the plastic lever for the secondary diaphram is cracked. Are they available or do I need to mend this one? Thanks, Bob C

Hi, No need to worry about repairing the lever. Rebuild kits for the 4100 usually come with a new one. Its a simple proceedure to drive out the pin and put the new lever in. Just be careful that you don't put it in upside down and TAKE IT EASY WITH THE HAMMER WHILE DRIVING THE PIN OUT AND BACK IN! Good luck... YOU CAN DO IT!!! Tom

The motorcraft CT-191A kit DOES NOT COME WITH THE SECONDARY DIAPHRAM NOR THE ARM. In fact motorcraft no longer stocks these parts.

But the secondary diaphram is readily avalaible from NAPA, and other sources and IT ALWAYS COMES WITH A NEW ARM.

Evne though the motorcraft kit does not come with this, I would ONLY RECCOMEND THE CT-191A kit for any 4100. The quality is that good. I know other kits have both of these parts but you really get lesser quality from them, at least that has been my experience.

Bill White
White Automotive

Thanks to both of you, Bill I know you recommend the motorcraft kit only. What's the deal between kits? Don't the gaskets fit or are the needle-seats leaky? I don't mind spending a few more bucks if it saves me re-work later. Thanks, Bob C

I have spent many years rebuilding carbs, and I feel the motorcraft kits are the best.
Here why.

Most other kits don't have the bench specs included, not to much of a big deal for me anymore but I have a hard time recommending any kit to an amatuer rebuilder that does not or might not include the proper specs to set the carburetor too.
My biggest issue I personally don;t use them is three fold:
RETURNS::: When I use to use other brand of kits, I got more returns!!! Many kits gaskets are made of inferior materials, which leads to non-sealing of the parts and either vacuum leaks or worse REAL LEAKS.
Often these kits (because who knows how long they have sat on the shelf) will have shrunk gaskets, which means now I have to go buy (and track down) individual gaskets for which I pay a premium.

POOR KIT QUALITY::: I have gotten some of these kits which don't have the right gaskets or the gaskets are miscut or because they are generic have extra materials which causes interference, and have to be reworked. Often these gaskets are thicker than normal causing problems (see above) with mounting and leaking. MOST OFTEN THESE KITS HAVE TERRIBLE NEEDLE AND SEAT AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM:::: Missing parts, there are certain kits that are notorious for having missing parts. Out of 10 random kits 6-7 might be missing parts. 1-2 of them you might not need the part but the others are critical. Of course once the kit is open you can not return it, and you are stuck either buying another or tracking down and buying individual ones at a premium.

Because of those reason I stopped buying off brand kits about 12-15 years ago (About when offloading to foreign countries became the norm) when these problems became huge.

Do motorcraft kits hever have problems, Occassionaly but very rare (I can only think of one in the last 5 years I have had).

Do I use other kits, Of course I do for other carburetors, I like the Holley kits, and the borg-warner. I actively seek older kits of these to have on hand. I do alot of vintage (pre 65) carbs so I am forced occasionaly to use something else when I have no otehr choice, but before I take on carb jobs like these I make sure I have a decent kit to use first.

But for all my FORD stuff I use Motorcraft and won't use anything else.

Bill White
White Automotive

Dear Bill White,
Something that you MIGHT like to know...

Some time ago, I rebuilt an Autolite 4100 1.12 C4AF-9510DG. Mr. Kultulz (a VERY savvy Ford guy) said to see if I couldn't get a "Rettor Tune-Up Kit" from Ford.

I went to the local Ford Dealership, and prevailed on Larry, the Parts Counter Man to check with the MAIN Ford Parts Depot in Dearborn, for a C2SZ*9A586*D Rettor Tune-Up Kit. He did, and VOILA', they HAD (as of February 14, 2008) 11 (eleven) of them! They are NOS parts, and cost $47.68 ($50.90 with tax).

They, as of February 16, 2008, have 10 of them left, as I got one (it took two days for it to arrive in Texas from Michigan). And it was a GREAT kit, in EXCELLENT shape, and I did the rebuild/restore of the above mentioned Autolite 4100.

The kit didn't have the Primary Accelerator Pump Diaphragm, but I got THAT from NAPA. One has to ask for a: SAP64-562A P7Y.

BTW, the little instruction sheet that comes with the Accelerator Pump was printed wrong. It is a "precise" mirror-image how it REALLY should be. It CANNOT be assembled the way it shows in the picture, but it is PROPERLY installed if you hold the image up to a mirror, and install it the way that you see in the image in the mirror! No, HONEST!

For a JPG of this situation, click here:

http://msamericanpi.bravehost.com/galaxca.htm

Go to the bottom of the page and then scroll up 55 JPGs and there will be the backward image. You'll see what I mean.

Anyway, hope you are well.

JC