How to disconnect plastic linkage (1998 4HP)?

[Good Trout To You Sir]

1998 4HP plastic linkage connecting air box to fuel shutoff valve at carb base.
Wish to avoid damage to this "symphony in plastic" apparatus.
Ideas on required technique or tool? Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Crosbyman]

if you gently skweeze the splip part with pliers it should allow you to pull out both
the link and plastic insert

 

[Good Trout To You Sir]

Thanks --- I've been trying that approach but will try again. BTW - there's plastic fitting on exterior of carb (linkage to butterfly). Do you know if this plastic piece is easily removed? I'd like to soak carb in parts cleaner, but not with plastic fitting attached and not if it means damaging butterfly pin in process of removal. Thanks again.

 

[Crosbyman]

sorry .. I would not venture enough to give you a suggestion

I think you can clean that carb without a full soak the upper LS needle can come out and if you want to do a full clean-up you will need to pull the top plug on the LS drip chamber see pic of an older FD carb much like yours as far as the LS chamber is concerned.

 

[Good Trout To You Sir]

Thanks. Guess I'll have to keep carb cleaner spray away from this plastic piece on carb exterior? Not exactly sure how I'll do that.....in my limited experience the carb cleaner spray tends to go everywhere....perhaps why it's an effective solvent!
Is the plastic carb bowl manufactured to withstand carb spray?

 

[Crosbyman]

Thanks. Guess I'll have to keep carb cleaner spray away from this plastic piece on carb exterior? Not exactly sure how I'll do that.....in my limited experience the carb cleaner spray tends to go everywhere....perhaps why it's an effective solvent!
Is the plastic carb bowl manufactured to withstand carb spray?

don't realy know you can use a less harsh solvent like fuel oil kerosene
you can tape up the plastic part on the shaft if worried

fresh gasoline could surely do to clean the carb and that carb lives with gasoline all the time so i doubt it would be affected .

air blow all passages when done

 

[oldboat1]

Some use PineSol for soaking -- might try that. Probably half and half with water(?)