carb inlet threads boogered again

[dennnis79]

Hi folks.

I used Lurker Carl's rebuild instructions last year to create new inlet threads. They held great for a whole year of grading, mowing and dragging the harrow (breaking up the horse apples ). But the last time out she started flooding out and I traced it down to a pontoon in the carb full of fuel.

After installing a new pontoon, the inlet threads that I had re-created using Carl's method, stripped out way too easy. Should I do the JB weld thing again, and have to perhaps do it every time I take the carb off, or is it possible to heli-coil? Are the walls thick enough for a heli-coil?

I'd like to aviod having to buy another carb.

Thanks.

[Jim Becker]

Do the JB weld thing again. I have one that held for a couple install/remove cycles then failed. I did it over and it has been OK for a while again. Don't know how many cycles this will be good for. I am not sure there is enough material for helicoil.

[George Willer]

Several of us have carbs repaired with heli-coils.

[Joe in Pa.]

I had the same..Switched to a flexible gas line and after using the JB Weld I installed an additional fitting at the carb. now when I have to remove the gas line I use the fitting and don't have to worry about stripping the "homemade threads"in the carb, Its held for several years and several removals.

[George Willer]

I had the same..Switched to a flexible gas line and after using the JB Weld I installed an additional fitting at the carb. now when I have to remove the gas line I use the fitting and don't have to worry about stripping the "homemade threads"in the carb, Its held for several years and several removals.

If it works for you that's great, but it is a solution many of us would not recommend for safety reasons. A variation would be to use J.B. Weld to permanently attach an adapter that would allow using a steel line. Flexible lines + manifolds + fuel tanks have accounted for a few "crispy critters".

[dennnis79]

I'm definitely not gonna go back to the copper and rubber contraption that he PO had on there.

I think I'll check my Pop's fastener bins to see if there's a spare heli-coil, otherwise I'll try the JB again, since I always have spare epoxy lying around.

[Kodiak]

Dennis,
I just did what George mentioned, I JB'ed a fitting into the carb body, then attached my new steel gas line. I think it will last a while (long while) before I need to think about repairing it again. In the mean time I can keep an eye out for another carb or the upper half.

This line was made for a underslung exhaust.

[dennnis79]

Well Pop didn't have any helicoil inserts and I was looking at it and it looks to me like a bottoming tap would be required.

I'll do the JB thing again, since that will be cheaper. And hopefully I won't have to take the carb off again for a while. The whole fuel system is basically brand new, from the coated gas tank, to the new sediment bowl, to the steel lines, to the new pontoon in the float bowl and a complete IH carb kit.

I'll get to it right after church.

Thanks for the suggestions.