Atomic Stevedore restrictor

[Mark Smith]

Any tips on how to remove the restrictor in the intake manifold? I don't have much access room, but the ring feels like it's pressed into place. I tried prying with a large screwdriver, but this wasn't successful, and I'm afraid to pry too hard for fear of breaking something or bunging up the intake. I suppose I could carefully saw thru one side of the ring, which should loosen it up enough to pry out, but there isn't much working room. Alternatively, I could fashion a C-shaped tool which will hook onto the inside of the ring, then hammer down onto the other end of the C.

[Don Moyer]

Mark,

I've only removed a couple of restrictors, and only during the course of a rebuild, in which case the manifold was in front of me on my work bench. I was able to pry one restrictor out with a large screwdriver, but I had to saw through the other one to get it to yield (as you're suggesting). The big problem, as you're finding out, is that the rounded shape of the rascal doesn't give you much of a ledge on top on which to grab, even if you fashioned some kind of pulling tool.

I don't know what kind of boat you have, or the condition of the exhaust flange bolts, but you may be better off removing the manifold and getting it in to your shop.

By way of encouragement, as you continue your struggle, these restrictors cause a venturi effect that can (when weather conditions are right) result in a lot of moisture being created and fed into the combustion chambers. We have one documented case in Southern California where water was seen to be dripping off the outside of the carburetor, vaporizing slightly out of the exhaust, and (most surprisingly) a small amount of water was showing up in the oil (documented by spectrographic oil analysis). In point of fact, it was the evidence of water in the oil that brought the whole issue to our attention. It was the later report of water dripping off the carburetor that led us to suspect that there may be a restrictor in the manifold. When the restrictor was removed, all the symptoms of water intrusion disappeared.

Best regards,

Don Moyer