OLD 12HP Flathead help!!!!

[BOSS-DS2]

I have a 12HP Briggs flathead that has the "FlowJet" Carburetor. The motor was on a 1982 murray that had been sitting since around 94. The block, piston, valves, crank, connecting rod are all in amazing shape. I actually plan to install the engine on my 92 Murray Select that has now been transformed into an off-road mower. The problem lies here, the carburetor is total junk, the gas (possibly water?) sat in the bowl for so long it actually rusted most of the internals either completely stuck, or just made holes in them. I have heard the Flow jets are finicky to work on, and sometimes can be a bit temperamental even when adjusted just right.

So this is my question, as I don't want to dish out $100 on a "new" carburetor, are there any aftermarket options? I was going to bolt on an assembly from a 14.5 HP OHV (1990's vintage) but the ID of the Intake was vastly different so that was a no go. I would appreciate any help on the matter, and if no aftermarket "Makuni" or similar are available maybe someone can convince me to buy another stock setup.

Thank you in advance,

Sam

 

[BlazNT]

How about a model number off the engine so we can see what you have. Briggs did make quite a few engines that you could be talking about.

 

[Rocky J]

At the risk of sounding like a episode of junk yard wars you can hack saw off the two bolt mounting areas about one inch from the bolting flange and rejoin the good carb to the bolt flange that fits your engine with a section of rubber hose and clamps. Motorcycles have always done it, or buy a china motorcycle carb at the risk of loosing the governor. I always thought they quit those engines because they lasted to long and very easy to work on.

 

[reynoldston]

Check out E-Bay I see they have some used flojet Carburetors.

 

[BOSS-DS2]

The model number is (according to the engine shroud) 281707.

I know I would possibly have to loose the governor, and I have actually already done that... Just didn't mention it before because people usually freak out when they hear anything regarding the governor.

I know I could go the route of making an intake and flange, but I would really prefer not to, way to much work for an old engine that is going to just get beat to hell.

I have seen the used ones, and the cheapest I saw was $60 and he claimed it needs a rebuild, so there is another $40 so now I'm right back to $100. As I said anyways I honestly don't want to go back to a flow jet unit, as I've heard not much good about them.

I know the makuni clones fit pretty good onto a stock intake of most OHV engines (have one on my 14.5), but I guess the problem lies here that there would be no intake tube, as the flow jet is one piece. Again, after all the work I've done to the mower itself, (locking rear end, pulley swaps, frame moding, custom front end, new tires, steering upgrades, wiring) It would be bass akwards to install a factory carburetor onto it, or anything like stock, MORE POWER!!!!!!!!

 

[BOSS-DS2]

I always thought they quit those engines because they lasted to long and very easy to work on.

Well like I said this thing is bullet proof, I was actually very impressed with how great of shape it is still in. We aren't talking about a guy who owned it and used it once, we are talking about nearly every day use for the summer months here in Texas, and worse than that, it was used to mow around eight acres of land, how it still runs? I honestly couldn't tell you.

 

[Rocky J]

The one last thought to the old rotten carb is to go propane, it only uses the throttle plate none of the rot will mater, and it will run at any angle, straight up or down. It is 110 octane so you could sand the head down to 10 to 1 compression . A on demand regulator is cheap enough on ebay and it can be moved to the next victim or generator at a later time.

 

[BOSS-DS2]

I just want to go gasoline, I live out in the middle of no where and getting fuel alone is hard enough.