VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 What carb is this?

I recently got a used engine with a carb on it. The carb was supposed to be new and only used a few times since the engine was pulled about 3 years ago.
The throttle seems to be frozen stuck. Is this typical of older carbs? I assume it will need a rebuild. I can't find a name on it anywhere.







Unfortunately, I'm almost certain it's not a carter.
Brandon

It is not a Carter. It is an aftermarket made by one of several manufacturers as a replacement in the 40s or 50s. I don't know of anyone that repairs or rebuilds them.

According to the patent number, 1536043, it was invented by Earl A. Bessom, assignor to the Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Co. of Indianapolis. Patent date was April 4, 1925. If you want, I can email you the 10 page patent document (10 TIF images).

Dan

That's really a let down that it's an aftermarket reproduction, though I guess if I can get it working it doesn't matter.

Thank you for looking up the patent number. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I think all I really need is to just figure out what model it is so I can try to locate a rebuild kit.

I've heard of a Marvel-Schebler, I wonder if that is the same fellow?

Brandon

You may not find a rebuild kit for that carburetor either. You would be better off using the correct Carter 150-S on your car instead.

Check with this dude:
The Carburetor Shop LLC
204 East 15th Street

Eldon, Missouri 65026

Marvel-Schebler bought out Wheeler-Schebler in 1928, so, they are sort of the same company.

I'd love to get a carter, but everyone wants 300 dollars for them. I'll attempt to contact the carburetor shop listed and see if they can shed any light on what model this may be.

Brandon

For a quality restored Carter 150-S carburetor, $300 is a cheap price. Usually, they sell for around $500 to $600.

When you contact the Carburetor Shop (and they are great to do business with) ask them what they want for a restored Carter 150-S carburetor.

Your best bet is to clean the carburetor with a good solvent intended for carburetors and then try to run it. If it runs okay then you are good to go. If not then put it in the junk pile and find a Carter. If you get a good rebuildable Carter that does not need a bunch of expensive parts you might be able to get one rebuilt for less than $200. If you buy a rebuilt one make sure it is guaranteed to perform correctly and you are confident that the rebuilder will honor the guarantee.

I have rebuilt hundreds of the early Chevrolet Carter as has the Junkyard Dog. We both have the original Carter factory tools to disassemble them properly, specifications to know what parts are supposed to be in each model and the parts supply to replace what is needed. Yes you can get one from someone else and get lucky. I have rebuilt several Carter carburetors that another rebuilders (that advertise in the major hobby publications) have charged $500+ and did not perform well. My charge was a fraction of that and the carburetor was right when it got to the customer.

From what I see of these carburetors,they are rather elementary as far as rebuilding goes.pretty much a float adjustment and an accelerator pump adjustment.....correct?

Mike33,
What carburetor are you referring to? The Marvel or Carter? The Carter only has three external adjustments, idle speed, air bleed amount (changes idle mixture) and accelerator pump stroke length. All other adjustments are internal. Several can be done by an experienced person. Don't know about the Marvel as I have not worked much with one.

Hi Chip,I was referring to the carter.Maybe I'm wrong as I really don't know much about old carbs.But is there any other internal adjustment besides the float level?

I guess that you could stay that the 1929-31 Carter updraft carburetors are elementary....however, it takes special Carter tools to remove the low speed idle tube and all of the pot metal parts that are inside of the carb. body. Elementary yes! Easy to rebuild without the special tools and experience? No!

You set me straight brother,that's why you're the man!!

"You set me straight brother,that's why you're the man!! "

You should have said.... " that's why you're the DOG, JYD that is."

I've been doing research and research and I believe I found what carb this is. It has no name or markings, as I mentioned, other than the patent number. Luckily, someone else had this problem before. It turns out this carb is a Johnson Model JFA, which goes to .....
A MODEL A!
Leave it to me to buy an engine for the carburetor and it turns out the carb is for a model A.

I finally called the carb shop listed. They wanted between $1,100 - $5,000 for a carburetor for the '31. I was shocked to say the least.

1,100 to 5,000!?

Sounds like someone tryin to make some extra douh. Not even a brass kingston costs that much.

Satisfaction guaranteed rebuilt original carburetors are available for less than 1/2 the number quoted. Used ones are found on eBay very often. If you get lucky one of them may be usable. Or there are two good reasonably priced rebuilders in the VCCA.

Yeah, I was pretty much in awe when he quoted those prices. I'd seen the prices on Ebay and other places and knew I pretty much wasn't going to be dealing with that guy.

If I have a tiloston or the Johnson (produced by schebler), which would be best to rebuild?

P.S. In case anyone else runs into the same problem in the future I did, that carb I posted the picture of had no markings on it. All it had was, as shown, the patent number. For whatever reason, the patent number directed me toward Ford Model A's when I researched them, however the carb is a:
Johnson JC-1, produced by Schebler.

I got this one taken apart, and it would work except that whoever put the accelerator pump together didn't do it correctly and the leather piece on it is messed up beyond repair.

I really doubt that the carb is for a Model A Ford. the Ford carb is on the passanger side of the engine and the mounting flange is 90 degrees off of the Chevy, If I remember correctly. That would throw the intake toward the front of the engine (ram induction, Ha!)and the Model A has an adjustable jet that is operated by the choke rod that comes down at aproximately a 45 degree angle from the right side of the cab. Most Model A's had a Zenith carb.

The problem in rebuilding or repairing them is finding parts. Don't know of anyone that rebuilds them. Since rebuilding these carbs comes up fairly frequently if anyone knows of a quality rebuilder or parts source maybe post it here so others might be able to use those aftermarket replacement carbs.

It's definitely not intended for a model A, and it hasn't been modified to fit a Chevrolet. The carb, I found out, originally had a sticker on the front that is long gone.
Apparently the maker would make this carb under several different names, so they would just swap the sticker. I'm not sure why the patent number leads in the wrong direction, at least from what I could find.

I'm still undecided which carb to try to rebuild.