Carb ?? Does the position really matter?

I am tearing down a spare rack of carbs and I am wondering if it is really necessary to keep the carb bodies in the same location (1-4) when reassembling. I can see no discernible difference from the stripped down bodies. I have the rack broke down but only one carb completely stripped so I can still deduce their original locations for 2 and 3, 1 and 4 are marked. I realize the butterfly needs to go in a specific way but theoretically, except for the linkage for syncing, shouldn't all the bodies and parts be 100% interchangeable?

 

Depends on what type of carbs they are, but GENERALLY (not always though), carbs 2 & 3 might be the same, but the others are always different..........as far as the throttle shafts, their linkage ends, and the butterfly valves/springs/hardware are concerned, just consider that all of them (on any model) carbs are different from each other.

 

Mark the carb bodies...so you know 1....2...3....4 form each other......not hard to do....

 

Well there ya have it from the big dog hisself! Thanks Chacal.

 

Would it be safe to say that the carb bodies are all the same? And that the supporting "accessories" such as the shafts and linkages are position sensitive?

 

Not quite.

The carb bodies were all cast from the same mold shape, so originally when they first came out of the mold, they were all the same, but the post processing was different because of where the fuel rail connects.

Number one was drilled on the right side only.
Number two and three were drilled both sides.
Number four was drilled left side only.

Yes, the throttle linkages are also unique to each position, but that can be moved from one body to another.

So, if you get desperate, you could completely strip down #2 and rebuild it using #3's throttle linkage and use it in the #3 position. Same holds for using a #3 body in the #2 position.

But the ends are unique because of the fuel rail holes, so if you get really desperate, you could plug one side or the other and use a #2 or #3 on an end. You could also drill out the other side of an end and plug the original hole and use it on the other end, but you better be really desperate.

 

Rice_Burnarr outlines the main basic idea, but be aware that on some models, all 4 carb bodies are physically different and will not interchange.....depends on the model of carbs.

 

Good point. I was probably too broad above.

I've surely not seen all the carb varieties, but the ones I've seen are all the same casting. Wouldn't be surprised to find that doesn't hold true for all the models.

 

The float bowls are directional.