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Solex Help

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by PierreDnepr, Jun 16, 2014.

  1. Jun 16, 2014
    PierreDnepr

    PierreDnepr Member

    Barrie Ontario
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2013
    Messages:
    218
    Hi,

    I replace my valve cover gasket and decided that at the same time that I may as well install my BRAND NEW "spare" Solex carburetor on my F134. The Jeep started OK with the choke on then let it warm up a bit at 1/2 choke. Close the choke then go a for a short dive and I didn't get to the bottom of my street and the jeep quit at a stop sign - completely flooded, smell gas etc etc... Waited for a while - got it started again with difficulty and return home to flood again as I was slowly bringing in the garage.

    I open the hood and it was leaking fuel in the choke area of the carburetor - I'm not sure if it is coming out of the choke or if it is the overflow on the float bowl (do they have one?). I'm completely loss on this issue - this is the second new Solex since I return the first one thinking it was defective due to the same symptoms. My old Solex is working OK but I think its in need of a rebuilt (runs too rich + a local mechanic told me he couldn't get it adjusted correctly?) because it runs I didn't want to goof around with it until I had a new one on.

    This is what I have:
    The old Solex was working OK but I believe it ran rich and a local mechanic told me he could not get it adjusted correctly.
    Timing set with a timing light at 5 BTDC
    Idle was checked with the old Solex on with a vacuum gauge. (didn't check with the new carb on)
    I have a pressure regulator with a gauge and its pressure shows 2 psi at the pump
    All valves were adjusted to spec about 2 weeks ago.
    No vacuum leaks - Engine was smoke tested + the old Solex ran decently.
    The gas line to the carb is tight not leaking

    I have to say that in the short drive --- the jeep ran better with the new one and seem to have more "pep", until I had to stop then it flooded at the street corner.

    Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks
     
  2. Jun 16, 2014
    tcfeet

    tcfeet Member

    east of west,...
    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    352
    Check your fuel pressure at the carb. They are suppose to operate on about 1 1/2 -2 lbs of pressure.
    Could be your fuel pump is too strong.
    I added a pressure regulator in front of my solex, and it works great... maybe your regulator is not
    working proper.
     
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2014
  3. Jun 16, 2014
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
    Messages:
    9,754
    I'm a Carter YF man, myself.

    But my understanding is that the Solex does not have a choke.
    The Solex enrichener circuit puts extra gas directly into the mix.

    Maybe that valve is leaking? (I had that happen on a Harley carb.)
     
  4. Jun 17, 2014
    PierreDnepr

    PierreDnepr Member

    Barrie Ontario
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2013
    Messages:
    218
    I'll try to lower the pressure some more but I was pretty near at the end of my adjustment range on my Holley fuel pressure regulator (rated 1 - 6 psi). What brand of fuel pressure regulator would you guys recommend?

    Peter - you are correct the Solex use an enricher and not a choke - however the carb is new + it's my second new unit with the same issue (although not as bad) - so at the moment I have to assume the carb is OK and there is a problem somewhere else that my old Solex may have "mask" due to its age.

    Could it be a flow issue? - pressure is one component but is there a possibility that a too high flow rate could cause this issue? or the float in the Solex would handle that.
     
  5. Jun 17, 2014
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    Pierre, have you seen this -

    http://cj3b.info/Tech/SolexTips.html

    May be of some help if you haven't.

    I myself replaced Tonk's "Frankencarb" (something that had been put together out of all the wrong parts) with a NOS Carter YF I got on Ebay (there's a guy in Turkey who has these up periodically).

    H.
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2014
  6. Jun 17, 2014
    PierreDnepr

    PierreDnepr Member

    Barrie Ontario
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2013
    Messages:
    218
    Yes I have seen these tips... a search on the internet on "solex and Flooding" and some people reported leaky floats - so that may be my problem?

    We are having bad weather right now - tomorrow I'll try to get it started then turn down the fuel pump a bit more (if I can). If that doesn't solve the problem then I'll dig the float out and replace it with the one from my re-build kit that was intended for my old Solex and see if that works.

