grandpa Love
Well-known Member
Down in Ford forum there is a post about after market carbs being junk. Fact or fiction? What makes them " junk"? Poor manufacturing? Just curious. Not gonna buy one. Just educational information gathering....
- Thread starter grandpa Love
- Start date
Fawteen
Well-known Member
- Location
- Downeast Maine
Can't say about tractor-sized carbs, but for small engines it's cheaper, faster, easier and more effective just to replace the whole carb.
I've done several on both 2 and 4 stroke engines and haven't had an issue yet.
I've done several on both 2 and 4 stroke engines and haven't had an issue yet.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
I have 2 generators and a Kohler powered Lincoln welder with after market carbs all are working fine.
john in la
Well-known Member
Went to a friend of mine that owns a mower repair shop to get a carb rebuild kit.
He says he does not even sell them.
Just replace whole carb.
So I said give me a whole carb.
As a friend he told me go online and buy a aftermarket.
Cost was a little more than the tax on a carb that he sells in a briggs box.
Put it on a generator started on about 3rd pull.
Let it sit a month or two and starts right up on 2nd or 3rd pull.
Very happy with it.
I got a diesel tractor so no experience with that size carbs.
He says he does not even sell them.
Just replace whole carb.
So I said give me a whole carb.
As a friend he told me go online and buy a aftermarket.
Cost was a little more than the tax on a carb that he sells in a briggs box.
Put it on a generator started on about 3rd pull.
Let it sit a month or two and starts right up on 2nd or 3rd pull.
Very happy with it.
I got a diesel tractor so no experience with that size carbs.
OP
OP
grandpa Love
Well-known Member
Ok. More specific, older tractor carbs.........
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
I can't say anything about carbs on other models or tractors but on a 3 cylinder Ford if you replace the original Holly with a Zenith you will have a good running tractor again.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
As for replacement carbs for tractors, no, they are not the same.
Some substitute aluminum for cast iron. It will work for a while, but not as timeless as the original.
But the worst part is they are designed as "one size fits all". It's built to somewhat fit a lot of different models. The throttle linkage will be a clamp on, reversible, interchangeable bracket that may or may not work with your governor. Other differences, fuel fitting location, choke linkage, venturi size, flange bolt spacing, etc.
But, sometimes it's better than nothing. If the original is broken or missing you do what you have to do. I do agree with Ultradog, some of the Hollies just refuse to work. I don't often give up on one, but I've had a couple of those Hollies whip me!
Some substitute aluminum for cast iron. It will work for a while, but not as timeless as the original.
But the worst part is they are designed as "one size fits all". It's built to somewhat fit a lot of different models. The throttle linkage will be a clamp on, reversible, interchangeable bracket that may or may not work with your governor. Other differences, fuel fitting location, choke linkage, venturi size, flange bolt spacing, etc.
But, sometimes it's better than nothing. If the original is broken or missing you do what you have to do. I do agree with Ultradog, some of the Hollies just refuse to work. I don't often give up on one, but I've had a couple of those Hollies whip me!
Had a gorgeous new repro cast-iron carb for my Jubilee that never quite idled evenly no matter how I tweaked it. Rebuilt an ancient looks-like-heck original with a good rebuild kit and it idles nicely down to 300rpm.
On the other hand, for two-cycle stuff I've found that most of the Chinese knockoff Walbros are at least as good as the originals, cost around $15, and they usually throw in fuel lines, a couple of filters, a replacement primer bulb, a spark plug, and an idle adjustment tool. Cheap enough to keep a spare on hand for every piece of equipment.
On the other hand, for two-cycle stuff I've found that most of the Chinese knockoff Walbros are at least as good as the originals, cost around $15, and they usually throw in fuel lines, a couple of filters, a replacement primer bulb, a spark plug, and an idle adjustment tool. Cheap enough to keep a spare on hand for every piece of equipment.
Unless it is an IH they are technically ALL after market as only IH made their own carburetors (and not even sure if IH didn't sub out the building of them), everybody else bought from Zenith, Marvel-Schebler, Carter, etc. When Marvel-Schebler went belly up Zenith bought the rights, patents, etc.. Zenith is still making carbs in the US, but it was hard to get customers to pay for the quality. I'd quote them a Zenith OEM replacement and they'd tell me "I'll get it off the internet for $xx.xx (about half)". As long as people will buy junk because it is cheap the manufacturers will be more than happy to supply it.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
Probably many replacement carbs are bought by parts changers, not mechanics! You see that on here quite often, where someone has changed a lot of parts but it still won't run, because they have no troubleshooting skills.
OregonAaron
Member
I bought a aftermarket marvel carb for my 9n and it was junk. Float sank brand new, needle leaked, and the seat came stripped out so I can pretty much never replace it without a battle. I put my original 1941 float in it and needle from the parts bin and made it work since I didn't have time to wait for a replacement. I just purchased a brand new zenith carb for my ford 2000 and have not installed it yet. If it works as well as others have stated then I will make a posting praising it.
With the Marvel Schebler replacements, they're not all junk.
Some of them run just fine. Others don't. From the same company.
That's the rub. Lack of QC. I would rebuild the original if I had it.
The other detractor is longevity. They're not made out of the same
material as the originals and some of them do not accept the same
size parts that are included in a M/S rebuild kit.
If forced to buy aftermarket, do not expect it to be bolt on and go.
They will most likely need to be adjusted to run properly.
At a minimum. I had a brand new Tisco brand here that would not
flow any gas at all. Never ran at all, right out of the box. I fixed it,
but it was tedious because that's one of them that the carb kits
don't completely fit. Did you see Hobo's post about getting one
where the passages weren't drilled all the way? Things like that.
We Americans want stuff cheap. We get what we ask/pay for.
Some of them run just fine. Others don't. From the same company.
That's the rub. Lack of QC. I would rebuild the original if I had it.
The other detractor is longevity. They're not made out of the same
material as the originals and some of them do not accept the same
size parts that are included in a M/S rebuild kit.
If forced to buy aftermarket, do not expect it to be bolt on and go.
They will most likely need to be adjusted to run properly.
At a minimum. I had a brand new Tisco brand here that would not
flow any gas at all. Never ran at all, right out of the box. I fixed it,
but it was tedious because that's one of them that the carb kits
don't completely fit. Did you see Hobo's post about getting one
where the passages weren't drilled all the way? Things like that.
We Americans want stuff cheap. We get what we ask/pay for.
RandyB(MI)
Well-known Member
Royse hit it right on the head. The two cyl JD carbs are a 50-50 chance at best and they are way more expensive than a re-built original. Had one customer that sent his "new" one back and shipped me his "old" one and built it and runs great. Yes, one size fits all (usually with adaptation). Who knows if available replacement parts will fit. Who knows what cast iron blend they are made of or id the ears will crack off at some time. The originals have stood the test of time and are all re-buildable into a better carb than the off shore stuff. Resist the "new is better" fallacy..it's been proven wrong over and over with about everything. And Zenith is not aftermarket.... tractors have used them forever. Aftermarket is when there is NO name on them or "made in USA" on them and real nice smooth castings which they never had on originals.
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy