need some advice

[twebb]

called a guy on craig list to get carbs rebuilt, 1986 mercury 90hp,,3 carbs to clean. gave me a price of two hundred to take then off, rebuild and link and sink. he said they only need cleaned and only new gaskets. do you need to change the needles & seats every time? and what babout the floats? thank for your help

 

[circle hook]

Re: need some advice

if the needles are warn then yes, for most part i dont change them to save on money but again if i am keeping the engine for myself and its an older i change everything, usually a good cleanning with compressed air & cleaner along with new gaskets is all you need. but usualy the float if its good they re use it. and 200.00 rebuild, link & sink is a good price make shur they know what there doing before giving over your engine. and needing to have it done twice.

 

[quicktach]

Re: need some advice

What experience does the craig's list guy have? You may want to ask what he meant by cleaning....spray in cleaner isn't all that's needed ...a "boil out" or good submersed soaking in cleaner is better....Needles and seats don't need changing every time unless there's signs of wear (wear ring where needle meets seat) and floats usually don't need anything other than checking their positioning. $200 seems a bit low...

 

[twebb]

Re: need some advice

thanks quicktach for responce, he did say he went to uti school and worked on the east coast before coming to naples. and he would soak the carbs in cleaner, once they are apart he would know what they need. i talked to him two months ago and first he said one hundred to do all three. i thought that was low. i asked him about doing the timing too, and he said it didnt need that. is this true? should i trust him?
thanks for the help

 

[CharlieB]

Re: need some advice

ALWAYS (notice I put that in CAPS) ALWAYS use a carb rebuid kit, using new gaskets to ensure NO LEAKS.

The kit should include a new needle and seat which I install as a regular item during all carb cleanings.

Reasoning, I do NOT want to have to do the job again for free.

And I do NOT want my customer stuck somewhere with a flooding carb.

Paying someone else to work on your boat you expect attention to detail of the little things that can happen later, a good mechanic wants to be sure the he has done everything he needs to to be sure his customer does not have any future problems with anything associated with the work he has done.

A flooding carb 2 or 3 months after a simple cleaning should be prevented with a simple carb kit installation during cleaning, to include a new needle.

Just my opinion.