Excel III 340 Carb Problem - Cant remove choke cable - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

1972 Skidoo 399 · 06-12-2012, 06:11 PM

Hey everyone,

Having some difficulty with a free snowmobile that I got. dont know the exact year 1980 - 1988

Doesnt run and the motor is NOT getting gas so...... went to remove the carb and cant get the choke cable out, it threads into the top of the carb and when unthreaded you can see some rust in the hole and the cable going down to......somewhere?

anyone know how to get this off im not used to this style of carb!

yamadad4 · 06-12-2012, 06:52 PM

what you have attached to the end of the cable is a plunger. not uncommon for them to get way stuck in the carb body and can be a real pain to remove. basically its a brass fitting(soft)slotted on the top and having a round spot for the cable to slip in and out, as well as a spring in between.

carb spray usually wont cut it, i would start with some sort of high quality penetrating oil like a pb blast or equivalent. patience will be your saving grace. if you have access to some quality carb soak, dripping some in there with a syringe or eye dropper may help. most important thing to remember is to save the carb at all costs, sacrifice the plunger or the cable, or both, but dont hurt the carb.

its a game of soak and wait and hope for the best. dont be afraid to try several different cleaners, oils, gunk cutters etc and dont be in a hurry or an animal with it. sometimes a well placed and tight fitting screwdriver can help if inserted in the slot on top. after the cleaner or whatever you use has had a change to work a bit, the screwdriver theory can be applied to rotate the plunger and then you can wait some more while things soak in and hopefully loosen up.

last ditch effort after exhausting all other options is to carefully drill the plunger enough to weaken it to a point to remove it. again, dont hurt that carb.

1972 Skidoo 399 · 06-12-2012, 08:34 PM

Im not shure if I have been descriptive enough I would upload a picture of it but I cant figure out how. it is the choke cable... and there is a nut that unscrews on the end of the cable and there is a spring inside is this what you are talking about?

I only ask because it seems to be attached to something inside the carb that I cannot see or get to with my knowledge of this style carb?

yamadad4 · 06-12-2012, 08:54 PM

your description was accurate. what you are not seeing is the plunger( what the cable is hooked to between the fitting to the carb and the spring).

get on any yamaha online parts catalogues and look for part #8G8-14171-00-00, may bring new like to your situation.

you have the flipper lever on the console, attaches to the cable which leads to the carb, enters the fitting that threads to the carb, then the spring between and attaches to the plunger. the plunger is the part number references above. just did one, have the package and the destroyed plunger on hand.

remove the flipper from the console by removing the plastic nut securing it(you will have to get the flipper oriented correctly for removal or simply remove the cable from the lever). then you can pull the carb out with the cable attached to give you more access.

**kccats** · 06-13-2012, 06:38 AM

And sometimes it can help to take a small drift punch and tap down a very little bit to break it loose!

1972 Skidoo 399 · 06-13-2012, 10:10 PM

Tryed for a couple hours and shes really stuck in there so I ended up taking the carb off with the choke cable still attached and just cleaned it with it still on. Just not patient enough I guess, Oh well :P

Now I gota Put the rest of it back together and hopefully she runs, Most likely will need a new fuel pump though and prob a stator aswell, clutch side has real weak spark. still fires on that side when ya drop gas though the spark plug hole but not aswell as the Mag side.

Anyway thanks for the advice everyone I appreciate your time!

**kccats** · 06-14-2012, 05:27 AM

That carb is NOT clean! You HAVE to get that plunger out and replaced! This will take DAYS! Weak spark on one side is likely just the plug wire! Ynscrew the boot and cut 1/4" off and then screw it back on good and tight!

Renagade · 06-14-2012, 06:34 AM

i have had to apply heat to carb
to remove stuck plungers, just make sure
to drain fuel & let dry in sun for awhile.

x2 on carb not being clean.
take ur time, ull get it!!