A carburetor rebuild is one of the best ways to restore crisp throttle response, cleaner idle quality, and dependable fuel control on a legacy Mercury / Mariner V6 two-stroke. This Mercury WH Full Carburetor Gasket, Needle & Seat Rebuild Kit 1395-6452 is the core service kit for many WH-series carburetors originally used on 2.0L and 2.4L V6 outboards, including early Black Max, XR2, and XR4 engines.
 
Buckshot Racing #77 also notes that these carbs are still widely used today on rebuilt 2.5L fishing engines and in competition applications such as drag racing, USF1, and APBA F200 race powerheads.
 
This rebuild kit services one carburetor. On a Mercury V6 with three carbs, three kits are required to rebuild the full carb bank. Buckshot Racing #77 also offers an exploded diagram reference with the kit, which is useful during teardown and reassembly.
 
What this kit includes
This WH rebuild kit includes the core service parts needed to refresh one carburetor, including the gaskets, seals, and needle-and-seat assembly required for a standard rebuild. Buckshot Racing #77 identifies it as the essential service foundation for keeping WH carburetors in service now that many original Mercury kits are discontinued.
 
WH carburetor models covered
Buckshot Racing #77 lists this kit as fitting a broad range of WH-series carburetors, including WH-2, WH-3, WH-7, WH-12, WH-14, WH-15, WH-18, WH-20, WH-21, WH-22, WH-23, WH-26, WH-27, WH-28, WH-29, WH-31, WH-35, WH-38, WH-39, WH-40, WH-46, and WH-48.
 
Common Mercury / Mariner engines and model names
These WH carburetors were originally fitted to many 2.0L and 2.4L V6 two-stroke outboards, including early Black Max 150 and 175 HP, XR2 150, XR4 150, early 200 HP and 220 HP V6 engines, and Bridgeport 2.4L models.
 
WH carburetors continue to be used on 2.5L fishing engines and in race powerheads for drag racing, USF1, and APBA F200.
 
Aftermarket interchange listings further tie this kit family to Mercury / Mariner V135, V150, V175, V200, V225, XR2, and XR4 carbureted applications, which lines-up with the traditional WH carb years and model families.
 
Because Mercury carburetor swaps are common, the safest way to confirm fitment is to match the WH carb number and the kit part number, not just the horsepower decal on the cowl. That is especially important on engines that have been rebuilt or converted over the years.
 
Part numbers and cross-references
This WH carburetor rebuild kit is commonly cross-referenced to the following part numbers:
Mercury / Quicksilver: 1395-6026, 1395-6452, 1395-6452B, Sierra: 18-7005

Additional interchange numbers commonly shown in aftermarket listings include 1395-7824, 1395-7824B, 1395-7824B1, 1395-8506, 18-7233, 40420 / 40620, 9-37300, 1136, and 600-10.
 
Why float height + passage cleaning matter
A rebuild kit only works as well as the rebuild itself. On a WH carburetor, setting float height correctly is critical because fuel level directly affects idle quality, throttle response, and mixture consistency.
 
Buckshot Racing #77 recommends setting float height with the carburetor inverted and matching all three carburetors within .020 inch of each other. Even small differences can create noticeable fueling imbalance between cylinders.
 
It is just as important to clean every small passageway thoroughly during the rebuild. Idle circuits, transfer passages, and small drilled passages can hold varnish and debris even when the carburetor looks clean from the outside. Buckshot Racing #77 specifically recommends careful passage cleaning as part of the rebuild process. Helpful guides on setting float height and WH carb rebuilding can be found in the Buckshot Racing #77 Tech Hub (blog).
 
Why the needle and seat matter
The needle and seat control fuel entry into the bowl. If they are worn, dirty, or varnished, the carburetor can flood, leak, or meter fuel inconsistently. That can show up as hard starting, poor idle, midrange surging, fuel seepage, or starvation at sustained RPM. Replacing the needle and seat during the rebuild addresses one of the most common wear points in an older WH carburetor.
 
Helpful rebuild note
A rebuild kit restores seals and core service parts, but it does not fix a carb body that is warped, corroded, or physically damaged. Clean every passage thoroughly, inspect the float and bowl condition, confirm the exact WH number, and set the float height correctly before reassembly. On a Mercury V6 with three carbs, it is also smart to rebuild all three together so fuel delivery stays consistent bank to bank.
 
Final take
If you are servicing a Mercury / Mariner V6 WH carburetor, this rebuild kit is the correct service family for many 2.0L and 2.4L carbureted two-stroke outboards and many later WH-based conversions and race builds. It is commonly identified by 1395-6452, 1395-6026, 1395-6452B, and 18-7005, and it fits a wide range of WH carb numbers from WH-2 through WH-48 depending on the application.
 
Matching the carb number first—and then taking the time to set float height correctly and clean every small passage—is the best way to get a successful rebuild.
 
For detailed advice, racer-level setup insights, or questions on jetting, contact Mike Hill at +1-714-697-1716 or mike@buckshotracing77.com.