Boats For Sale:
Partial Carb Rebuild. |
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uncle-buck 
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Joined: June-14-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 318 |
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 Topic: Partial Carb Rebuild.Posted: May-04-2023 at 8:38pm |
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Did a partial rebuild on my boat's Holley 4160 carb a couple of days ago:
cleaned both bowls, the metering block, and metering plate replaced the four associated gaskets blew out all passages with compressed air replaced the power valve Had almost forgotten how easily the boats starts and how well it runs. For $20 worth of gaskets, a can of carb cleaner, a power valve, and a couple of hours of time, it was well worth the effort. Vince at SkiDim describes the basic process in the video linked below. |
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1990 Ski Nautique (original owner)
PCM 351W with D.U.I. |
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JoeinNY
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Joined: October-19-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5693 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 9:14am |
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Carb cleaning/rebuilding is definitely one of the most satisfying mechanical things one can do - not rocket science and often produces magical results. Becoming a lost art even among mechanics-
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63 Skier
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Joined: October-06-2006 Location: Concord, NH Status: Offline Points: 4232 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 11:10am |
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Joe what's your opinion on carb cleaner use while the boat is running? Obviously better to clean it up when removed, but I used to periodically spray down the throat when at high idle speed and I could visually see it getting cleaned, figured it was cleaning passages as well. Then later read that the cleaner is wiping oil from the cylinder walls and can cause ring issues or affect compression. Not sure what to believe on that one.
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'63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique
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Jonny Quest
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Joined: August-20-2013 Location: Utah--via Texas Status: Offline Points: 2843 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 11:15am |
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Spraying Carb Cleaner down the barrels while running only cleans the carb surfaces where the cleaner contacts. The real magic happens when the carb is disassembled and the carb cleaner is sprayed directly into the small passageways and metering blocks inside the carb. No substitute for that IMO.
JQ
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2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
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75 Tique
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Joined: August-12-2004 Location: Seven Lakes, NC Status: Offline Points: 6100 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 12:46pm |
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Shortly after I got my 176, it started loping at idle pretty badly. I was intimidated to dig into it as Holleys seemed pretty complex to me. I got so I could tear down clean and reassemble my Edelbrock blindfolded and one arm behind my back (as that was an at least once a year routine. The idle jets in those liked to clog up) I finally gave in and did to my Holley exactly what Bert described and it was good as new. For the first time in four seasons, this spring it was starting a little hard and loping a bit again. I figured it was time for a redo, but I hit a snag. I couldnt get the fuel line fitting undone. I didnt try too hard as I didnt want to round anything off. Seems that 9/16 was too small and 5/8 had enough slop in it to risk rounding, so I aborted. As an alternative, I dumped some seafoam in the tank and tried the now, apparently, controversial spray cleaner down the throats. I sort of figured what Rob said was true, but nothing to lose, trying. Apparently one or the other (likely the first) solved the problem. Starting better and no more lope, so hopefully good to go. That being said, any recommendations on how to get the fuel line off the carb? I know its going to have to happen some day. Or, as is prone to happen, I know that connection can start leak (happened to me once before. Loosen the bottom, tighten the top, tighten the bottom) I'd like the ability to make that fix if that happens.  |
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“So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
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KENO
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Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10652 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 1:39pm |
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Are you using a 6 point flare nut wrench on the fuel line fitting or just a regular open end wrench?
If 9/16 is too small and 5/8 is too big because the nut is rounded over, a 15 mm falls in between those 2 sizes. You can buy flare nut wrenches in metric and SAE sizes. Harbor Freight sells sets of both pretty cheap. If it's too rounded over for any of the normal stuff, there are those things called vise grips
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Gary S
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Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 1:46pm |
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Larry what you need is a flair fitting wrench,basically it's a box wrench with a slot cut in it so the tube can pass through. Available in 6 or 12 point,6 would be the best. If you have an old wrench you could make one or go online,or Harbor Freight
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Gary S
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 1:46pm |
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Ah you type faster Ken
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KENO
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 1:54pm |
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A curious person might wonder why there seemed to be 2 power valve gaskets installed in the video and he might also wonder why there was no backing plate for the secondary metering plate. The video could use a little clarifying commentary on the backing plate being on some and not on others. 
So Buck........how many gaskets did you put in? You have a backing plate? I see you cleverly left out any mention of what size power valve you used this time.......good move.
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JoeinNY
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 2:08pm |
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I see you cleverly left out any mention of what size power valve you used this time.......good move. [/QUOTE] My power valve goes to Eleven! Hard to get too much effect just spraying into a carb - the stuff you can see being cleaned off doesn’t effect how the boat runs, but it does effect how your carb looks so there’s that. IMHO- seafoam is usually better than nothing (unless it breaks something loose that gets stuck in a small jet or passage and keeps you from getting home - but that’s rare and you probably weren’t getting home anyway. If you don’t have gaskets sometimes spray and a straw can clean out a single bit of debris if you can target the right port, however more often than not things have to come apart if it’s got actual issues running- hard to beat a soaking and compressed air blowout when things have gone too far. |
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KENO
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 2:30pm |
No way Gary, I probably just started typing earlier
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uncle-buck
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Joined: June-14-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 318 |
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Posted: May-05-2023 at 9:58pm |
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75, I recommend looking at the flexible fuel line with fittings setup offered by SkiDim for $117. It makes disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel line from/to the front carb bowl much easier.
 Ken, I replaced the following gaskets:
1. between the front bowl and metering block 2. between the metering block and main body 3. between the main body and metering plate assembly 4. between the metering plate and backing plate  And used only one gasket with the power valve. Vince's videos aren't perfect, but they are generally helpful. If we could only get you to make instructional videos... |
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1990 Ski Nautique (original owner)
PCM 351W with D.U.I. |
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Gary S wrote: