Replacement carburetter & reed cage experiments?

[mcbob]

Bob,

So true.... I just rebuilt a BDC 24 for a fellow vintage karter here in California and the kit he sent me was pretty marginal. The gasket quality was nothing like the originals and the circuit plate gaskets simply did not fit.
G'day old feller,
Steve

Hey Whats this G'day old feller, bit ?

Mc Bob.

[John Miller]

Steve,

I’m glad to see your reply. I’m not familiar with your background in the sport or industry but I have the impression that you were in the thick of it. I just happened to read some of your writings on the Mac carbs (McBobs Site) last night. I have read it before & will need to re-read it again a few times to get all of your points. I recall the first time I saw one of the Mac large bore carbs without any venturi in the bore & thinking to myself “How the hell does this thing work?”

In your reply you wrote: “One neat thing about early karting was the variety of ideas that were explored and reed cages and intakes were one of the areas where the creativity and variations were greatest.” This is very interesting to me… Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be much documentation to be found on these experiments & the results. Plus as you mention in another post, rebuild parts are becoming unavailable.

So, what is a guy with a small box full of various Tillotson & a few Mac carbs supposed to do about learning how they operate, how to work on & tune them, plus find parts for them? Thanks

[John Miller]

Its hard for use new guys to get all the vintage goodies so we can play too. If we can come up with a new part that will help out I don't think that we should be looked down on. I have had to have parts made on a C.N.C. machine to make my vintage power products engines run. Remember the new guy are what will keep this sport alive.

Here... Here...

Thanks for the back up Chris. I've been fairly lucky to round up the bits & pieces that I have. I seem to always end up with only half of the components needed though.

[Brian Thomas]

Take your time , dont rush . It took me 2 years to get everything to build the first 2 karts that we / the wife and I took to Quincy for our first vintage event .
You want to talk about a trial by fire ,,,go to Quincy for your first outing .
alot of events have swap meets , go to car swap meets , snowmobile swaps, bike swaps ect...check yard sales , watch craigslist .
Just beat the bushes stuff turns up.
Brian

[John Miller]

Here are a few of the options that I have to work with.

[John Miller]

And these two.

[steveohara]

John,

What kind of motor do you have? Stock or modified? What kind of exhaust? What type of track will be running, sprint, dirt or roadrace? Do you want to run gas or alky?
Looking at the stuff you have there is a Mac dual carb manifold in there that is missing the reed cages. Of the carbs, the matching pair of Tillotsen double pumpers look like the best choice. The rest of the stuff would require custom built manifolds.... not a good path to follow unless you are a machinist and have a Bridgeport Mill and tooling.
Tell me more about your stuff and plans for running it and I can be more specific.
Steve O'Hara

[steveohara]

John,

A pair of cages that will fit your manifold are on ebay with one day to go.... item #110384296412
Go Get em!

[John Miller]

Thanks Steve,

Please check your PM's.