It's been many years since I've been here.

[Bob O]

It's been many years since I've been here but back to tinkering on my own stuff.
My question, is it worth rebuilding a carb on say toro snowblower and powermate edger or just buy the whole carburetor?
If it's buy the carb, any manufacture/supplier to look for or avoid?

Thanks,
Bob O.

[KE4AVB]

I prefer to rework the OEM carbs myself but I also do it on a weekly basis so I have plenty of experience at doing it. Yes you can just replace the carburetor if low enough in cost but I avoid the Chinese clones with a passion as I had a lot trouble with them. I do here they have improved considerably but I still avoid them.

To me an ultrasonic cleaner is key to a good cleaning of the carburetors; although, the old fashion dip works on most except the cube and rotary carburetors. You just have to remove all rubber parts when using the dip cleaners.

When reworking some carburetors you need make up your own kit from individual parts from the OEM like Kawasaki. Since I don't many Toro mower except the one with Kawasaki engine I don't really know what is out there parts-wise. Others here will probably know more as to what is out there.

[Bob O]

Thank you but I assumed all the carbs came from China. This assumption may be incorrect since I've never purchased a new one, only rebuilt them.

[KE4AVB]

The true Nikki carburetors are from Japan. Walbro can be from about anywhere including Haiti depending which carburetor it is, Zama is about the same as Walbro with most being made in the Far East now,and then MTD carburetors which are mostly Chinese as is some Toro carburetors. Quality control is what the OEMs have to their advantage over the after market suppliers.

[bobodu]

I buy a new carb for anything worth less than $150 retail...No reason to waste the time to repair a carb and spend the cost of a new one for a kit..a tractor, motorcycle or outboard is different. I bought a $15 Chi-nese carb for a Stihl saw that included fuel lines, air filter and spark plug and have been using it for two years now.

[Bob O]

Thank you.
Any supplier recommendation one way or the other?

[KE4AVB]

I buy a new carb for anything worth less than $150 retail...No reason to waste the time to repair a carb and spend the cost of a new one for a kit..a tractor, motorcycle or outboard is different. I bought a $15 Chi-nese carb for a Stihl saw that included fuel lines, air filter and spark plug and have been using it for two years now.

You were lucky in my opinion as the last 5 aftermarket carburetors that I brought for Stihl machines all failed out of the box. I ended having buy new ones from Stihl as they will no produce the repair kits even though they publish the kit PNs.