I was rebuilding my carb yesterday, and when I tried taking the screen off of the needle valve, it just collapsed when I barely touched it. I've been trying to find replacement parts and diy tricks online, but all that I can come up with is to buy either some brass mesh type stuff from a hobby or hardware store and make you own, or use a kitchen faucet brass screen, which I would imagine to be pretty ridged.

Does anyone know where I can get a new one of these screens or possibly any tricks that they've learned?

I'm headed to the hardware store now to see what I can find.

 

I just rebuilt mine and thankfully the screen was in good shape......Any good "mom and pop" hardware store should have some fine brass screen and make your own......otherwise the faucet screen idea should work too....let us know how you make out....

 

Thanks for the reply 81 Toyo. I ended up going to the local mom and pop hardware store, but they didn't have anything for me. I then went to some hobby stores, Lowes, Home Depot, then 3 auto parts stores. At one of the auto parts stores, the guy recommended an in-line filter that I could break open and use the inner screen. It sounded like my best option, so I did it.

The first picture is the In-line fuel filter I bought, then the size of the screen after I busted it out of it, then the cone I made. The tip looks big, but I made sure that it was as close to sealed as you could get.







I put the filter in, and put the carb back together. I installed it on the intake manifold, and tried to start her up. I think I'm flooding it because the fuel is to the very top of the fuel sight bowl. It starts up, but makes this weird almost gurgling noise. I think it's getting flooded. I didn't put the gaskets on the spacer as there wasn't one on there to begin with, but now I'm thinking that in addition to the flooding, it might not be sealed. Did anyone else not use the gasket on the spacer?

 

Well, I changed the float level, which is now perfect. It still sounds weird and won't stay started for more than a few seconds. When I checked out the carb again, there was a small leak at the main body and flange gasket. Looks like I'm going to have to take her off and tighten her up a little more.

I didn't tighten it crazy tight to begin with because I heard that it isn't good for the gasket, but it looks like I didn't tighten it enough. We'll see if that does the trick.

 

Could be a air leak at the gasket....I use the criss cross method of tightening the bolts...like you do with lug nuts...a little at a time till snug.......did you check your power valve while in there?....the push rod was stuck open on mine, was a bitch to break free but finally did...had to hone it to get it working again and replaced the power valve.....works great now....

 

I would definitely use gaskets on the spacer...Without them it's like tightening something down...without a gasket

The new spacers come with built-in gaskets.