Aftermarket Honda Carburetors Any Good?

[SomeGuyInaShirt]

The carburetor with my Honda BF5 lasted 25 hours before needing replacement since the manufacturer ostensibly made it so you can't remove the float/needle valve assembly without damaging it. With no access to the needle valve seat I can't fix the most typical fouling point. They want $200USD plus shipping for a new one, hahaha!

Anyone had luck with aftermarket carbs? I'm thinking of swapping the 5hp carb with a 6hp and maybe doing a prop swap but I'm looking for a serviceable unit, not some overpriced trash.

[Chotu]

I have not had good luck with Amazon carbs on Honda small engines.

Float bowls overflowing is the major problem

[SailingHarmonie]

Your very premise of an unrepairable part seems wrong.

Granted, I haven't taken apart a Honda BF5 carburator myself, but given what I know about Honda engines having them be unserviceable would be EXTREMELY surprising. I am not a special fan of Honda outboards, but they are not cheap crap.

A very quick look at the service manual shows me a carburetor that is constructed exactly like the Yamaha ones I have taken apart many times, including the float and needle valve. I suspect they are actually both made made by Keihin. In fact it looks like the float and needle valve are pretty much exactly like every other small engine carb I have ever seen.

Why do you say it is not repairable?

See attached.

[tkeithlu]

I've long ago lost track of how many Honda carburetors I've repaired and share with you the following:

1. You have to reassemble the entire engine before you can test it.

2. When your repair fails (the engine doesn't start) you don't know why.

3. The word "carburetor" is a French contraction, meaning approximately "You're going to regret messing with this."

4. Replacement Honda aftermarket carburetors cost $20 at Amazon.

5. Keep a spare in the little cardboard box on the shelf.

[SomeGuyInaShirt]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

I am not a special fan of Honda outboards, but they are not cheap crap.

Why do you say it is not repairable?

See attached.

Yeah, they are expensive crap ;-)

I couldn't remove the pin that holds the float/needle valve assembly in. It seems they've deliberately made it impossible to remove. This is not so with older model years. Perhaps I will try again more aggressively since the carb is otherwise just spare parts now.

Where did you get that shop manual PDF? I'd like a shop manual but don't want a physical copy as it's big and expensive. Can you give me a link to buy or otherwise download it?