Carb removal question

[NeilT]

Please forgive me if this is a banal question, but i have a fear of carbs as they are one thing that I have never worked on (the stag is my first car with carbs!)
This weekend I plan to replace all of the original cooling hoses and fit the Stagweber header tank. Whilst I am doing this, I thought it would be smart to check the thermostat and the water pump seal but I understand that to do this I'll need to remove the carbs and the inlet manifold to access the thermostat and the water pump. So my question is, if I remove the carbs, can I replace them and expect them to still be set up correctly, or should I expect to have to recalibrate them (in which case I should start reading up on how carbs work!)
Appreciate any advice on this one

[5chaiaday]

I'm no expert either (and I'm sure someone will be along to advise you about the thermostat housing etc) but I recently removed my carbs and gave them a light refurb. It wasn't as scary as you might think. If you're not refurbing them then removal is simple. Obviously remove the connections/hoses (take photos beforehand to help reassembly) then there is a single bolt that holds the carb pedestal to the inlet manifold. You may have to remove the vacuum outlet to get at the bolt and use a spanner rather than a socket. The only thing to watch out for is to definitely have a replacement seal for the pedestal to manifold joint and make sure you remove the old one - don't reuse it as it won't work. Oh, and keep the carbs upright and you won't disturb the damper oil either. You shouldn't need much tuning if you don't fiddle with the adjustment screws etc. All that is advice from someone who has only done it once so take it steady and read the manual - I may very well have missed something.

Ed.

[LAMBRETTLAD]

you tube has a few stag engine videos

[Chris O]

No need to remove the carbs - just remove the air filter box and this will give you full access to the thermostat and hoses to the water pump. You will need a thermostat gasket and some Hydromar gasket sealant. While you are replacing hoses you ought to give the radiator and engine block a good flush out - other threads explain how to do this. You will be able to see if there are any water pump leaks. Removing the water pump is a very specialist job and best to leave well alone if there are no leaks.

[wilf]

You don't need to remove carbs or manifold to get to the thermostat, and if the water pump isn't leaking then maybe "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies.

Edit: how did I miss the post above? Lol. Great minds and all that.

[NeilT]

thanks all for the advice, unfortunately it looks like the water pump gasket is leaking quite badly, so I'll have to change that, so it's off with the carbs and the inlet manifold. Cross your fingers for me

[wilf]

Then re-drill and helicoil all the inlet manifold bolt threads while it is off, plenty of threads about it here.

[Lingen]

Neil. Pessimistic comment. I have never seen a leaking water pump gasket yet. Have another very thorough search for the source of the leak with a torch, mirror etc. before removing the manifold. If you have to, be prepared to find that it is the water pump seal that is leaking, in which case seek further advice before removing the pump! It is a tricky first time repair that must be done "By the book".
If you do have to remove the manifold, I advise draining the coolant from it by taking out the temperature sensor at the back of the n/s head. This will lower the level sufficiently to avoid filling the bores with coolant.
Mike.

[NeilT]

Thanks for that Lingen. It seems after further examination that it may be the top hose that's leaking into the "V" and its pooling around the water pump, so given I'm changing all the hoses anyway I'll leave the carbs and manifold on for now and see if it leaks after I've changed all the hoses. You may have saved me a lot of unnecessary work!