It's easy to start some things and get in way over your head.  Rebuilding your carburetor doesn't have to be one of them.

Getting the parts is easy. Comprehensive kits range from $25-$90 and come with detailed instructions. The hard part is keeping track of all the pieces while you're stripping the carb down and remembering where they go for reassembly. Taking pictures from all angles while the carb is fully assembled can really save your posterior.

The process of cleaning all those parts has become considerably faster with a product we've used for years, Gunk's CC3K Carburetor and Parts Dip. For around $25 you get a gallon container with reusable solvent and a dipping basket. It's self-contained so clean up is easy and works surprisingly well.

With hundreds of different styles and manufacturers of carburetors, it's impossible to go into details here, but there are a variety of books and websites that walk you through the process of rebuilding or modifying your carb for greater performance.

So why not find a guide, pick up a kit, and give it a try?