Club 80-90 Forums

Right having done breaks, flexi hoses, cv joints the last thing on the MOT failure list was emissions. The van has the original solex twin pict 4 carbs. It's not idling at all well and sounds like it's slightly missfiring. Anyway took ot over to a vw garage. Guys supposedly expert in tuning Aircooled. Hehad an afternoon with it and said theres no hope, they will need replacing. To me whatever he's done it still doesn't sound right so I drop it in the garage for a pre emissions test. Showing up 8.5% CO and 4700 HC level. I was too the limit is 3.5 % and 2500.


So my question is. Is it worth persisting with carbs. Or do I replace?

Thoughts experiences?

Sorry to hear that. I think the first thing I would do is to renew oil, filter and air filter then take it back for another emissions test to see what difference is.
sole carbs can be refurbished easily enough just need someone competent to set them up

Changing the oil worked for my dg.

Had new oil and filter. But running rich. Finding someone who's an expert on these carbs is proving difficult.
Problem with refurbishing them is that doesn't guarantee they will work?

lefty67 wrote:Sorry to hear that. I think the first thing I would do is to renew oil, filter and air filter then take it back for another emissions test to see what difference is.
sole carbs can be refurbished easily enough just need someone competent to set them up

High CO and HC content, is a misfire.
I would not be throwing the blame at the carbs until I had eliminated all of the possibilities that could cause that.

plug gap
HT leads (check for tracking too)
Cap
Arm
Timing
Vacuum leak at the inlet manifold, or hoses connected to it
Low or uneven compression
Crankcase ventilation hoses
coil

I don't think I'm in a position to do this myself. Is it worth trying this myself or is this one a specialist? If so can anyone recommend someone near reading

kevtherev wrote:High CO and HC content, is a misfire.
I would not be throwing the blame at the carbs until I had eliminated all of the possibilities that could cause that.

plug gap
HT leads (check for tracking too)
Cap
Arm
Timing
Vacuum leak at the inlet manifold, or hoses connected to it
Low or uneven compression
Crankcase ventilation hoses
coil

Hello,

Tuning the Solex pdsit carbs is not rocket science..

Here is before :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qayyc9Z4E0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and after:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfo5ATgBp0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Emission can be an issue, you need to get the carbs set up to minimum rich.. to pass the test..then retune to suit your taste..

Here is how:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=najLc9GlLJ0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry I can't help directly.. it's a bit far..

I hope this helps..

Cordialement..

ok well I guess I give it a go. Not rocket science you say... We'll see

sarran1955 wrote:Hello,

Thank you for your help.
Tuning the Solex pdsit carbs is not rocket science..

Here is before :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qayyc9Z4E0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and after:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfo5ATgBp0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Emission can be an issue, you need to get the carbs set up to minimum rich.. to pass the test..then retune to suit your taste..

Here is how:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=najLc9GlLJ0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry I can't help directly.. it's a bit far..

I hope this helps..

Cordialement..

Kevtherev ... Gonna give this a go.

Could you possibly explain a bit more by what you wrote? Plug gap? HT leads change them? Tracking? Cap and arm look ok. As in the contacts. How do I time this type of engine? I have a strobe for my which I've used on a type1 before. Is it the same?

kevtherev wrote:High CO and HC content, is a misfire.
I would not be throwing the blame at the carbs until I had eliminated all of the possibilities that could cause that. How do I check the rest?

plug gap
HT leads (check for tracking too)
Cap
Arm
Timing
Vacuum leak at the inlet manifold, or hoses connected to it
Low or uneven compression
Crankcase ventilation hoses
coil

burnzdog wrote:Kevtherev ... Gonna give this a go.

Could you possibly explain a bit more by what you wrote? Plug gap? HT leads change them? Tracking? Cap and arm look ok. As in the contacts. How do I time this type of engine? I have a strobe for my which I've used on a type1 before. Is it the same?

kevtherev wrote:High CO and HC content, is a misfire.
I would not be throwing the blame at the carbs until I had eliminated all of the possibilities that could cause that. How do I check the rest?

plug gap
HT leads (check for tracking too)
Cap
Arm
Timing
Vacuum leak at the inlet manifold, or hoses connected to it
Low or uneven compression
Crankcase ventilation hoses
coil

If you have a Haynes manual all the above is explained fully, how to's etc.
Most of the above should be routinely changed.
Plug gap is the spark plug electrode gap.
HT leads, are the leads that run from the distributor.
Cap, distributor cap easily changed
Arm, rotor arm again easily changed
Timing, is checked with a strobe timing gun. (Haynes)
Vacuum leaks should be searched for with carb cleaner.
Coil, is it the correct coil?
Tracking, is the spark pulse from the distributor jumping from the lead or lead cap to the engine case, metal lead caps tend to do this and old leads with cracked insulation

You don't say which engine this is but it's a guess at a CU?

Apologies yes its a CU. I have a manual so i will start from the top. thanks

kevtherev wrote:You don't say which engine this is but it's a guess at a CU?

Hi, before I attempt this. There's something I need to understand about these carbs before I lose hours trying to understand them. Is it a possibility that the carbs are in a condition that they are untunable, and no matter what I do they will never work. If so, how do I check this first. I really dont want to spend hours rebuilding them if they are already shot.

Does that make sense?

sarran1955 wrote:Hello,

Tuning the Solex pdsit carbs is not rocket science..

Here is before :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qayyc9Z4E0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and after:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfo5ATgBp0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Emission can be an issue, you need to get the carbs set up to minimum rich.. to pass the test..then retune to suit your taste..

Here is how:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=najLc9GlLJ0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry I can't help directly.. it's a bit far..

I hope this helps..

Cordialement..

The carbs you saw in the first 2 vids were absolutely falling to bits.. much like the engine (CJ) when it arrived...

The motor was sold on here recently..(Pistachio)..still going strong..

OK so rocket science starts with a blue touch paper..

Costs were negligible..

You can't get more out of a closed system than you put in....

So the more effort you put in .. the more fun you get out..

Get it fixed and come here on holiday.. and I'll give you a free tune up!!

Aircooled bliss..

Cordialement,



Cordialement..

Evening,

So Ive had a look at the carbs this evening. As i begun to dismantle I think Ive found the first problem. The carb on the right has a loose butterfly (is it called that?) the car on the left when i push it down it springs back and closes. The carb on the right is open and has no resistance. I assume this is the problem?

Please check the link to see a short uploaded video.

https://plus.google.com/photos/10927005 ... 3276293793" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Also noticed a screw missing on the left card inner side.

sarran1955 wrote:The carbs you saw in the first 2 vids were absolutely falling to bits.. much like the engine (CJ) when it arrived...

The motor was sold on here recently..(Pistachio)..still going strong..

OK so rocket science starts with a blue touch paper..

Costs were negligible..

You can't get more out of a closed system than you put in....

So the more effort you put in .. the more fun you get out..

Get it fixed and come here on holiday.. and I'll give you a free tune up!!

Aircooled bliss..

Cordialement,



Cordialement..