Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

[Farmall.Dude]

Folks,
I need to send in my carburetor (Holley 2bbl 1994 electric choke) for a rebuild and THOROUGH Cleaning. Since I'm a bad boater, I hadn't changed my water separator/fuel filter in a while and ended sucking up the filter material into the carburetor a couple years ago. I tried cleaning and rebuilding it myself, and it runs great... until it gets in the water and under load. Long story short, I've been fighting with it long enough and I want to have it professionally done and not do it myself. My question is, hopefully not politically incorrect, which On-Line business is best? There isn't a local place. I've found 3 or 4, but I don't see any third party 'ratings' to know if they are any good or not. I'm not a firm believer in "testimonials", why would they publish their hate mail LOL! I'm sure they all do a fine job, or they wouldn't be in business, but I'm most concerned about making sure it is properly and thoroughly cleaned to make sure all the crap that got sucked up is cleaned out. And, I want to make sure it's properly adjusted before I get it back, because I don't have a clue (or the tools) to do it myself. I really don't want to put it in the water just to find out it runs like crap! SO... Looking for personal experience and opinion on where to send my carburetor. I'm not concerned about getting it back "in 48 hours or less!", I'd rather they took their time and did it right the first time! Besides, it's the end of February, in Michigan... not going to be on the water for a while!
Here's the ones I've been looking at:
Flying Fish Carburetors
Carburetors and More
Carburetors Only
The Carburetor Shop
Other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
Farmall.Dude

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Folks,
I need to send in my carburetor (Holley 2bbl 1994 electric choke) for a rebuild and THOROUGH Cleaning. Since I'm a bad boater, I hadn't changed my water separator/fuel filter in a while and ended sucking up the filter material into the carburetor a couple years ago. I tried cleaning and rebuilding it myself, and it runs great... until it gets in the water and under load. Long story short, I've been fighting with it long enough and I want to have it professionally done and not do it myself. My question is, hopefully not politically incorrect, which On-Line business is best? There isn't a local place. I've found 3 or 4, but I don't see any third party 'ratings' to know if they are any good or not. I'm not a firm believer in "testimonials", why would they publish their hate mail LOL! I'm sure they all do a fine job, or they wouldn't be in business, but I'm most concerned about making sure it is properly and thoroughly cleaned to make sure all the crap that got sucked up is cleaned out. And, I want to make sure it's properly adjusted before I get it back, because I don't have a clue (or the tools) to do it myself. I really don't want to put it in the water just to find out it runs like crap! SO... Looking for personal experience and opinion on where to send my carburetor. I'm not concerned about getting it back "in 48 hours or less!", I'd rather they took their time and did it right the first time! Besides, it's the end of February, in Michigan... not going to be on the water for a while!
Here's the ones I've been looking at:
Flying Fish Carburetors
Carburetors and More
Carburetors Only
The Carburetor Shop
Other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
Farmall.Dude

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... I donno which rebuilder is better, I'm sure others will comment...

But,.... I think yer exceptions are abit Overboard,...

Carbs, rebuilt, or new, or just swaps 'tween motors will at Best, be set close....
Final Tunin' is pretty much a given, Must do job....

 

[cheechako]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

I'm considering having my 2bbl rochester rebuilt too. My buddy builds hot rods and has a guy who does his. I will likely go that route as his rep is very good. (he's local and these gearheads are picky) However, I havent got a price yet.. so I may change my mind.....
any way.... you might consider searching out locally for a guy that does work for Gearheads!

