How to Disassemble a Four Barrel Carburetor

While most engine parts are necessary, few play a role as critical as a carburetor or require periodic maintenance and even rebuilding like a carburetor. Whether it's a four-barrel car carburetor or a single round-slide isn't especially important. What is important is that when you remove your carburetor for cleaning, you reassemble it with parts from your carburetor rebuild kit.

Instructions

1

Remove the negative terminal of your battery as a safety precaution.

2

Remove your air cleaner.

3

Label each fuel line, vacuum hose and cable that attaches to the car. Use white tape, marking the identity of the line. If you don't have a clear understanding of what you are marking, number the tape markers, then take digital photographs of so you can see where and how the line reattaches.

4

Remove all fuel lines, vacuum hoses and cables from the carburetor.

5

Remove the carburetor mounting nuts. Four-barrel carburetors will typically have four bolts -- one one each corner.

6

Loosen the drain plug in the fuel bowl and pour the fuel out into a fuel-safe container.

7

Thoroughly clean dirt and grime from the exterior of the carburetor, using an nylon-bristled parts brush, shop towels and carburetor cleaner.

8

Disassemble every component of the carburetor including springs and gaskets, lying them on a piece of cardboard in an exploded view, indicating how they will go back together.

9

Take digital photos as you go, especially when you're unfamiliar with the function of particular carburetor component. Also, write notes on the cardboard next to the parts to help you remember details and tape and label the parts.

10

Open your carburetor rebuild kit. For each new part, replace one of the old parts laying in the exploded view cardboard layout. Now you're ready for reassembly.