Hello Mini Mac enthusiasts... or "masochists", either or.
It's been a while and I thought I'd return to this thread with this.
I've been having trouble with an MDC inlet needle that is leaking uncontrollably. Everything I have done to try and fix it, had failed. I had now lost count how many times I've taken the saw apart.
Looking around, I wished that the cheap MDC kits got the inlet needle right. Also looking at genuine Walbro kits for other carbs, the inlet needles are also too long. (I wasn't going to get a K1-MDC just for a needle either)
Original MDC Needle - Left.
Genuine Walbro Needle - Right.
I was so frustrated at this point, that I took a hard look at the two needles. And then, a thought entered my head. The more I pondered it, the more I wanted to try it. So I did this... I took a test subject needle, and tried to get an idea between the two.
I made a few markings on the test subject, and then I took a dremel, and a vice, and I made a redneck lathe.
I made a few just to test out if it was possible, but I didn't take pictures of them. Each one has its own idiosyncrasy.
I still need to refine how I go about it, as I was just eyeballing it and winging it.
It was just an experiment out of frustration. I'm very dismissive on if this is even viable in the long run.
Original MDC - Left.
Prototype Modified Needle - Right.
The modified needle clearly isn't perfect, but it was just to test if this was possible.
I made two more that I tried out. The second one I screwed up making it and I "corrected" it.
It kind of looks like a pagoda, and didn't hold pressure well, and still leaked.
The third one was slightly more in spec, but a tad smaller in length. This one performed much better.
Testing it out earlier, it seems to function alright.
Putting it in the carb, it beat the original MDC needle that was leaking like a sieve.
It isn't that stable though, and does bleed down, just very, very slowly. Two minutes pass before the pressure tester needle even moves. The saw ran... better than last time, and wasn't flooding to beat all hell. In the heat of the moment, it does perform and hold fuel.
As I said, I'm very leery on if this is even worth it. I also couldn't find out if I'm the only one who's done this, but I doubt It.
However, the more I thought about it, this came to mind: What happens when NOS needles can't be found?
Or the original kits are too expensive, and all you have are kits that don't get the needles right?
Maybe if someone out there has better equipment, and more patience than me, they can refine this idea.
Let me know what you all think.
M