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Folks,
I need to send in my carburetor (Holley 2bbl 1994 electric choke) for a rebuild and THOROUGH Cleaning. Since I'm a bad boater, I hadn't changed my water separator/fuel filter in a while and ended sucking up the filter material into the carburetor a couple years ago. I tried cleaning and rebuilding it myself, and it runs great... until it gets in the water and under load. Long story short, I've been fighting with it long enough and I want to have it professionally done and not do it myself. My question is, hopefully not politically incorrect, which On-Line business is best? There isn't a local place. I've found 3 or 4, but I don't see any third party 'ratings' to know if they are any good or not. I'm not a firm believer in "testimonials", why would they publish their hate mail LOL! I'm sure they all do a fine job, or they wouldn't be in business, but I'm most concerned about making sure it is properly and thoroughly cleaned to make sure all the crap that got sucked up is cleaned out. And, I want to make sure it's properly adjusted before I get it back, because I don't have a clue (or the tools) to do it myself. I really don't want to put it in the water just to find out it runs like crap! SO... Looking for personal experience and opinion on where to send my carburetor. I'm not concerned about getting it back "in 48 hours or less!", I'd rather they took their time and did it right the first time! Besides, it's the end of February, in Michigan... not going to be on the water for a while!
Here's the ones I've been looking at:
Flying Fish Carburetors
Carburetors and More
Carburetors Only
The Carburetor Shop
Other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
Farmall.Dude

If you don't have a "clue" how do you know the carb is the only problem on a boat that hasn't run right in a couple years with maint so negelected the carb "sucked" the filter material in? It might be a bit of a drive, but getting your boat to a reputable shop is your best bet of not putting it in the water to "find out it runs like crap".

Sorry to be harsh, but it is what it is.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

The last time I had problems with my Rochester carb., I discovered it was the same carb. used on a 1967 Chevy Impala with the 307 engine.

Just get yourself a carb. kit and have your favorite independent auto mechanic clean and install the kit. He'll need a water muff to get the engine running so the carb. can be adjusted.

There's no reason to pay a fortune to a marine dealership or shop to do this very simple job. It doesn't even require much mechanical knowledge to rebuild a carb.

 

[cheechako]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Yeah, I have the kit. I used to put kits in carbs many years ago all the time. But I dont have that good gunk that cleans the thing well etc. Anyone can put a kit in, my car mechanic said he'd do it..... but some people really understand these things and I'd like it perfect if I'm going to do it.... reportedly thei hot rod guy really know what he's doing and is the only guy around who can get their dual quad and tri power sets working perfectly.....

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

If I didn't have the skills to rebuild a carb, and needed to farm it out, personally I would want to deal with a local shop rather than some place that I need to pack them up and mail them off to.

Shipping gets expensive if things aren't right, and you need to send it back. If there's a problem with the carb you shipped out, you debate with someone over the phone. With a local guy, you're standing toe to toe with them. Dismissing your concerns (whether they be valid or not) isn't as easy as hanging up the phone.

Seeing no on-line reviews for local places isn't really a big deal, IMHO. Carburetors fell out main-stream automotive fashion 25 years ago. What keeps these guys going is the "niche" people (like boaters). Most of these guys doing it locally are going to be old hands at it. Nobody comes out of trade school now saying "I want to rebuild carburetors for a living".

If you really want get opinions on the locals, you could always ask your fellow boaters in the area who they've used if they sent their carbs out.

Bond-o also pointed out an important fact. The guys can put the carb together in such a way that the boat may run when you put it back on, but fine adjustment to YOUR engine is YOUR responsibility. Every engine is going to have different carb settings to make it run correctly. There's no way for a guy at a carb shop to tune the carb to your engines needs on his work bench.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Be sure to mark the carb and take a picture of it. You may not get the same carb back. I akso feel you may have issues besides the carb. A 2bbl Rochester is as simple as they get. Doesn't take a genius to rebuild one. Adjustments are in the engine service manual.

 

[lamphega]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

I had good luck with Flying Fish shop. Very professional and easy to work with and the results are great. My Rochester had sat for a long time and was leaking in the normal spot and now looks and runs like new.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Get a rebuild kit and go to YouTube...look up "Mikes Carburetor" and he has a step-by-step tutorial on the Rochester 2bbl.

A gallon of carb cleaner, some brushes, some compressed air(even the canned stuff if you're desperate) and a little time is all you need. I had to rebuild my "rebuilt" carb after a metal thread shaving caused me a bit of trouble.

 

[Farmall.Dude]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

I had good luck with Flying Fish shop. Very professional and easy to work with and the results are great. My Rochester had sat for a long time and was leaking in the normal spot and now looks and runs like new.

Thank you! One person answered the question I asked!

