How hard is a carb rebuild of 1989 120 Evinrude

[biglurr54]

I haven't rebuilt the carbs in my 120. Ive had the boat for a while and I don't know when they were rebuilt before I got the boat if they were rebuilt. Its running rough at idle and I would like to eliminate the carbs as an issue. Im fairly mechanically inclined but I have only rebuilt a few carbs on chainsaws and a weed wacker. Is this something that I should try and tackle or should I bring the carbs to the marina?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: How hard is a carb rebuild of 1989 120 Evinrude

You'll find that the carburetors on the 120hp are easier to work on that any weedwacker. Just make notes and take pictures before dismantling anything. Note that the two small air bleed jets in the front of the carburetor(s) look identical but are different in size (size marked on them). Make sure you do not confuse the two.

Also, be sure to manually clean the brass high speed jets which are located in the bottom center portion of the float chambers (behind that large brass screw) with a piece of single strand steel wire. Solvent just doesn't do a proper job of it.

(Carburetor Float Setting)
(J. Reeves)

With the carburetor body held upside down, the float being viewed from the side, adjust the float so that the free end of the float (the end opposite the hinge pin) is ever so slightly higher (just ever so slightly off level) than the other end. And when viewed from the end, make sure it is not cocked.