This question goes against what I would normally do but funds are a little low right now. why do I need to buy a carb rebuild kit, why cant I just take the carb apart and clean it real good and reassemble?
You can...maybe! It all depends on a few things. First how the carb disassembles with out the gaskets tearing apart. And secondly if there are not any serious damage to the needle and seat. I've certainly done that many times but never on an outboard or car engine. Just some little 2 cycle lawn equipment.
Assuming being it in this forum, Yamaha? Depending on model it has either o rings or rubber gaskets so reusing is a possibility. But you really need a pressure checker to pressurize the needle and seat before reinstalling.
what makes you think it is a 1996?
model # is the best way to post what you have.
Some people think because the motor was manufactured in a specific year that is the model year and that is not always the case.
My C40TLRX was made in 1998 but it is a 1999 model