I’ve been working on a 1951 Sea King 5HP – same as a Gale 5D10. I just rebuilt/cleaned the carb and thoroughly cleaned and adjusted the leaf plates. This carb is held on by 6 or 7 bolts and when I tighten up the bolts and pull the rope start, the carb chirps like a bird. If I leave the bolts somewhat loose, the chirp goes away. Any ideas?
It’s probably air sucking through the leaf plates / reeds.
Perhaps normal for these models?
I’m working of an Atlas with the same power head,
but am no way near to the point of "pulling" mine over
to see if it sounds like a Chick-a-Dee.
Got the reeds & spacers & springs stacked up in the correct sequence?
Also, it sort of reminds me of a problem I’ve seen in the past where the studs / bolts / whatever were installed incorrectly, causing bending of the reed plate flange. I don’t remember all the exact details, but check it out.
Lastly, reeds are sometimes noisy, as already mentioned. Might be perfectly ok.
In looking at the service manual for the carb on the 5D10, it shows 2 spacers between the upper and lower reeds. Mine had only one. I had an extra 5D10 carb so I stole the spacers and added it to my rebuilt carb. It still makes some chirping, but a little less noticeable. Interestingly, the second carb had only one spacer between the upper and lower reeds also. I should also mention that there is no separate reed plate on this motor – the reeds are actually a part of the carb.
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