Hey guys,

I've been a member for a while now but this is my first post. In the past I've been able to find the answer to my questions with the search feature on here or through Google. This one just seems to not have been talked about at all. I'm ready to upgrade my MB 45mag with a new carb and heads. I have access to a mikuni CV carb and figured I could save myself a few hundred dollars. Has anyone tried these carbs on a surface drive? Am I wasting my time and should just go with the mikuni everyone else uses? Thanks in advance for any input!

I have seen others try this carb as well as others. The problem that you will run into, is the same prob we encountered when we swapped to these Kawasaki's. The carb adapter. If you have an adapter that the carb will mate up to, then your good, try it out. If not, then you have to search around for an adapter to get it to work, or do as we did and have a machine shop custom make one.

the CV carbs can be a good alternative provided it isn't too big and you can get it jetted close enough to work. they usually provide a decent idle along with improved low to mid range. depending on cam choice and the engine combination, sometimes they suffer in a performance application and don't provide the top end that a flat slide might. each application is different and you will only know if you try

Thanks for the input. Since I have one available for free I figure it can't hurt to give it a shot.there seem to be plenty of adapters out there for this carb since it's pretty common in the Harley world, I should be able to find one that works. I'm not trying to win any races just want my motor to run better. The stock carb sucks and being up here in Montana at around 3,000 feet elevation I can't seem to get it adjusted right. It has always loaded up and backfired through the exhaust and the slightest adjustment makes it backfire through the intake. I'm hoping to get a little better throttle response and get rid of the backfire problems.

The adapter issue is fitting it to your Briggs. Sure, there are lots of adapters for the carb side. Just don't be disappointed if you can't find something that matches the engine side pattern. Don't be discouraged though. You can find someone to build it.

sounds like you may have a little more going on than just carb issues. 3000 feet is not that much elevation and should require just a little leaner jetting than down here at sea level. if the carb is rich it shouldn't be backfiring thru the intake like a lean situation would suggest as unless it is way too lean and usually but not always a backfire thru the exhaust might indicate an ignition problem unless it is just doing it as you let off the throttle suddenly turning high rpm's.

Check for a tight valve also if you're having consistent backfiring issues too.