outbackrider
I have found a trick to helping R&R the float bowl by taking the two screwcaps (bolts) that hold the float bowl down, if they don't have them, make slots in the tops of the bolt heads for a common screwdriver.

outbackrider wrote:

 

 

 

For me, I found removing the gas fuel bowl allowed the easiest access to remove the 2 nuts holding the carb onto the starting engine. Remove the 2 screws that hold the bowl on, and gently pull the fuel bowl horizontally as mentioned earlier. You can see the corroded long brass jet tube that connects the bowl to the carb in my photo (photos posted in reverse order) I had to replace my jet, it was toast, the jet is still available.   Once all cleaned up and all passages cleaned, (there are good posts in the forums on how to clean the passages)  I reattached the carb body and then reattached the fuel bowl right on the starting engine.  

This is good information. In the fifty plus years I have owned D2-D4 Cats I have been able to avoid removing a carburator, always been able to clean in place..
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My nephew rebuilt a carb from some old truck and when he showed it to me, it looked brand new. I asked him how he got it so shiny clean. I expected chemicals but he said a small Harbor Freight soda blaster. It looked beautiful and had no danger of grit. Of course the sonic cleaning first to clean the inside. I recently bought a sand blaster with the soda blast conversion kit, but have not had a chance to use it yet.

Believe it or not, the starting engine ran with this carb on it, ran poorly, but enough to start the diesel--a testament to Cat.  Always using non-ethanol gas in it now.  As you can see, the gaskets were hand made, nothing wrong with that, but they weren't cut out very well.  

ethanol blends are fine in the car. as you use it all the time but small engines no unless your a mowing contractor dont use ethanol blends. it absorbs moisture and turns acidic.
the ethanol also disolves carb diaphragms. if used every day its not a issue but for most of us we dont use it more than 4 times a month for under half the year.