 

[a1nowell]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Farmall,
I used New and Rebuilt Carburetors Starting From $99 & Free Shipping! they did a great job.
Larry

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Last time I rebuilt a 4 barrel carb. of a Mazda RX7, it ran great--even with the 4-5 little pieces that were left over. LOL!

I always buy a repair manual for any engine I have, and they have step by step instructions on rebuilding carbs. It's really no skill to doing a basic repair. You just have to remember how many turns of the adjusting screws there were--so you can start with the same adjustments before fine tuning.

Any car mechanic can do this little job.

 

[cheechako]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

I had good luck with Flying Fish shop. Very professional and easy to work with and the results are great. My Rochester had sat for a long time and was leaking in the normal spot and now looks and runs like new.

Ah... the "leaking in the normal spot" intrigues me... that is the only thing wrong with mine... where is this spot???? I find some residue on my intake manifold after running the boat, clean it up and it appears again!

 

[cheechako]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Ah... the "leaking in the normal spot" intrigues me... that is the only thing wrong with mine... where is this spot???? I find some residue on my intake manifold after running the boat, clean it up and it appears again!

Anyone? .......It seems curious to me that a carb would "leak" unless the float is misadjusted and fuel is overfilling...?

 

[cheechako]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Get a rebuild kit and go to YouTube...look up "Mikes Carburetor" and he has a step-by-step tutorial on the Rochester 2bbl.

A gallon of carb cleaner, some brushes, some compressed air(even the canned stuff if you're desperate) and a little time is all you need. I had to rebuild my "rebuilt" carb after a metal thread shaving caused me a bit of trouble.

I watched all of the "Mike's Carburetor" videos on this carb. It's tedious and long in 6 separate videos. (never did find #7) and includes alot of non essential information and chatter. I made myself a cheat sheet and thought I would pass it along for anyone who has "rebuilt" a carburetor before. If you've never done it, then maybe going through the videos is worth it. At least you can jump ahead to the time locations i mention. I guess I'll just put the kit in mine myself, havent done that in 40 years but did a lot of them back then.
Rochester 2G Carburetor (Ref: Mike’s Carburetor videos)

Video 1: No useful info except possibly last one minute.

Video 2:
• Two jets, not in kit, reuse them. No gasket on jets.
• Small single surge valve in bowl bottom uses a round gasket.
• There are two steel balls in the carb. The large one goes in the Accelerator Pump bottom.
Info at 4:00 mins in video. (see Accel pump Video 6)

Video 3:
• The Center screw on the venturi assembly has a gasket, only.

Video 4:
• Float assembly and adjustment.
• Remember to put cover gasket on before float!
• Generally the float seam should be level with the top casting face/gasket.
• Measure float adjustment as specified in kit, adjust by bending float up or down between float and needle. (put NO PRESSURE on the needle!)
• Note: needle/seat assembly comes with two gaskets, one thicker. Start with thin one or measure your old one. (this effects float adjustment.)
• NOTE: Easier to put accelerator pump piston in before float is in! (ref; Video 6)

Video 5:
• Float drop adjustment ~ 1:00 on video.
• Drop measurement specified in kit.
• Bend the little tab on float arm (near the needle) for adjustment.

Video 6:
• Accelerator pump assembly ~0:50 on video
• Mount piston before doing the Float assembly! Easier.
• The shank on the Accelerator Pump Piston assy bends 90 degrees at the end. Point the end toward the center of the Carb, not outward.
• Mounting the top of carb to bottom bowl assy starts at about 4:00 on video.
• The long screw goes in the hole near the accelerator pump location. This screw has a gasket!
• Tighten screw in correct sequence, from center working out.

 

[Farmall.Dude]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

Farmall,
I used New and Rebuilt Carburetors Starting From $99 & Free Shipping! they did a great job.
Larry

Thanks Larry, I'll check them out!

 

[old islander]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

I also had great service from flying fish. I would use them again no question.

 

[cheechako]

Re: Mail-In Carb Rebuilders (Internet) opinions needed

I went ahead and rebuilt it myself. After making the above referenced list I never used it. It had been years and I had forgot how simple these carbs are.