How to Identify a Zama Carburetor

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

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 carburetor. Due to the small size of Zama carburetors, the numbers are stamped where there is space, however, these are the only two codes found on the carburetor.

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

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