How difficult is it to rebuild a carb? I have a Walbro WT-624 that needs rebuilding. Do I just buy a rebuild kit? Where do I buy it from? Would a local small engine shop sell it? This is an 11mm carb that’s on a Homelite 30cc running gas/glow. I’m hoping a carb rebuild will make it run better, but I’ve never rebuilt one before. Thanks.

A Walbro carb is easy. I picked up a Homelite string trimmer with a 30cc engine out of the garbage a few months ago. I went to the Homelite website and I think they will want to sell you a whole carb - not sure. For example you can't just buy a crankshaft you buy the crankshaft, crankcase and main bearings all in one shot. I am about one mile from a small engine repair shop and they can get me any Homelite parts I need. Check your yellow pages. Your Walbro carb may just need a good cleaning. I use lacquer thinner or you can go to an Auto parts store and purchase carb cleaner but it's about the same stuff. Whatever you do DO NOT GET ANY RUBBER/NEOPRENE PARTS near the lacquer thinner or it will turn the parts to junk. If you have jet orfices to clear I recommend a gas welding "tip cleaner" available at any welding supply for a couple of bucks. You'll get about 25 different size wire cleaners that won't damage the orfices of jets in your carb. I wouldn't just poke at the jets with a piece of wire. After you are comfortable with your cleaning blow out all the passages with compressed air if you can. Your carb may have a rubber diaphram which will probably be ok. Hold it up to a bright light and look for any holes and examine it for any cracks. Repace as needed. A carb rebuild kit is a good and cheap insurance policy.

Good luck,
Bill

Do I need the Repair Kit or the Gasket/Diaphragm Kit?

the gasket/diaphram kit should suffice, the rest I usually just have left over anyway...

I bought a rebuild kit and rebuilt the carb. I'd like to verify that I did everything that's necessary. I removed the cover that's held on with the 4 small screws and replaced the diaphragm that was under there. It had a round wheel attached to it with about 5 or 6 holes in the wheel. I then removed the cover that's held on by the one big screw and replaced the small mesh screen that's about the diameter of a pencil eraser. I also replaced the diaphragm that was there and the gasket. Is that all that I need to do for a typical carb rebuild? Also, the diaphragm that goes over the mesh screen appears to be a different material than what came out of the carb. Is this OK? I had quite a few gaskets and small metal parts left over that came with the rebuild kit that I did not use. Is this normal?

Sounds like you did fine. However, you really should buy a spray can of "Carburetor and Choke Cleaner" and spray every little hole/orifice you can find. (Remove the high and low speed needles and spray in there as well.) If possible, blow the carb orifices with compressed air too.

Then assemble and you should be good to go.

Under the diaphragm that is under the cover with the four screws is a little lever and needle valve. It is a good idea to remove and clean that needle valve hole and replace the needle valve, but if you do it, watch out for that little spring that is under the lever. Lose it and you will learn new cuss words....

AV8TOR