Carb Chaos
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- dwt25
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Carb Chaos
Hi . Been pulling may hair out over this.
Got a 2lt air cooled standard engine. ( 1981). When starting from cold, runs for approx 20 seconds then cuts out. I have good sparks, it seems to be petrol starvation.
However; If I take of the fuel hose off at the carb and turn the engine over, it pumps fuel out. Yet there seems to be no fuel in the carb. So I put a thimble full of petrol in the carb and it fires ok and runs . Stop the engine and it starts fine and run fine.Took for a drive, all ok.
Next day, same again. Start for 20 seconds, then cut out. No fuel in the carbs again, put fuel into carb, fires ok and runs.
And the next day, same again...
Any body got any ideas ?
Regards
Dave
Got a 2lt air cooled standard engine. ( 1981). When starting from cold, runs for approx 20 seconds then cuts out. I have good sparks, it seems to be petrol starvation.
However; If I take of the fuel hose off at the carb and turn the engine over, it pumps fuel out. Yet there seems to be no fuel in the carb. So I put a thimble full of petrol in the carb and it fires ok and runs . Stop the engine and it starts fine and run fine.Took for a drive, all ok.
Next day, same again. Start for 20 seconds, then cut out. No fuel in the carbs again, put fuel into carb, fires ok and runs.
And the next day, same again...
Any body got any ideas ?
Regards
Dave
Kind Regards
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
- BOXY
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Re: Carb Chaos
When it's cold where are the choke flaps sitting? Open or closed? Do the choke flaps move once it's warmed up?
2ltr Aircooled CU with twin Solex's & originally a 009 dizzie, but now back to standard.
- dwt25
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Re: Carb Chaos
The flaps are closed when cold and open when warm.BOXY wrote:When it's cold where are the choke flaps sitting? Open or closed? Do the choke flaps move once it's warmed up?
The Carburettor is a Solex- marked as 32-84 PDSIT-3.
Looking on other posts, it seems to be pushing towards a gunked up fuel cell chamber in the carb. Which will need a complete overhaul ? Sounds expensive.
Kind Regards
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
- Ian Hulley
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Re: Carb Chaos
I'd try a can of carb cleaner first, squirted down the barrel as someone presses the pedal ..... certainly the cheaper option.
Ian
Ian
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
- BOXY
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Re: Carb Chaos
Check all the electrical connections on the carbs. If you switch the ignition on and pull each connection off and on you should hear each solenoid click. Being a twin carb even if one was a bit manky the engine would still try to limp on two cylinders. The fact it runs after a splash of petrol down the carbs makes it difficult to see how dirt in the carb is the problem?
2ltr Aircooled CU with twin Solex's & originally a 009 dizzie, but now back to standard.
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Re: Carb Chaos
I would go along the lines of this ^^^ you could well find that the needle is sticking shut..kevtherev wrote:float stuck shut?
Mmm what's that strange smell from my exhaust...
- Ian Hulley
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Re: Carb Chaos
Just a word of warning to all those planning to 'splash petrol into the carb' one of our former managers ended up in intensive care having done just this and it spat it back out and turned his upper body into a creme broulet ... TINY bit of petrol ... TINY.
Ian
Ian
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure
- ghost123uk
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Re: Carb Chaos
Ian Hulley wrote:Just a word of warning to all those planning to 'splash petrol into the carb' one of our former managers ended up in intensive care having done just this and it spat it back out and turned his upper body into a creme broulet ... TINY bit of petrol ... TINY.
Ian
Agreed and have a fire extinguisher or at least a wet towel to hand.
No injury resulted but I too have seen an Aircooled VW go on fire after this experiment.
Not that it is a bad test, it is very useful, just take care

Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here
Re: Carb Chaos
I was getting a similar problem. Van would tick over as long as I kept my foot on accelerator, would cut out if I stopped in traffic or at lights e.t.c. Long story short, the vaccum pipe from air intake to bottom of carb had come off. The rubber connector was gone so until I get a new one, the outer casing of electrical cable is doing the job superbly at the moment.
Never sure where I'm going till i get there.
- dwt25
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Re: Carb Chaos
Thanks Guys.
I have alot of things to try.
Another suggestion I have had is to change the manual fuel pump and rod. But these are no obsolete. Any suggestions there ?
I found this website that has atlernative manual pumps.
http://www.deimosaircooled.com/products ... fAodqnfy6g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I have alot of things to try.
Another suggestion I have had is to change the manual fuel pump and rod. But these are no obsolete. Any suggestions there ?
I found this website that has atlernative manual pumps.
http://www.deimosaircooled.com/products ... fAodqnfy6g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Kind Regards
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
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Re: Carb Chaos
All due respects to all the advice you have received, however i have found after months and months of pulling my hair out and trying various avenues that i had to just bite the bullet and get the Carb refurbed.
Van is sweet (as now im at peace lol) i could forward the details of a well respected guy whom most would agree is very knowledgeable & helpful.
Van is sweet (as now im at peace lol) i could forward the details of a well respected guy whom most would agree is very knowledgeable & helpful.
I have a 1.9 DG Petrol Watercooled Panel Van 1990 ... that im starting to believe has issues!!!!
- dwt25
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Re: Carb Chaos
Yes please, as I am now quite bald !Novice in need wrote:All due respects to all the advice you have received, however i have found after months and months of pulling my hair out and trying various avenues that i had to just bite the bullet and get the Carb refurbed.
Van is sweet (as now im at peace lol) i could forward the details of a well respected guy whom most would agree is very knowledgeable & helpful.
Kind Regards
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
- CovKid
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Re: Carb Chaos
A refurb consists of gasket kits and having the throttle shafts and bushes sorted. Many on here have sent theirs to Roger Ball in Clacton (in the phone book), Totlands Drive. Hes been doing them close to 20 years and willl rebush the throttle flaps mail order - you fit the gaskets. Job done. He does almost any carb but knows the v-dub ones well including the Solex's fitted to bugs and bays.
More about him here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... _Air_leaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
More about him here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... _Air_leaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Roller paint your camper at home: http://roller.epizy.com/55554/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for MP4 download.
- dwt25
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- 80-90 Mem No: 10378
- Location: Norwich,Norfolk
Re: Carb Chaos
Cheers.CovKid wrote:A refurb consists of gasket kits and having the throttle shafts and bushes sorted. Many on here have sent theirs to Roger Ball in Clacton (in the phone book), Totlands Drive. Hes been doing them close to 20 years and willl rebush the throttle flaps mail order - you fit the gaskets. Job done. He does almost any carb but knows the v-dub ones well including the Solex's fitted to bugs and bays.
More about him here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... _Air_leaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kind Regards
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.
David W
Proud owner of 'Berty'
1981 2l air cooled, twin slider, Bus.