    I tell you - I'm getting an expert in pulling the carb out. Will let you know how that goes.
     
  7. Jun 17, 2014
    SIDSCJ

    SIDSCJ Jeep addict

    14th State
    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2004
    Messages:
    1,189
    I have a Solex on my '56 and will say in warmer weather you may need it at startup, but within one minute

    I push the choke all the way off or it will stumble from being too rich, and will flood if left on too long.
    The "enrichener"dumps alot of fuel right down the throat, and if you have weak,sooty, or dirty plugs in your f-head I'm not surprised it floods.
    Less choke, more happy:p
     
  8. Jun 18, 2014
    PierreDnepr

    PierreDnepr Member

    Barrie Ontario
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2013
    Messages:
    218
    Hi,

    This is an update...

    I pull the NEW Solex out and put back my old one... got the motor idling OK, then I turn down the fuel pressure from the original 2 psi to between 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 psi. Then I work on the NEW Solex and this is what I found:

    1- the float didn't leak but the needle valve pin controlling the fuel flow in the float chamber was stuck
    2- the float was install sideways - the little tabs on the float were 90 degrees to the float toggle.
    3- the machine surface for the enricher is rough and shows tooling mark.
    4- the casting in general (specially in the throat) had a few burrs indicating poor manufacturing standard

    So I made sure the pin for the float bowl was working and the float was oriented properly. I also de-burr the throat with a 600 grit sand paper and I sanded the tool mark off the surface of the enricher even though I believe that it wasn't my problem - the float was. I re-installed the carb started the Jeep and install my vacuum gauge in order to adjust the volume control screw. This is when I found out that the thread was really badly cut - the screw was way out and I could not screw it back in by hand or using a small screwdriver. I took it off remove the spring and use WD40 for lubricant and work it in and out couple of time with a large screwdriver. Upon inspection the brass jet is not even round at the tip (off center a little). Anyhow, I did manage to get it adjusted to 18.5 - 19 on the vacuum gauge but the screw appear to be at the bottom already. Normally I should have at least 2 more turns to go.

    Anyhow, with the carb now adjusted more or less correctly I took the jeep on a drive. The new unit work better than my old one. I had to pump the gas at the street corner to avoid the jeep to "stumble" now I no longer have to do that. Plus the motor seems more peppy with the new carb.

    On the bad side, I am disappointed with the quality of this particular Solex unit - I definitely hope it was a "special" unit built on Monday morning and not indicative of the rest of the bunch. Plus the rough tread on the volume control screw worries me a bit in the long run.

    Hope I manage to help someone else with this update.
     
  9. Jun 18, 2014
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
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    2,327
    I have such carburetor Solex 32 PBIC on my cj5 F 134 and it works perfectly, I say it because all is working well now ... I had to clean it, clean the filters and specifically the accelerator pump, check the membrane and maybe it is broken. I repaired it with superglue or you get a new one.
    This is the problem n°1 and filter obstructed. This is easy to repair. Not useful to drive, you see immediately if the engine works well or not.
    There is only 4 screws on the accelerator pump, + 1 for the filter. 15 minutes to check and clean. Hope that will be enough, if it is the same carburetor, in use on many cars.

    http://ma203de1956.over-blog.com/article-1355926.html

    http://www.jeepsudest.com/boutique/...5-carburateur-type-solex-32-pbic-neuf-joints/
     
  10. Jun 18, 2014
    PierreDnepr

    PierreDnepr Member

    Barrie Ontario
    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2013
    Messages:
    218
    Bonjour Alan

    Maintenant que j'ai le nouveau carburateur installé, je vais démonter et nettoyer l'ancien et l'utiliser comme pièce de rechange.

    j'espère que tous vas bien en France.

    Pierre

    (Now that I have the new unit installed I will diassemble, clean and use the old one for spare

    Hope all is well in France)
     
  11. Jun 18, 2014
    tcfeet

    tcfeet Member

    east of west,...
    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    352
    Say what?? Glad you got the problem solved and appreciate the follow-up.
     
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