Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

[Thomas S.]

I purchased a "Restored" Carter 3461S (CD3) Carb from a well known vendor and when it came in the black carb choke housing was missing the scribed index line required to set the choke correctly. Am I being picky or should I have expected that line to be there. Otherwise the carb looks great although I have yet to install it. I intentionally left out the vendors name but you can private messenger me if you are interested in knowing who it was.

[Frank D.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

I purchased a "Restored" Carter 3461S (CD3) Carb from a well known vendor and when it came in the black carb choke housing was missing the scribed index line required to set the choke correctly. Am I being picky or should I have expected that line to be there. Otherwise the carb looks great although I have yet to install it. I intentionally left out the vendors name but you can private messenger me if you are interested in knowing who it was.

There are restorers and there are restorers. If you mount the carb and it otherwise runs well you could fuss at the vendor about the choke cover and he might relent and send you one. Or you could just, suck it up, and get your own...Chuck Smith sells them; part #2061 (confirm that number).

Too bad though because "restored" to me means the cover should be correct.

[Edward J.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Tom, these carburetor' s after 50+ years are getting harder to come, and likely most of these carb.s are missing parts when they find and restore them. I think the choke assemblies are always the first part to have pieces missing. I think knowledge is key when buying a restored carb. and asking questions before purchase. especially when spending top dollar for these numbered carbs. I know that some vender is re-stamping dates also.

[Thomas S.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Tom, these carburetor' s after 50+ years are getting harder to come, and likely most of these carb.s are missing parts when they find and restore them. I think the choke assemblies are always the first part to have pieces missing. I think knowledge is key when buying a restored carb. and asking questions before purchase. especially when spending top dollar for these numbered carbs. I know that some vender is re-stamping dates also.

Understand that point completely and it's easy enough to scribe a new line on the housing. I think a item that is restored should be visibly correct at the very least. It's also impossible to cover every aspect of of a restored unless you've been through this before and I will chalk that up to a learning curve. The housings are available NOS and I have purchased one for another carb.

[Chester C.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

I sent my carb off to be restored and it had a very nice, almost new looking original choke cover on it. I just assume when I got the carb back the original cover would be on it. It was not. It had a repo and the scribe line did not line up with any notch on the choke housing. I called up the guy telling him I wanted my original back and the repo was not correct. He said the scribe line was not suppose to line up with any notch and he did not have my original cover. If you going to steal my part at least do not insult me with a lie. Thanks Bob.

[Thomas S.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

I sent my carb off to be restored and it had a very nice, almost new looking original choke cover on it. I just assume when I got the carb back the original cover would be on it. It was not. It had a repo and the scribe line did not line up with any notch on the choke housing. I called up the guy telling him I wanted my original back and the repo was not correct. He said the scribe line was not suppose to line up with any notch and he did not have my original cover. If you going to steal my part at least do not insult me with a lie. Thanks Bob.

[Thomas S.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Added photos

[Patrick H.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

I purchased a "Restored" Carter 3461S (CD3) Carb from a well known vendor...I intentionally left out the vendors name but you can private messenger me if you are interested in knowing who it was.

If you bought it from that well-known vendor in the Windy City, then I would suggest that you didn't do you homework. Plenty of info on this site and others as to the junque that gets sold from there. I've said before that I wouldn't buy a carb from him if he had the last one on earth and that remains true.

[Thomas S.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Actually did go through the site for suggestions. Most of the comments however are usually limited to vague and specific claims with the vendor's name left out. I totally understand why since I believe it is an unofficial policy to NOT to name vendors when you have a problem.

I did hook up with another vendor that had good comments from the NCRS membership and after speaking with them I had a much better feeling about what I would get back after sending them my original.

I've asked for a refund and since it was a credit card purchase, I don't expect to have any return issues. And yes you can add my name to those that would avoid the windy city for reasons other than the cold winters.

[Frank D.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Actually did go through the site for suggestions. Most of the comments however are usually limited to vague and specific claims with the vendor's name left out. I totally understand why since I believe it is an unofficial policy to NOT to name vendors when you have a problem.

I did hook up with another vendor that had good comments from the NCRS membership and after speaking with them I had a much better feeling about what I would get back after sending them my original.

I've asked for a refund and since it was a credit card purchase, I don't expect to have any return issues. And yes you can add my name to those that would avoid the windy city for reasons other than the cold winters.

I think most of us have an idea how you've been dealing with and issues with that vendor are not uncommon....I've had a few 'go rounds' with them myself...

[Chester C.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Well the scribe is really not a minor point because that is how you set rich and lean as I understand it. In other words, turn choke cover where the scribe line lines up with 2 notches down or 3 or what ever the specification calls for. That's why when my builder told me it may no difference where the line was, even on original carbs. He just took my original cover and sold it or used it on his car.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

If the black cover has the other correct markings it's possible he buffed the part to shine it up and the line disappeared.

To correctly set the spring tension without the marks at approx 68* tension the spring so the choke just completely closes.

[Frank D.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

If the black cover has the other correct markings it's possible he buffed the part to shine it up and the line disappeared.

To correctly set the spring tension without the marks at approx 68* tension the spring so the choke just completely closes.

That's the way I adjust them anyway....the index mark method isn't the best for all climes...

[Thomas S.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

If the black cover has the other correct markings it's possible he buffed the part to shine it up and the line disappeared.

To correctly set the spring tension without the marks at approx 68* tension the spring so the choke just completely closes.

Thanks for that info. 11-degrees out here at the moment but that is a great reference point. The original ones were made of bakelite which is a form of compressed mica and very shiny. The replacements I’ve seen are polyethelene and have a flat texure appearnace - thats what was on the restored carb.

The other interesting thing about these covers is that the line is on the top side edge of the cover and the arrow that designates the direction to rotate on the face opposite that line. You really can’t see that arrow so you have to remember which way to rotate the cover for lean or rich. There probly was a reason for that but it would have made more sense for the scribed line and the arrow line to be on the same side.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Restored Carter Carb 3461S - What to expect?

Thomas,

You will know which way to rotate rich or lean because one way will close the choke blade and the other will open it.