The last time I removed the air horn was the first time I had done it on the engine. I had a very stressful time removing and installing screws 1 and 2, those down next to the primary jets.
I kept thinking, "don't drop this screw, don't drop this screw".
I used a magnetic pick-up wand to do the final unscrew, and the initial screw in, but I was a nervous wreck.

Does anyone have a fool-proof way of working with these screws so they will never get dropped down the bore?

Thanks, Peter

 

Peter, I think those screws are designed not to fit down the bore, the way they are tapered at the top makes them impossible to fit if you drop them, just use some needles nose pliers and fish them out, be careful with any other screws those will fall in there, I tore down my carburetor apart over and over and never worried about those screws

 

Al: thanks - that is a relief in retrospection!

I ALWAYS put a clean, lint free cloth over the primary side whenever I take the cleaner off just in case the choke plate moves, and especially when working with the other screws.

 

a magnetized screwdriver is your best friend in this circumstance. there is nothing else in the primary bores that is steel. if a screw gets dropped-just fish it out. the only caveat is that you do not open the primary throttle plates, doing so can put you in a world of hurt.


bill

 

I use a rotary version, very slick tool. Not sure where it came from.

Like this, but mine is only for slotted screws:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#74265A88


There is this
http://www.hjjcoinc.com/

http://www.mcmaster.com/#screw-holders/=ndk0xs


Worst case, remove the carb and fish out the screw from the floor of the intake. It would take a lot of bad luck and poor actions to get all the way thru the carb though.

I tried to kill an engine once [Fiat] by tossing BB's and stuff down the carb at WOT- did not work. I had to cave the rocker cover in with a hammer to kill it.

 

Just leave the throttle closed - if the screw falls in, pick it up with a magnet from on top of the throttle plate.

- Eric

 

Eric - you know I never thought of that! More sighs of relief.

 

That's why they pay me the big bucks.

- Eric