Carter WCD 486s Low Speed Jets stripped

[James Gray]

While rebuilding my carburetor for a '42 Series 62 I removed the Low Speed Jets. There was minimal resistance as with many components I was informed may prove difficult. However, while reinstalling the jets one of the pulled a thread from the casing in which it screws. Not by means of excessive pressure either. It never really started to tighten.

Can this be repaired simple enough? How to go about this? I thought of a simple helical but I am sure the tolerance must me accurate and if I am off by a smidgen, it would work.

Also, I purchased a rebuild kit and am quickly discovering the only items of benefit are the gaskets and accelerator pump (hopefully). Needle and seat...way to high. The instructions say to use all 3 gaskets on Carter carbs. Wrong! Even one is too high. Springs...too tall.

Anyone know a local to North San Diego, CA county carburetor genius I can trust without having to fork over my arms and legs.

[joeceretti]

No responses, I have no answer but am interested in what your solution will eventually be.

[Steve Passmore]

Like Joe I have no answers to internal carburetor repairs.  Could be the best bet to find a replacement carb. I have several damaged carb bodies lying around as I can.t see the economics of trying to repair striped threads or broken jets within the body.

[joeceretti]

Hopefully a carb specialist can tell you which parts are interchangeable so you can widen your search for other WD-O carbs to get the part you need instead of trying to specifically find a 486S.

[James Gray]

I've got emails out to a couple of them. I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow before I can proceed with that section.
Gary, a CLC member, has a bunch of parts. He'll look on Thursday when he visis the guys who have the carbs to see if he has one. He has been an exception friend with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
There is a part number stamped in the top of the body opposite the climate control assembly. 146-139 i want to keep this thing as original as possible so I'm am hoping to repair it.
I have a neighbor to my office who is an exemplary machinist who makes the craziest little parts and components for the Trophy Trucks that run the Baja races in Mexico. I will harass him as well tomorrow for his insight.

[James Gray]

Helicoil is the only option outside of replacement. There's a new product which is stronger called an Insert but you have to counter-sink the surface to accomodate an expanding thread. Not enough meat for that.

I realized this is a low speed jet and as such it simply allows fuel to pass through to maintain a low speed idle and therefore is never under excessive pressure. As long os the fuel can pass through the jet it will suffice. There are no specific tollerance or precise positioning of the jets.

I am hoping my friend has a bowl cover but that may not be the case and I want to get this puppy in drivable condition.

From what I have experienced so far, I believe I could have just tthrown on a carb, got her detailed and started driving.
Brakes - were like new. Minimal wear and alignment was spot on.
Wheel bearings were perfect. Just repacked them with new grease.
No sludge in the oil pan or transmission pan.
No rust or corosion in the fuel tank.
Fuel pressure was good.
Vaccum pressure needs some attention. The wipers do not work well. They move but hesitate.
I discovered the bottle for the washer is missing. I'll have to review that and get it corrected.
Steering is nice and fluid with no shimmey at speed.
Heck, I'm ready to roll...almost.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

James,

The way to identify the early Carter Carburetors is on the bottom, the base that goes to the manifold. You need to see what number is stamped on the base it will tell you the year of the carb and the make.

john w