In the process of cleaning the carburetor on my Tecumseh engine (Craftsman mower), it became apparent that several parts had deteriorated. The needle seat had begun breaking into bits and had to be replaced. Once that was done and the carb was completely cleaned I noticed little bits of black rubber or plastic everywhere. I looked up into the place where the main jet screws into through the outside of the bowl. There was what appeared to be a deteriorating rubber o-ring that was dropping bits of rubber everywhere. I placed a toothpick into what was left of the o-ring and a plastic tube fell out of the carburetor. I'm afraid that this is what people say not to remove from the carburetor because it is pressed in place. If so, my carburetor is shot because the o-ring had completely deteriorated. Is there anything I can do other that buying a new carburetor?