should this jet have more parts?

[pbjman]

Hi. I have a '79 Special and I have the carbs off for cleaning. I ordered the kits from GeorgeFix. I removed this jet from two of the carbs and there are no little washers or rubber o rings:


The new ones from the kits don't have them either, so I thought maybe it was ok but then I saw a pic in the tech section that shows a jet with a spring, washer, and rubber o ring. (the jet doesn't look the same though, maybe a difference in models and I don't have that on mine?)

thanks,
Jim

[trbig]

All you have there is all there is. I hope you've read the cautions about those idle mixture jets. When screwed down all the way, they stick in the carb body if you seat them any more than very very lightly. When you back the screw back out, the tip breaks off and stays lodged in the carb body. The later model carbs have a less pointy tip and are much less prone to this problem.

[natemoen]

Yup, that is all that there is. That is how the early model carbs are, and the later model carbs are the ones with the o-ring and washer.

As Tod said be very careful when putting those back in so that you don't break the tips off. Just very lightly seat them when screwing them back in!

[pbjman]

Thanks for the fast responses. Yep, I'm aware of the ease of breakage on those tips. I already gently picked out one of the old ones. Don't know if it was that way before or if I did it.
Next question. (This is my first time doing carbs):
Should this port in the bottom of the bowl be open to the hole above it? If so mine seems badly plugged. Should I poke it with a toothpick or needle? It is currently soaking with carb cleaner filling up the upper hole.

[trbig]

Yup.. you should be able to stick the plastic straw from a can of carb cleaner into that hole that you're pointing to, and when you give it a burst of cleaner, it should squirt directly out of that hole at the top edge of the bowl and hit you directly in the eyeball if done properly..

Seriously.. it'll come out of there and shoot quite a ways, so watch where you aim it.

[trbig]

Oops... Yes, I usually use a very fine sewing needle to clear the passage. Just below the hole on the lip of the bowl, there's a very tiny brass jet. I've heard of others taking apart a piece of electrical wire that's braided and using just a single strand of it to poke around in there, but it's never worked for me.

[GLoweVA]

There is a brass jet pressed in that passage somewhere. I'd be hesitant on sticking anything hard down in that hole in fear of damagaing that jet, but I've had good success with soaking and blasting with carb cleaner. (air works too)
The passage is for the choke, so not really neccessary for smooth 'normal' operation, but it sure is nice to have all 4 carbs operating when on choke.
(plus, you should get ALL the gunk out of the carbs when cleaning)

[DGXSER]

To clean that and other openings in the carbs I use a wire from a small wire brush.