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Carburetor Rebuild

nippaero

Well Known Member
What is involved with "overhauling" a carburetor?

I am overhauling an O-320 and recently purchased a MA-4SPA carb that came off a Cessna. I don't know the history of the carb so it makes me want to have it looked over before I use it. What do most people do with their carbs? Overhaul them yourself or send them out? What shops do carb overhauls?
 
I have not done a carb overhaul but I have seen a pretty good video covering the procedure. Possibly it can be found on youtube. Certainly does look simple.

I chose not to work on my own carburettor when I had the blue float SB done because I did not have the go/no-go gauge to adjust the float nor the other special assembly tools. Also, the facility I did use put the carb on a flow bench to set up the idle and check the fuel flows and jet functions before it went on the aeroplane. One less issue I had to worry about.

Possibly thousands of these have been built without gauges and flow bench tests and worked perfectly well, it's just a question of your comfort zone.
 
Carb

Aircraft Fuel Specialists Ltd in Hagerstown Md, 301-797-8106 TerriLee Bell.
Recommended by a friend who had problems with Marvel MA4. TerriLee made it work perfect.
 
I was in a similar situation, MA4 on an 0320 that had not had much love in it's life. Suspected some issues with it after consultation with my local mechanic, so I just swapped it with a rebuild from Aircraft Spruce, which had all service bulletins taken care of, and in the process upgradied it to a model (jet size) more appropriate to the Van's intake (after first consulting with Aircraft Spruce that my unit would qualify as a core).
 
Hey Doug, which shop did you have rebuild yours?

I used Hawker Pacific Blue Seal Engines at Bankstown Airport here in Sydney, Australia. (Now Bilyara Blue Seal Engines) ... but I am certain you don't want to send your carb to Australia for rebuild.
 
I've been trying to call aircraft fuel specialties. The number seems to be disconnected. I get a message says not in service.
 
I just had my MA 4-5 rebuilt on my Stinson here:

Russ Romey

D & G Supply/Ducarra Aviation
[email protected]
Tel 800-446-8160/ 269-684-4440

Good rep in the Stinson community and I'm sure some here have heard of him. I think I paid around $750.00. Most I checked were upwards of $1000. He told me to keep my original carb till I got the overhauled one. He never even charged me for the core, I sent my old one to him once I made sure everything was moved to the new carb.
 
the most important part of rebuilding a carb is the safety aspect. You need to have a heart defibrullator handy when checking out the price of replacement parts - particularly the check valve on the accelerator pump - because if you don't you're gonna croak for sure.
 
the most important part of rebuilding a carb is the safety aspect. You need to have a heart defibrullator handy when checking out the price of replacement parts - particularly the check valve on the accelerator pump - because if you don't you're gonna croak for sure.

You are not kidding. $750 for a rebuild? My wallet is still stinging from Aircraft Specialties work on my parts. :D
 
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