300/440/550 If you're going to disable the choke, remove the plate!!!

[ger87410]

'89 js550
The PO disabled the choke and installed a primer.

I never thought that I'd have to worry about the innards of my carb falling apart, but that's exactly what happened. My engine took a look at the choke plate screws and thought how yummy 1 would taste.:doh:

Luckily, the screw only did minor damage to the bottom of the piston and no damage to the cylinders. 1 side of the ring became stuck and compression was lost. Couldn't remove the head from the cylinders, so just pulled the whole thing.

I'm going to throw it back together today and see if she runs. Bets are that she will run fine.

Moral: Remove the choke plate completely if you're not going to use it.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Somewhere in that era the choke plate screws were not staked properly from the factory,I remember reading the bulletin.

 

[ger87410]

Got her running again. I just inspected the damage, deburred the bottom of the piston where it hit, reseated the rings, and changed a few gaskets and she's running again.:woot:

Next time she's going in the water, it'll be at Texoma.

 

[SXIPro]

Somewhere in that era the choke plate screws were not staked properly from the factory,I remember reading the bulletin.

And nowadays you have to take a damn dremel to them sometimes to get the little buggers out...