Carburetor Screen

[jslu]

My Mercury engine is a 1987 35 HP, SN # 0D177575.
The carburetor parts breakdown for this engine shows a coarse grid plastic carburetor screen (no longer available) at the throat of the carb. My engine does not have this screen. What was it's purpose??
Reason for my question is that this engine seems noisier than a 1970 60 Hp Johnson I had for 40 years. It ran and still is running quiet.
The noise I hear frrom this Merc engine sounds like the carb sucking air and I'm supposing that the purpose of the screeen was to mask this noise.
The all metal engine housing of the Merc does not help the noise problem at all. Was their ever an acoustic 'blanket' of some sort attached to the inside of the engine clamshell shroud?
Other than that, the engine runs great.
Thanks
John

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Carburetor Screen

Those plastic screens keep chunks of dirt out. They don't muffle sound. Most Mercs have some sort of insulating blanket for noise. The parts list for that motor should show it. You could use some of that mylar bubble wrap insulation, glued inside the cowl.