1989 Mercury XR-4 Carb Rebuild Help

I was wondering if anybody could help me out. I would like to rebuild my carbs on my 89 XR-4. For the last few years I have been paying a guy from work to do mechanic work on my boat and recently I KNOW he has been ripping me off big time so Iam going to try to follow the manual and do it myself. I found a helpful link on this site http://www.saveonboating.com/mercury-mariner-carburetor-kits.asp that lists the parts that I need for my (WH-40) carb. How many needle and seat kits will I need? Iam assuming I only need 1 gasket kit. What else will I need? I know I need carb cleaner and my air compressor. Just curious but how much would some of you expect to pay a mechanic to do this for you?? Im sorry if some of these questions are stupid, I am new to working on marine motors. Thanks - James

Re: 1989 Mercury XR-4 Carb Rebuild Help

Nothing stupid about your questions - THe WH series carbs are really simple but the floats can be a pain to find. Fortunately they don't fail as often as some folks think. The gasket kit is usually all that's needed. The idle needles can wear down over time but I've never found a bad set in the WH's. WMH's and WMV's seem to be more problematic in that area. The float needles are pretty easy to come by and I always replace them and the seats. Make sure you get all the old seat gasket out or they'll sit high and drive you nuts trying figure out what's wrong.

The 40's aren't that great of a carb but they're not bad either. Don't let anyone tell you anything different unless you're into racing it won't matter. You could update the carbs to WMH's or WMV's if you want it only requires the newer carbs, a new style throttle cam and you can make the new linkage out of rod stock. A lot of us do that on stock motors because the parts are easier to find.

Beyond that it's just a matter of cleaning them and blowing them out with air. Don't pull the welch plugs if you have them, you can't get them anwhere. The kit that includes them is NLA at Merc and nobody I've asked bothers with it. I think that kit also includes the idle needles so if you need them you're out of luck too. You probably don't unless one is bent badly.

Re: 1989 Mercury XR-4 Carb Rebuild Help

Thanks sschefer. I found the gasket kit and the needle and seat kit and Iam going to proceed.

Re: 1989 Mercury XR-4 Carb Rebuild Help

I'll bet there's not much trouble with the idle needle in WH's. They don't have one.

Carb kits are easy. Needle and seat usually is just fine, but take the seat out and replace the gasket beneath it. You also get the passage under the seat cleaner that way.

Hard plastic floats rarely fail. That's what'll be in the WH41A carbs on that engine. Set them carefully, exactly as the book says, and it'll be just fine. Pay attention to carb location and jet location. Not sure on that engine, but on many the jets vary a little from cylinder to cylinder.

The only other pitfalls are evenly torque the bowl screws, and don't ever reuse gaskets.

hope it helps
John