Carburetor Rebuild

nippaero · #1 10-21-2015, 04:32 PM

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?

LifeofReiley · #2 10-21-2015, 04:54 PM

Simple and straight forward and a good learning experience. PM Sent.

Doug · #3 10-21-2015, 09:04 PM

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.

nippaero · #4 10-21-2015, 09:57 PM

Hey Doug, which shop did you have rebuild yours?

jrs14855 · #5 10-22-2015, 01:13 PM

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.

catmandu · #6 10-22-2015, 01:34 PM

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).

Doug · #7 10-22-2015, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nippaero

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.

nippaero · #8 10-23-2015, 10:16 AM

I've been trying to call aircraft fuel specialties. The number seems to be disconnected. I get a message says not in service.

LifeofReiley · #9 10-23-2015, 10:19 AM

http://www.yellowpages.com/tulsa-ok/...rvice-2502106#

stinson pilot · #10 10-23-2015, 10:38 AM

I just had my MA 4-5 rebuilt on my Stinson here:

Russ Romey

D & G Supply/Ducarra Aviation
Russ@dgsupply.com
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.