Johnson 65hp Carb low speed needle bearing

[ducote32]

Hi everybody. Need some help with this one. Rebuilding the carbs on my 72 johnson 65 hp. I have it torn down and have the orig manual for it. For the life of me I can't see if the bearings are up in the slow idle bearing hole. used magnifying glass and light, tried using a sharp brass pick to see if i could dent the plastic bearing, It doesn't look like any white color is in there. I can see a lip, but it looks shiny. this is all three cards. I tried the drywall screw trick and didn't catch anything. also tried the hook. It really looks like they don't have any. I did find that the number 3 needle has a crack in it across the threads.

Is there a lip in the slow idle hole?

any other tips would be greatly appreciated? I just don't want to bugger up the holes trying to get soething that might not be there. Idle hasn't been great since I had engine, but would stay running.

 

[racerone]

Other than dirt in them there is very little that goes wrong with these carburetors.-----What were the results of a compression test on your motor ?

 

[ducote32]

Good compression, 135psi across the 3 cylinders.

 

[F_R]

1972 65hp carburetors are "supposed" to have slow speed needle bearings. That doesn't mean they are in there. The only suggestion I have is find or make a rod the same size as the needle and poke it in there and see if you can feel it go through the bearing. If you can't feel anything, the bearing is missing or it is there and worn out. The shank end of a drill bit might make a good gauge.

 

[ducote32]

thanks everybody, took another look and all three carbs are missing it. i have a next door neighbor that works at a jewelry store and he let me use one of his jewelers lighted magnifying glass tools. that thing worked out great.