Hello:

For the first time I'm working on a carburetor.

I found a somewhat rusty Holly NH in a junk store for a few bucks, so I bought it just to take it apart and study it. I've got the Club's Carburetor Book, but I've hit a snag: I want to take the bowl off now, but the book isn't too explicit - it says something like "unscrew the nut and remove the bowl." OK, but only "nut" I can find on the bowl (bottom) is brass, round and seemingly immovable. Is this what has to come off? Or does the whole bowl simply twist off the unit? That doesn't seem to work barehanded, but the unit is rusty.

Sorry to bother everybody with what is probably a REALLY dumb question, but before I get out the vice grips and break something...

Season's Greetings!

Rick Benjamin

Rick,

That rounded off nut that won't move at the bottom of the bowl is what you need to take off. Soak it real good with penetrating oil, not wd-40. The nut is actually a small bolt that has threads into the bottom of the carb.

Good Luck

Here's a before & after shot of NH carbs
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Rick:

Is the "nut" with the combined drain, or the large nut with the separate side drain ??

Clamp the carb body in a vise ( between the mounting flange & choke ) & apply wrench after soaking with Kroil or penetrating oil.

Hi Gentlemen:

Thanks for all this great help.

My Carb is like the one in Bill Harris's photo (above). BUT, the brass nut is round, not octagonal like the one in his picture. So I can't put a wrench on it. Looking at it carefully now, it seems some earlier owner rounded off the nut trying to get it off.

I'll soak it in that acetone/ATF mixture "penetrating oil" for a few days, and then grab it carefully with those vice grips, trying not to do too much harm.

According to my carb book, it is a late period NH. I paid $3 for it, so I thought I'd use it for "practice." And maybe I can even get it to work. It seems to be complete.

Thanks for all of your quick help...much appreciated.

Season's Greetings,

Rick Benjamin

Rick, you might also try a very small pipe wrench on the nut, it would probably get a better grip. Also, try "bumping" the wrench with yhe palm of your hand instead of just pulling on it. That method seems to work a lot better on brass fittings. Good luck. Dave

Rick: That may be the best fun you'll ever have for $ 3.00 !!! LOL

Good Luck & let us know of your results

Bob J.

This motivated me to clean up those two Holley NH carbs (shown above) today. Here are the results...