[AT] Zenith Stuck Jet Removal

[Dean VP]

Ben,

Are you sure it is aluminum rather than pot metal?  The way we remove Brass plugs in cast
iron carburetors is we heat the brass until it just starts to discolor. Then let it cool
off. The brass will then come out very easily. Unfortunately aluminum has a lower melting
point than brass so this method may not work. I don't know what the melting point is on
Pot Metal either. But some method of heat application should solve your problem.

Dean VP
Snohomish, WA

"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]
On Behalf Of Ben Wagner
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 6:45 PM
To: Farmall/IHC mailing list; Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: [AT] Zenith Stuck Jet Removal

Hello,

I am in the process of rebuilding a Zenith carburetor on a Gravely L; I know this is a
tractor group, but we do have Zeniths on tractors!  This Zenith is nearly identical to the
ones on my Farmall A's.  Someone along the way attempted (vainly) to remove the brass

~main jet
~main jet passage plug
~well vent jet
~idle jet

and did a terrible job of using a screwdriver.  The notches are stripped!  Furthermore,
whoever installed them either torqued the jets or applied a sealant.  I had enough left to
get my screwdriver in place, but even after days of soaking in penetrating fluid, the
parts will still not budge.  My screwdriver doesn't have enough power, even clamped in a
vise with all my weight on the turn.  I don't want to damage the aluminum bowl, or the
threads, so I need a way to extract these stubborn parts.

I was able to remove the needle seat with my screw extractors since the notches were
stripped on it also.  However, the little jets are either too shallow for my extractors to
get enough grip into the brass, or they are too small for any jet.

Has anyone encountered a similar issue?  How did you get these stubborn characters out?

Thanks for your help,
Ben Wagner
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