Anyone have a tap that fits the Mule carburetor air screw threads?

[warthog23]

I removed the brass plugs from my 3010 Mule's carburetor and had an issue with one of the screws galling. I also committed the sin of letting my drill bit kiss the top of the screw so you know the rest. I unscrewed it several turns before the slot became unusable and I had to get the assistance of a machinist friend to drill it out. The screw came out ok but you can see where some of the threads were damaged and he did not possess the proper tap to chase them out.

I will have to purchase two new screws but I really need to clean the threads up first before I get another mixture screw fastened in the bore due to bad threads. He suggested that if I could not secure a tap to try and buy a screw that is long enough so I could screw it in little by little and tap it to straighten the threads and also cut a small "V" on the starting threads to act as a cutting tool. My friend guessed the threads were 6mm x 0.5 but did not have the correct thread guage to verify with. Does anyone know for sure if this is correct?

All suggestions welcomed.

Best regards,
Baxter

[okieduc104]

What are you going to use for the replacement pilot mixture screw assembly? Did you get the other one out undamaged?
I found this one at Outdoor Distributors 23013-2063 for $7.85



Any luck on finding a thread gauge?

Here is a good one, The Murray. It is less than $20 at Northern Tool the one in the picture is SAE, but they have a metric model also. If you visit the northern Tool website watch the video on the Murray thread repair kit.

[warthog23]

Hi okiduc,

I ordered the idle mixture screws from a local lawn equipment dealer that sells Kawasaki parts for $8 ea. No shipping but I will have to drive about 7 miles to pick them up.

I also ordered a M6x0.5 bottom tap from Amazon for $3.70 plus shipping which brought it to about $10 (none to be found locally). I wasn't able to measure threads but did find one reference on the net for a mikuni off of a Suzuki Katana motorcycle and this is what the owner used to repair his threads. I will try to check a little closer before I use it as you only get one chance.

Best regards,
Baxter
Greenwell Springs, LA

[okieduc104]

I was going to say that the dash screws and many of the other screws on your mule are M6-1 which may be a bit course threaded for the pilot screws. Have to drive SEVEN MILES!Wow! I drive seven miles to get to the front gate! just kidding! Actually just .7 miles to the gate.

[MikeRWK]

Buy a tap and die set and learn to use a thread gauge, you'll be happy once you see how handy they are.

[cookie_monster]

I'll be interested to know the thread size & pitch as well. I've run into this before but Kawasaki (not kawpower) does not offer the screws separate from the carb, so we had to replace it. That carb is not cheap.

[warthog23]

Tap came in today and should get the screws sometime next week. Will keep you posted.

Baxter

[okieduc104]

Here is a part number for the pilot mixture screws from a Kawasaki FD671 (same engine and carb group) 23013-2065 Outdoor distributors in Ga. has them for $7.85

[warthog23]

okieduc,

I ordered the 23013-2063 and they do not fit. Too small of diameter on the threads. Are you sure of the 23013-2065 p/n?

[warthog23]

Attachment 43663

I have attached a picture of my original Mule 3010 idle mixture needle and one of the p/n 23013-2063 needles that I ordered. The short needle is the original w/ the larger diameter threaded portion. You can clearly see that there is no way to make the longer needle screws work with my carburetor.

Anyone have a workable solution?

Thanks in advance,
Baxter
Greenwell Springs, LA

[okieduc104]

I am not sure but from what I can see of your picture you have two different parts shown. Isn't the short one with the large threaded portion the idle PILOT JET and the one with the small thread and the long verticle grooved top the idle PILOT SCREW 23013-2065 In this picture of my carb the top set of brass plugs with the visable small center hole is the idle PILOT SCREW port and the lower set of brass plugged ports the idle PILOT JET ports. I may be wrong but that is what I understand from the FD 671 D service manual.

The idle pilot screw 23013-2065 as an assembly should have a coil spring below the threads and a plastic limiter cap on top that prevents the screw from accidently being adjusted more than a few degrees

[warthog23]

The screw you see in the top of my picture is the idle mixture screw and it came from beneath the two brass plugs that have the small hole you have shown in your carburetor picture. I did not show the springs or the limiter caps used by the replacement screw, pn 23013-2063.

[okieduc104]

Beats me

[RCW]

Interesting turn of events. I presume you have the carburetor threads chased. How badly is the old pilot air screw damaged?

As long as the needle section and the lower threads are in good shape, the drive slot can be recut and the old screw reused.

If it is not reusable, hit up your John Deere service manager, or any commercial mower shop, for an old carburetor for one of the mowers or a Gator with this same engine. Most have several laying around that were removed and replaced. Between the new and old carb and some creative parts swapping to get an undamaged body, you should be able to inexpensively work out a solution.

When you get the old carb do not attempt to disassemble it right away if there is any corrosion evident at all, but toss it in a bucket of 50:50 ATF and acetone, and let it soak a few days.

[warthog23]

I did not chase the threads until I had the screws in hand. The damaged screw is DOA as I had to have it drilled out to remove so I only have the one screw you see in the picture. I will give it a shot locally but does anyone have any resources that might be able to assist?

Many thanks,
Baxter
Greenwell Springs, LA

[okieduc104]

That number for a pilot screw 23013-2063 is one that was for a FD -761D or an FD-750D gasoline engine with a carb.engine with a plastic EPA limiter cap and could be adjusted without having to pull the brass plug once it is removed. the original part number according to the Kawasaki parts list for a 3010 E4 Mule (2004 year model) is a 23013-2061, you will have to replace the brass top plug, which is usually destroyed when it is pulled, or use some high temp grease to cover the top of the screw. The only pilot screw picture I have seen is the one in the manual for the 27 hp Kawasaki engine FD 750 which you can download after doing a Google search.

[warthog23]

Thanks okiduc,

My picture was of the 2063. Has anyone ordered the 2061 needles and do they look like the short one in my picture?

[okieduc104]

Thanks okiduc,

My picture was of the 2063. Has anyone ordered the 2061 needles and do they look like the short one in my picture?

Go to Kawasaki.com and look up the parts diagram for the 3010 carb. The pilot jet is part number 92064-2132 the pilot screw is 23013-2061. the parts diagram shows both sets of pilot jets and the pilot air screw, which adjusts the pilot fuel air mixture. screwing the screw into the port leans the mixture and screwing the screw out enriches the mixture. The pilot mixture screw and jet come into play when the throttle is almost closed and they furnish the fuel-air mixture for idleing.

[warthog23]

Okieduc,

I am not too sure about the screw pn 23013-2061. When looking at the diagram it does not seem to point to the location of the two mixture screws. Also, I have seen it online referred to as the carburetor stop/mixture screw. There is a screw in the general vicinity of the one depicted in the parts diagram that the throttle arm rests against. I am concerned that if I order the part that is the screw I will receive. Could someone please check me on this? Please don't get me wrong, I would LOVE for this to be the replacement part and my problems would be over.

Thanks for the help and concern,
Baxter

[okieduc104]

Baxter, didn't you say you lived 7 or 8 miles from a dealer that sells Kawasaki parts?
It may be worth a short drive with your carb in hand to check out what they know. I think that the 32013-2061 original screw sells for less than $5.00 at most places, the ones that have them in stock.