motors is lost. but thats just my opinion.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: Carb Preparation/Cleaning

Let me suggest you try to make online purchases at Iboats.com as that is what powers this forum!


Please excuse me.


I was only trying to help by relating personal experiences.


I'll leave it now.

Best of luck.