[Patrick L.]

I spent a lot of time in years past cleaning carburetors, carburetors of all sorts. I don't think its too much of an issue today.
It does seem to be a pretty big topic here though. Once a carburetor is properly cleaned and adjusted they should bullet-proof for along time.
As for an 'A' carb, whatever type it is, I run different ones at different times just for the heck of it. An 'A' is an 'A', they don't much care. In mine I run all the old stale gas I have hanging around from the mowers, weedeaters, outboards, chainsaws, etc. It doesn't care. But, I do use non-ethanol in those engines. When I pull in to a station for fuel with the 'A' I use the cheap ethanol stuff, there isn't much that can hurt our carburetors.
I'm one that uses an air filter and an in-line fuel filter.