How to identify a zama carburetor

A manufacturer of carburettors for small engines, including gasoline-powered lawn equipment and chain saws, Zama bills itself as the "World's largest manufacturer of diaphragm carburettors for hand-held outdoor power products." Used by major names such as McCullough, Homelite and Ryobi, Zama carburettors are primarily designed for two-cycle and alternative fuel engines. Identification of Zama carburettors requires locating both the body type and model number, found in two separate locations on the carburettor.

Locate the Zama model number. According to both the Small Engine Advisor and the Zama Technical Guide, the model number is broken into two locations, with the body type number in one location and the model number normally stamped on the outside body of the carburettor. Due to the small size of Zama carburettors, the numbers are stamped where there is space, however, these are the only two codes found on the carburettor.

Identify the Zama carburettor type. The carburettor body number identifies the carburettor type. The major types of Zama carburettors include the C1M, C1Q, C1T, C1U, C3, C3A and the C3M. One of these designations will be stamped on the carburettor, thus identifying the carburettor type.

Reference the model number. The model number on Zama carburettors is usually a combination of two to four letters and numbers describing the particular application of the carburettor. The Stens Carburetor Repair Kit Application Chart is a detailed listing of carburettor applications according to the power tool manufacturer that the carburettor was designed for. According to the Stens listing, a Zama type C1U carburettor with the model number H10A was originally installed on a Homelite model ST-285 chain saw. This listing also contains model numbers from various carburettor manufacturers.