how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

[paulspaddle]

My boat is being looked at today. I'm pretty sure we are looking at a carb re-build and/or cleaning.

I don't know this shop and the guy has been hesitant to give any numbers over the phone.

I understand why and I'm not debating that.

The shop is not in the city, its in a small town and they mostly service the commercial fisherman's outboards. When he calls me later today I'd like to have idea whether he's in the right ball park.

1990 4.3, carb rebuild or cleaning.

What would be a ball park price for a shop to do it?

Maybe a better question is, how long should it take them? (I don't know the shop rate at this time)

Thanks

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Not more than 3 hours, max including river test.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Not more than 3 hours, max including river test.

Thanks Nutcase...

I do wonder about a 'test'. They aren't located on a body of water.

The problem presents itself when I'm WOT and obviously (I freakin' hope not) they aren't going to run this thing WOT on muffs.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Thanks Nutcase...

I do wonder about a 'test'. They aren't located on a body of water.

The problem presents itself when I'm WOT and obviously (I freakin' hope not) they aren't going to run this thing WOT on muffs.

What kind of problem are you having?

Typically WOT problems are fuel delivery issues. Carb issues typically present themselves in acceleration issues or starting or idling issues, but typically if they do those things can handle WOT fuel delivery. Where they tend to be a problem is in delivery proper fuel flow when the engine is transitioning from one operating characteristic to another, like idle to 3000 RPM.

I would expect to pay about an hour and a half to two hours labor for the rebuild plus the cost of the kit, which is probably about $50. Is yours the 2bbl carb or quadrajet?

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

What kind of problem are you having?

Typically WOT problems are fuel delivery issues. Carb issues typically present themselves in acceleration issues or starting or idling issues, but typically if they do those things can handle WOT fuel delivery. Where they tend to be a problem is in delivery proper fuel flow when the engine is transitioning from one operating characteristic to another, like idle to 3000 RPM.

I would expect to pay about an hour and a half to two hours labor for the rebuild plus the cost of the kit, which is probably about $50. Is yours the 2bbl carb or quadrajet?

This is the problem...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=397983

Shop is going to look at it tomorrow.

 

[sparky71]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I just paid 100.00 to have my quadrajet re-built,looks brand new,with the promise of coming to my boat and "dialing it in".Not sure if that helps as I'm not in your area.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I just paid 100.00 to have my quadrajet re-built,looks brand new,with the promise of coming to my boat and "dialing it in".Not sure if that helps as I'm not in your area.

Thanks...ya that's the stuff I was looking for. Ball parkish...

 

[JustJason]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Whose charging 100 bucks to do a carb in manchvegas? I'm relatively close to there and I charge a lot more than that.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

If its a quadra-jet do it yourself the kit cost less than 30 bucks.

Here is a video about how to do it:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=362542

I dont know why this video is not made a sticky.

I will be making a 2 barrel rebuild and Carter 4 barrel rebuild videos in the future.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I just paid 100.00 to have my quadrajet re-built,looks brand new,with the promise of coming to my boat and "dialing it in".Not sure if that helps as I'm not in your area.

Scary cheap. Hide the women and children.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Get their price before they rebuild it. You can get brand new marine carbs for less than shops charge to rebuild old ones...

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I'm actually a bit ticked about this whole thing. I'm busy at the moment and don't have time to learn how to do this right now. Plus I'm working on my back yard and have no place to park it in the city until I'm done.

The boat is 2 hours from here at a shop that is sort of remote as they do the main business for commercial fisherman.

I took the boat there on the way home from the cabin two weekends ago....they looked at it for the first time today and he says he doubts they'll get parts by tomorrow. 3 freakin' weekends without a boat....for a carb job!

I'm right ticked about this.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

You're also discovering why many of us have learned to do it ourselves: You can be sure to do it right and in your own time frame. The shop is probably still busy from all of the Memorial Day breakdowns...

 

[Don S]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I took the boat there on the way home from the cabin two weekends ago....they looked at it for the first time today and he says he doubts they'll get parts by tomorrow. 3 freakin' weekends without a boat....for a carb job!

I'm right ticked about this.

Welcome to the world of boat repairs, when every shop gets backed up because summer starts and everyone finds their boats don't work.
Happens every year. Always will.
I can also tell you that shops that deal with a lot of commercial boats, will put them ahead of pleasure boaters. The commercial guys are usually the backbone of their buisness. Been there, done that.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

The only good thing is that the weather the last two weekends has been awful.

Don't think you're going to miss much this weekend either.

Good luck.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I'm actually a bit ticked about this whole thing. I'm busy at the moment and don't have time to learn how to do this right now. Plus I'm working on my back yard and have no place to park it in the city until I'm done.

The boat is 2 hours from here at a shop that is sort of remote as they do the main business for commercial fisherman.

I took the boat there on the way home from the cabin two weekends ago....they looked at it for the first time today and he says he doubts they'll get parts by tomorrow. 3 freakin' weekends without a boat....for a carb job!

I'm right ticked about this.

Isn't this aggravating. I took my boat in for a transom replacement. The motor came out. I had the shop look it over to see if anything should be done while the engine was out. They took the motor out last thursday, and I called Friday. They said I had a loose steering arm and needed a new gimbal ring and needed exhaust flappers. I asked for a price. I stopped by monday and asked again. I called tuesday and asked again. I finally called wednesday afternoon and told them not to bother. I wanted nothing done except what they were originally contracted to do, even though it will cost me extra to have it done later. But they couldn;t order parts and have them in in time to get it done, becuase they couldn't give me a price to ahve the work approved.

They were griping about not having enough work while I was there.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

I agree with all the posts....I'm #2 to commercial fisherman, weather is poor, etc...

Your just hearing a guy that's eager to play with his 'new to me' boat. For the 5 min ride that my 3 year old son experienced he's pumped to go out again.

It'll happen and all will be good in the world again....

 

[sickwilly]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Buy a rebuilt one on line, pick up the boat, slap it in. Its 4 bolts, the throttle linkage, fuel line, and wire to the choke.

Then send yours in for the core.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

Buy a rebuilt one on line, pick up the boat, slap it in. Its 4 bolts, the throttle linkage, fuel line, and wire to the choke.

Then send yours in for the core.

That's what I would do...

 

[smarks]

Re: how much for shop to do a carb cleaning?

That's what I just completed. Ordered the carb over the internet and received it in three days.
Steve