Autochoke FAIL. Now What?

[Guest]

Right. The Solex autochoke carb on the 305 is royally pissing me off.

 

After doing yet more work to it and having the STOE and SCTSH_ANDY fit a 'new' carb (which turned out to be slightly different) it's up to its old tricks again, i.e. overfuelling like a bastard, flooding itself and then refusing point blank to start again unless you pin the throttle down to the stop. At that point the engine grumbles into life, revs very slowly and runs on two if it feels like it before cutting out fucking MAFTING of petrol.

 

I had considered rebuild kits but I've decided the Solexes are fundamentally shit and no amount of tweaking and fannying around is going to change that. After trudging round eBay.fr and Leboncoin, I've discovered this:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220722577196&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1072wt_905

 

Yes yes yes, I realise it's still an autochoke, but this is a Weber, and probably stands less chance of shitting itself up like a petrol dog with the squits. The cheeky git of a seller has it up for 20 euros more on leboncoin than he does on eBay, but he can include the fuel pipes as well. Do we think it's worth me trying this, or should I try and seek out a manual twin choke and an adaptor plate. If the latter is better, where the fuck do I find such a thing?

 

This whole carburettor thing is temporary anyway - I've got a much better engine waiting on the stocks....

[Des]

I think I know that carb, with the black plastic box on the side, my memory's fuzzy but if so that box is a sort of a vacuum chamber, needs to be free of leaks, and it should be giving a suck job to the pull off valve, little diaphragm thing that yanks on the choke flap once the engine's running, so as to prevent the spluttery overfuelling diarrhea, there was a tool for setting up the choke, little metal block on a chain about an inch long with a bit sticking out of it, not going to be easy to find one so trial and error time. I'm fairly sure there was an adjustment for the pull off, maybe by screwdriver, could even be an adjustment to restrict travel of the valve, or I could be thinking of a completely different carb, I need the thing my hand, and the carb fnarr fnarr.

[Cavcraft]

If a BX one will do the job it'd be worth posting a 'wanted' ad on BXC Jon. Would you need the manifold as well though as certainly on old Fords the Weber and the Ford sourced junk use different ones?

[Pete-M]

If a BX one will do the job it'd be worth posting a 'wanted' ad on BXC Jon. Would you need the manifold as well though as certainly on old Fords the Weber and the Ford sourced junk use different ones?

 

It's a BX one that we fitted to it... which is causing him a world of pain. Old Ford Weber twin chokes are ace - the one on my Mk2 worked after 16 years sitting in a shed.

[mattblack]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MANUAL-CHOKE- ... 53e738ee22

[Cavcraft]

Excuse my ignorance but could a twin choke Weber intended for a 1.6 Ford be persuaded on instead? If so pm me please.

[M'coli]

My wife's 309 had a Weber carb like that one, it shouldn't need a manifold change to work. Have you checked whether the autochoke works? Boil a kettle, disconnect the hoses, shove another hose on with a funnel at one end, put some leather gloves on and pour the hot water into the funnel - it should open the choke.

[sporty-shite]

Just thinking out loud, here, but will you be running the secret new engine on carbs or injection?

 

If you're going to inject it, would it be worth doing some of the groundwork now, by fitting 205 GTi or similar injection to this engine?

 

Just a thought, like.

[Guest]

Just thinking out loud, here, but will you be running the secret new engine on carbs or injection?

 

If you're going to inject it, would it be worth doing some of the groundwork now, by fitting 205 GTi or similar injection to this engine?

 

Just a thought, like.

 

Special engine uses Motronic and multi point fool injection. One-six 205s I believe are single point K-Jet. Tis a nice idea but may not be worth it.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Can you get a single point K-jet? I think all 205GTi's have multipoint EFi. Some 405 1.8's have got a single point injection arrangement I think.

 

An injection conversion would make a lot of sense, could end up quite involved if you have to accomodate knock sensors and the like though where there were none previously.

[dollywobbler]

Three letters for the Autoshite win. X. U. D. Preferably a 1.7 non-turbo. Sorted.

[garethj]

I'll put forward the keep it simple idea.

 

If it's overfuelling, get it running, coughing and farting but warm so it's off choke. Take the top off the air filter and see if the choke butterfly is fully open or not. If not, see if it's possible to pull out the linkage pin so you can fully open the choke butterfly. How does it run now?

 

Once the choke is fully open you can take the top off and check if the float has got a leak or a dent, some carbs are quite sensitive to the float height. Most carb rebuild kits come with a new float anyway.

 

I had a Weber autochoke carb on my Ginetta and it was alright after a very thorough clean. But starting the engine after half an hour meant it wasn't sure if the choke should be on or not.

 

I've had quite a few cars with Solex carbs, and while they're never the last word in performance, I haven't had one that's buggered or stopped the car from running.

[alf892]

looks like the simple idea is the way to go.......

 

but if you are feeling flush webcon can still sell you a new one to bolt straight on..................just under £300 retail though

[Guest]

looks like the simple idea is the way to go.......

 

but if you are feeling flush webcon can still sell you a new one to bolt straight on..................just under £300 retail though

 

The entire car cost me £206. Good to know though.

[warren t claim]

Megasquirt or a bank of four bike carbs FTW!

[Guest]

Megasquirt or a bank of four bike carbs FTW!

 

To go with my pineapple trainers?

[Shep Shepherd]

Could you not bodge in the K-Jetronic fuel injection set-up from a 205 GTi or similar?

[Guest]

Could you not bodge in the K-Jetronic fuel injection set-up from a 205 GTi or similar?

 

Yeah but then when I put this other engine in it'll have to come out again. Plus I'd need a different fuel pump, swirl pots, sensors blah blah blah - try finding a GTI kid willing to give up a K-Jetronic for less than £100.

 

If I was keeping the existing engine then it's a route I would definitely consider. But the original engine isn't staying, because it's pissing me off and there's fun to be had with the rest of the car. I just want the fucking thing to run for a bit while I sort things out, and grafting in some fuel injection is just too much of an arseache.

[Shep Shepherd]

Fair dos. I look forward to seeing which new engine you put in the car

[Guest]

Fair dos. I look forward to seeing which new engine you put in the car

 

It's a magic one, made from the shit filled ground down remains of brand new Vauxhall Astras.

[Futuramic]

It's summer. Without seeming flippant; why not disconnect the auto choke pull down? This should jam it closed and leave the car running choke free. In warm conditions a few squirts from the accelerator pump should be enough for initial starting. That's if it is the choke.

[Guest]

It's summer. Without seeming flippant; why not disconnect the auto choke pull down? This should jam it closed and leave the car running choke free. In warm conditions a few squirts from the accelerator pump should be enough for initial starting. That's if it is the choke.

 

Will give that a go - cheers.

[Guest Len H]

I think an XUD9T in a 305 would be my dream combination, even a straight XUD9 would be decent enough.

But you should stick a 1357cc diesel out of a 304 in it for the contrary AUTOSHITE LULZ.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I had an issue like this with the mother of all Solex wankfests - the four barrell 4A1 as fitted to an X reg 320. It pissed about, chugged, fouled pugs and flooded until I just removed the choke flaps. Three pumps on the pedal and it starts, takes about 2-3 minutes to warm up and it's better on fuel. Could be a bastard in the winter, but it's not winter yet.

[Minimad5]

Yo Jon,

 

Billy gave me a carb to give to you .... so HOLLA when you're free and we can arrange fitment and so on of carb'

Fingers crossed it will atleast sort one problem