Yamaha Carb(s) Rebuild??

[77SceptreOB]

How hard is it to rebuild Yamaha (2 stroke engine) carbs?? Specifically a 1988 model 225HP V6 Excel. I think it has 6 single or 3x2 carbs. Can you buy a rebuild kit(s) and do it yourself or is this a Dealer / marina fix?

Any experiences out there?

Thanks,

Jim

[DonV]

I did the ones on my 1998 90hp Yamaha on my Hewes. I had no choice wouldn't run at high speed. Being lazy or a bit stupid, I did not disconnect the fuel line and run the gas out of the carbs everytime before I would let it sit for long periods of time. Anyway it was a piece of cake, not like other American carbs I've worked on, it's all sealed with O-rings and was very easy to clean and re-assemble. I just soaked the metal items ovenight in a gallon of carb cleaner bought at the local auto parts store. The problem was a stuck "needle and seat", used an old tooth brush and Qtips, careful cleaning and then put everything back like it was. No problems in the last four years. And I do run the gas out every time now to finish my freshwater flushing.

[77SceptreOB]

Anyway it was a piece of cake, not like other American carbs I've worked on, it's all sealed with O-rings and was very easy to clean and re-assemble. I just soaked the metal items ovenight in a gallon of carb cleaner bought at the local auto parts store. The problem was a stuck "needle and seat", used an old tooth brush and Qtips, careful cleaning and then put everything back like it was.

Great! Did you use a rebuild kit and change out any parts or did you just clean it?

[Fr. Frank]

With O-rings, you can clean without rebuilding most of the time. Yamaha carb kits are astronomically expensive. I know the complete carb kits for the late 80's Yamaha 220 "Special" are $170 each, and you need six of them!

Most people make a "poor boy's" carb kit, replacing just the float valve/needle and o-rings, and using a product like Quicksilver "PowerTune" to clean out the jets. It works 90+ % of the time.

If you take your o-rings to the local NAPA auto parts store and replace with generic metric o-rings, they cost under $1 each, and they are now formulated for use in ethanol-rich fuels. They have more than 200 different sizes of just metric o-rings here at my local NAPA, and about the same # is SAE sizes.

[77SceptreOB]

I found a Yamaha carb rebuild kit for a V-6 Excel for $130 online. From the diagram, it appears to be all the pieces for the 3ea 2V carbs - complete. Does that sound right?

[DonV]

In my case, just a good cleaning and put it all back together. Light smear of grease on the O-rings and mounting surfaces and done. Good idea on the tupperware containers, keep all the parts for each individual carb separate. If you get lucky you will have the same items in each container :-) Just bought a new key switch for my Yamaha and like the carb kits the delaers really "lean you over" and take advantage of you on pricing. I'm kinda cheap when it comes to buying from dealers....I usually hit the web, find the part numbers and try eBay or search Google first.

[77SceptreOB]

Just an FYI. I stopped by the dealer to buy a special "yamaha" bolt for the lower unit. a 10MM, 1.25 machine (fine thread) bolt w/
a tiny 14MM head about 2-1/2" long.
Try finding that at Lowes, Home Depot, etc! Dealership price to me $10.58.

While I was there, I asked about the OEM carb rebuild kit. They told me it was $208 and included all the parts for 3ea 2V carb or the whole engine. I also asked about labor for them to install / rebuild and TUNE the carbs. They said one hour labor per carb. So the math looks like this:

carb kits = $210 + labor (3hrs x $85/hr) = 255
Total job done by authorized Yamaha dealer = $465.

Not cheap but I thought it was a "fair" price

Comments??

[Fr. Frank]

I agree. That sounds like a fair price. But you really can do it yourself.

[Bigshrimpin]

Jim - It's a cake walk!! Those carbs are simple to rebuild. Just follow the manual. A few bottles of Gum Out carb cleaner, roll of paper towels, compressed air, and a clean work surface. The kits cost me about $40 each (3 sets) from a dealer (gaskets and needles + seats). You don't need new floats/etc. that are included with a full rebuild kit . . . $130/kit.

[1bayouboy]

Get some tupperware storage bins...use one per carb.
be careful with the compressed air...you don't want to blast any small part into the yard (I did this on a 15HP
merc carb once). I did mine assembly line fashion. Spray the carb cleaner through all the small passages....wear safety goggles while doing it.