Chinese Carbs

[DaveDorson]

Alright Autoshite.

 

So I've decided that I'm going to get my hands on a set of 40 IDF weber clones from deepest darkest China, and see if they're quite as bad as the Internet would have us believe.

 

They're on their way to me now from a "UK Distributor" after they accepted my rather derisory offer for something that that would cost me about £300 to buy if they were 40 year old, worn out, Italian ones.

 

Once they arrive, I'll do some unboxing photo's, disassembly, and re-assembly, then hopefully get them on an engine and fire it up to see how it runs.  That's if I can secure myself a suitable engine to do so .

 

So in summary, I've paid good money, for a set of carbs for an engine I don't currently own, in order to see if they're any cop, even though the Internet is jam packed with people saying it's an awful idea.

 

For science...

 

 

 

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

I bought a pair of the lastest colour, not for sale in the UK 'Rider' flip flops from China once. Imagine my surprise when a pair of unbranded tennis sneakers in the wrong size turned up. Good luck 

[DaveDorson]

I bought a pair of the lastest colour, not for sale in the UK 'Rider' flip flops from China once. Imagine my surprise when a pair of unbranded tennis sneakers in the wrong size turned up. Good luck 

 

 

If I didn't do these things, who would?

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

Me... NOT ANY MORE!

[alcyonecorporation]

no

[oldcars]

My brother in law bought some headphones from China. Deet's by Doctor Bre they were called. He is now deaf. Good luck, will be interesting to see the outcome.

[GeordieInExile]

I thought about a cheap Chinese knock-off DIC when I needed one, as they were about 100 quid cheaper than a third party part from the UK...

 

Then I decided that would be a really silly thing to do and bought the UK part.

Chod speed, you'll need it!

[tooSavvy]

 

For science...

.... For me too!

 

*lh threaded jets + no progressive drillings for starters.

 

My AISIN carb accepts Mikuni 8mm jets (web lore opines)

[DodgeRover]

I've had bike carbs from China and they have been ok, tbh if the casting and drilling is ok then it's hard to see how they could be any different to the genuine article assuming they aren't made of cheese that distorts with heat.

 

What were you planning on fitting them too? A lot of people saying they are crap on the net probably just chucked them straight on without a thought for jetting etc.

[Jim Bell]

Im on the Atkins so I dont do Chinese carbs.

 

Just the chicken, pork and prawns.

[DaveDorson]

I've had bike carbs from China and they have been ok, tbh if the casting and drilling is ok then it's hard to see how they could be any different to the genuine article assuming they aren't made of cheese that distorts with heat.

 

What were you planning on fitting them too? A lot of people saying they are crap on the net probably just chucked them straight on without a thought for jetting etc.

 

I'll probably see if I can find a Porsche 914/VW Bay Windows Fuel Injection 1.7 engine.

 

I've always fancied converting one to upright cooling and stuffing it in the back end of a beetle.

[Peter C]

I got some cheap condoms from China via EBay. Bastard things were too big for me and kept slipping off.

[castros_bro]

I bought new carbs from Russia for my BMW* clone but I wish I'd bought new from China as they're better quality.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Well done for having a go. I've been looking at Chinese copied carbs for years and wondering how bad they can be... If I had problems with the carb on the Peugeot I'd think about chucking on a Chinese one while I overhauled the original... or I might not need to!

 

My experience of Chinese bicycle parts, audio stuff, guitars, etc is overwhelmingly positive given the price. People like to bad mouth them, but then they did that about Japanese kit in the 70s too. Now old Hondas Datsuns Pioneers and Technicss are classics. There's nothing inherently wrong with Chinese manufacture IMO, the main issue is probably that buying direct rather than through proper old-school dealers the backup is not so good, so quality control becomes more of an issue...

[Jim Bell]

Great lads, the chinese. They seem to make decent turbos in the pennyless prick price bracket so why not carbs?

 

Im looking forward to this a lot. Just a shame theres not gonna be a REAL McCOYs version for comparison.

[DaveDorson]

Great lads, the chinese. They seem to make decent turbos in the pennyless prick price bracket so why not carbs?

 

Im looking forward to this a lot. Just a shame theres not gonna be a REAL McCOYs version for comparison.

 

There might be a chance I can borrow some for comparison.

 

I'm going to do a strip and clean/inspection with a set of jet cleaners and gauges to see if they've got what they say they've got in them.

 

Of course if anyone here has a set of Italian or Spanish IDF's they'd be willing to let me use for comparison, I'm more than happy to use them as "props" and send them back.

[DodgeRover]

Are you going to try and push boost through them?

[tooSavvy]

Are you going to try and push boost through them?

Screw down the BOV... Your Chink 45s become 48s

[DaveDorson]

Are you going to try and push boost through them?

 

 

No, I don't really fancy the complication of adding boost and the associated oil feed and drain to something as inherently simple as an air cooled flat 4 engine.

 

I'm going to see if I can modify a CSP upright cooling kit to incorporate an upright installation of the Type IV oil cooler, so I can keep it as a nice tidy unit.  I find external hoses going to coolers and stuff a bit unsightly, as well as adding complexity to removal and refitting of the engine.

[AMC Rebel]

Do they do US ones?

[DaveDorson]

Do they do US ones?

To be honest I've not looked. What carb was fitted from the factory?

[somewhatfoolish]

Im on the Atkins so I dont do Chinese carbs.

 

Just the chicken, pork and prawns.

Mind you don't get egg-bound.

[AMC Rebel]

To be honest I've not looked. What carb was fitted from the factory?

  

2 Barell Holley or Motorcraft depending on year - I have one of each on basically the same engine.

[DaveDorson]

Update. Order confirmed and carbs are in transit.

[DaveDorson]

2 Barell Holley or Motorcraft depending on year - I have one of each on basically the same engine.

 

Depending on the model, Ali-Express throws up a few 2 barrel holley clones.

[Pillock]

Are original Webers or Dellortos expensive because of exotic materials and engineering, or because scene tax?

 

If the latter, then there's a good chance knockoffs will be fine.

[DodgeRover]

Delorto carbs have always been sought after in the off road bike world for there quality.

[DaveDorson]

Are original Webers or Dellortos expensive because of exotic materials and engineering, or because scene tax?

 

If the latter, then there's a good chance knockoffs will be fine.

They're expensive because VW people are still scared to adopt EFi and because they don't make them anymore. (Well they make Spanish Weber's, but apparently the Italian ones are better).

 

One of the guys in the VWDRC was making great power out of Empi HMPX carbs which is what I suspect my knock off carbs are with a different name stamped on them.

[DaveDorson]

Delorto carbs have always been sought after in the off road bike world for there quality.

Apparently they're making knock off delorto DRLAs now.

 

I always found Dels performed better than webers on air cooled engines.

[DaveDorson]

Apparently these will arrive this week.

 

Tracking tells me they're sorted for delivery, so lets see what's going to happen.

 

I've also had a chat with a friend over at a place in Kings Cliffe, Northants, who's got a rolling road and a set of Dellorto DRLA 40's that he's rebuilding for a customer's engine.

There's a chance we might even be able to do some comparison, and back to back testing on these.

 

A chance... nothing is set in stone.