Holley Carb Cleaning Tips: Manual Cleaning, Part Replacement, Carburetor Rebuild Instructions And Kits

When a vehicle gets old, it is important to thoroughly monitor and clean its carburetor.

Though most automobile carburetors have been replaced by fuel injection, motorcycles and older car models still have this mechanical part, whose purpose is to combine air and fuel for an internal combustion engine.

Holley carbs are a commonly-used brand of carburetors many mechanics urge auto owners to learn to clean and fix. Originally based in Detroit, the company first designed carburetor model's for Henry Ford's Model T automobile. Called the Iron Pot, this carburetor became a standard on all Ford cars, as well as the curved-dash Oldsmobile. Since then, Holley carbs have been a standard issue on most vehicles which utilize carburetor technology.

When Holley carbs age, residue fills up inside the carburetor float and throat chamber. When this residue builds up, it forms cracked flakes capable of blocking the main jet or being sucked up into the fuel-delivery system. For this reason, it is important to have proper cleaning tips for the manual cleaning of Holley carbs.

Manual Cleaning Tips

1. Remove the carburetor from the motor
2. Use a special tool to clean the carburetor in a cleaning solvent
3. Make sure all jets and ports are cleared by flushing them with compressed air
4. Note: Do not use wires or other machine-powered products to clean Holley carbs, since it may damage the part

Rebuilding Holley Carbs

If carburetors are damaged beyond manual cleaning, it may be necessary to view Holley carbs' detailed rebuilding instructions.

1. Remove the carburetor and invert it to drain the fuel over a pan
2. Use a thin gasket scraper to release the gasket from the float bowl
3. Separate the primary and secondary float bowls, metering blocks and gaskets from the main body of the carburetor
4. Remove the power valve and unscrew the small idle-mixture screws from the metering block
5. After removing the accelerated pump cover, check the orange valve to ensure it prohibits fuel from traveling up into the float bowl
6. Turn the carburetor upside down to remove the C-clip which connects the rod to the shaft
7. Remove the electrical choke and vacuum diagram with care not to tear its thin rubber
8. Remove the accelerator pump screw and nozzle to prepare for part replacement
9. Thoroughly clean each removed part with carb cleaner and blow dry with compressed air
10. Begin part replacement by bolting the baseplate to the main body.
11. Bolt in the vacuum-secondary diaphragm housing the back of the Holley carbs' body
12. Place a long rod underneath the choke rod and install the choke assembly
13. Install a new power valve within the primary metering block
14. Install the new needle-and-seat with gaskets and adjusting nuts
15. Invert the bowl and use the nuts to adjust the float level
16. Install the accelerator-pump assembly in the bottom of the primary float bowl and cover it with a rubber diaphragm
17. Tighten the float bowl screws and reconnect the carburetor to the car's engine

For further instructions on varying models of Holley carbs, Holley Carburetor Rebuild kits are available online and at a number of retail outlets, or by calling Holley carbs' corporate technical service at (270) 781-9741.




Sources:
Carburetor. 2007. Wikipedia. 3 Jan. 2007.
Holley. 3 Jan. 2007.
How to Tune Your Holley Carburetor. 2000. Gerald's Car, ATV, Cycle Books & Videos. 3 Jan. 2007.
Morris, Eric. How to Clean a Carburetor. 18 Sept. 2006. EzineArticles. 3 Jan. 2007.
Smith, Jeff. Rebuild a Holley Carburetor. 2006. Chevy High Performance. 3 Jan. 2007.