Chinese carbs

[Mc Tool]

"Crosbyman said:
Carbs... well that is anoter matter " ( from another thread )

Yeah well , I have just got my 18hp Tohatsu 2 stroke going .... with the new Chinatown carb .
The book says 1 1/2 turns out for the idle mix screw, I had to go 4 1/2 turns to get a stable idle , one that could handle being put in gear and idle indefinitely , any less and it just fizzled out after 15 - 20 seconds , but then as soon as the throttle was touched is went crazy rich .
A quick comparo with the original carb shows that the idle air jet is smaller and the progression holes are also different ( 1st one is smaller and the next 2 are bigger ....which sorta fits with the issue Im having ) .
The china carb was bought because the do up kit for the original was $$$$$$. The plan now is to swap out all the new stuff off the china carb and fit it all to the original carb body

 

[Scott Danforth]

good luck.... never had any luck with china carbs

 

[Grub54891]

Yup. Tried one on my weedwhacker, big nope! But the carb and kit came with new fuel lines and filters and gaskets. Saved a bit of money on those parts. Rebuilt the original one and it’s fine.

 

[Pmt133]

I got a Honda generator new from a dealer. Ran like crap out of the box. Brought it back to the dealer the next morning and they told me I ran bad gas in it and ruined the carb. They also stated carbuerator problems aren't covered by warranty. Called a few other service centers provided directly by Honda and they said the same thing. Doesn't matter if you have video proof of filling it straight from a gas pump, they won't cover a carb.

Looking around online it seems to be a common issue on these. So I ordered the China carb. Have 200 hours on it now without even so much as a surge out of it. One of several incidents I've had with Honda over the last few years preventing them from ever getting my money again.

That being said I really was only trying it out of spite. Well that and the fact the original carb/unit was made in Thailand to begin with. Nothing on it screams the same build quality as my old 80s Honda units either... so far I like the harbor freight unit better and thats just sad.

 

[flashback]

maybe new jets?

 

[flashback]

Yup. Tried one on my weedwhacker, big nope! But the carb and kit came with new fuel lines and filters and gaskets. Saved a bit of money on those parts. Rebuilt the original one and it’s fine.

yep I did the same thing with a leaf blower.

 

[airshot]

I got a Honda generator new from a dealer. Ran like crap out of the box. Brought it back to the dealer the next morning and they told me I ran bad gas in it and ruined the carb. They also stated carbuerator problems aren't covered by warranty. Called a few other service centers provided directly by Honda and they said the same thing. Doesn't matter if you have video proof of filling it straight from a gas pump, they won't cover a carb.

Looking around online it seems to be a common issue on these. So I ordered the China carb. Have 200 hours on it now without even so much as a surge out of it. One of several incidents I've had with Honda over the last few years preventing them from ever getting my money again.

That being said I really was only trying it out of spite. Well that and the fact the original carb/unit was made in Thailand to begin with. Nothing on it screams the same build quality as my old 80s Honda units either... so far I like the harbor freight unit better and thats just sad.

This is why I buy these things with my CC that guarantees my purchase. In this case, once the dealer stated the carb had no warranty, a simple call to the CC company would have gotten me a full refund. How you pay can effect how the service after the sale is handled !

 

[Pmt133]

This is why I buy these things with my CC that guarantees my purchase. In this case, once the dealer stated the carb had no warranty, a simple call to the CC company would have gotten me a full refund. How you pay can effect how the service after the sale is handled !

My CC company didn't want to hear it. (Business visa with chase) Is what it is and I really can't complain about them as they've been good with every other thing we have needed from a CC company.

If I were a few years younger I'd have probably thrown the generator through the front window of the dealer and left... but that me is long gone. It was never the money anyway. 10 minutes of their time could've made it right. On principle I can't do business with people like that.

Both they and Honda corporate got an earful after they accused me of putting bad gas in it though. I even told them I'd dump the tank into the predator and show them how much better it runs. They didn't like that.

 

[dingbat]

Sounds like I'm the exception......
I have "Chinese" carbs on chain saw, golf cart, pole saw and blower. In the case of the golf cart, going on 4 seasons now.

I had to adjust the idle and fuel mixture to suit, but otherwise so far so good.

 

[Mc Tool]

I guess it depends a bit on what the carb goes on , like a weedwacker is usually either idling or going full noise and there is no real need to modulate the throttle..... generator is similar .
I could not find a 116 main jet for the original carb and the kit was expensive so I went for the chinese job . It actually looks quite good and as I said I will swap all the bits to the original carb body .
I think maybe as the carb was advertised to fit the 9.9 , 15 and 18hp models so Im thinking that maybe this carb was really aimed at either the 9.9 or the 15hp.
I also bought a carb for my 1997 Suzuki LTF4wdx and it didnt fix the issue ......got me beat . The bloody thing wont hold an idle , it either goes so fast putting it into gear results in a good crunch and a lurch . or it stalls . The idle goes up and down while you watch . Apart from the carb I have disconnected the alt and checked the timing is stable , and it runs rich as all hell . It gets less than 75 km out of a 10l tank ........which is why I replaced the carb and it made no difference .

 

[airshot]

My CC company didn't want to hear it. (Business visa with chase) Is what it is and I really can't complain about them as they've been good with every other thing we have needed from a CC company.

If I were a few years younger I'd have probably thrown the generator through the front window of the dealer and left... but that me is long gone. It was never the money anyway. 10 minutes of their time could've made it right. On principle I can't do business with people like that.

Both they and Honda corporate got an earful after they accused me of putting bad gas in it though. I even told them I'd dump the tank into the predator and show them how much better it runs. They didn't like that.

My Cabela's/ Bass Pro card has been excellent for warranty claims or poor quality purchases. Issue by Capital One, they have been on top of any complaint I have had and the interest rate has been lower than any others.
Been with them for over 25 years, no complaints.

 

[Lou C]

I have heard mixed things, if you have a corroded carb and the machine is still good, I guess they are cheap enough to be worth a try.
I will say when I saw Sierra selling a Chinese Quadrajet, it made me sick to my stomach! never on my boat! I will go to Holley or Edelbrock first!

 

[Mc Tool]

Wellll in the end I swapped over all the seals , bushes , the whole float bowl and fuel pump assy and the main jet from the new chinese carb to the original ,set the idle screw at 2 3/4 turns and give it a yank ........like a different motor ( I have never previously had this motor running , basket case when I got it ), idle and off idle are actually controllable . Now all I have is a slightly leaking float valve ( new needle old seat ) but the seat looked pretty manky . I will do the half a cotton bud in the drill and a bit of autosol and give it a good polish .
The chinese carb .... not sure , I got nothing to loose by enlarging those smaller holes . The thing is quite good ( stainless shafts , screws ) just needs a small mods . In any event it was still cheaper than a rebuild set for the original and all the bits swapped over so Im still on a win