Alternate carbureators

[fabricgator]

Hello,
I was reading Phototone about his Walbro carburetor F engine, and I asked myself a question I have had for years...

Are there alternate carbs for small engines? I mean, can I get some other carburetor that will mix the ratio of air and fuel to run a small engine? I have an old craftsman lawn edger that has the techumsa diaphram carb and I seem to constantly be messing with it. I have my dad's 1930's Neptune outboard engine, can I get an alternate carburetor so I can putt around the marina in style with a degree of dependability? Not for my lawnboy, but maybe someday when parts are no longer available.

I remember my roommate racing go carts and they had a whole class of BS engines running a better carburetor. Tillotson.

I just answered my own question by searching to remember the name brand of carb. Googled gocart carb and found a possible source:
http://www.monsterscooterparts.com/go-cart-parts/go-kart-categories/carburetors-go-karts

 

[Phototone]

Well, in the context of LawnBoy gear, LawnBoy seemed to alternate between cast aluminium carbs in the early years, thru a succession of plastic carbs into the "F" engine era, then the WalBro aluminum carb and then back to Lawnboy plastic carbs. I even have a "V" engine Silver Series 4.5 hp LawnBoy with the Walbro carb, first I have seen, and it is factory installed, but this model generally used the Lawnboy plastic carb. I can't say one works better than another. In a well kept mower, they all operate just fine. Some Walbro-type Lawnboy carbs just have a choke, others have provision for a primer, a few have a conversion to allow for a primer on what would otherwise be a choke only carb. The DuraForce carb has both a primer and a choke, since this engine is jetted so very lean. The WalBro carbs have the advantage of having a plastic float which in the long term is more durable than the cork float of the LawnBoy carbs.

 

[fabricgator]

Good info, thanks.

I just replaced my cork float, it made all the difference. I think I may just buy a spare or two after your comment.
\FAB

 

[bertsmobile1]

Any carb can be replaced with another one that is designed to run under the same conditions.
It is a case of weather the replacement can be tuned to run correctly on the new motor.

 

[fabricgator]

Sure, I was just wondering if there was a formula for getting a fuel air mixer that would get me in the ball park before I started.
I would imagine the ole suck, bang, blow formula would have displacement and rpm range as well as intended fuel.

I did a little searching and did find some modern Techumseh carburetor replacements on that gocart/scooter website.

You sir, you have some real good taste in motorcycles. You are making me rethink American Iron.