Car Work (Solex 34-3)

[Pete65]

Sorry supposed to be "Carb Work"

My 1600 came from the j-yard with the Solex 34-3 carb, which is OK by me. I'm wondering what steps I should take to clean up the carb and make sure it's in good working condition. How do I know when it is time to replace rather than just rebuild? Or is it even worth a rebuild?

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Project Farfrumwerekn http://www.geocities.com/farfrumwerken

[This message has been edited by Pete65 (edited 08-26-2002).]

[Mitch]

Man I have had no luck rebuilding 34pict3 carbs. I read somewhere that Volkswagen considered it a throw-a-way carb. Id chuck it for a new one.

[UncleBob]

Are you kidding? I'd take an old solex over a new Bocar any day. They are hearty carbs. Get some carb cleaner in the paint-size can, a rebuild kit, tear the thing apart, soak it, rinse it, blow it out with compressed air, and put it back together. In my opinion, new 34-picts are not as good as an old/stock solex. Pete, if you don't have luck rebuilding it, send it to me, do not pitch it!

[Pillow]

Heck yah, you can rebuilt it.

Just be sure to soak it good in the carb cleaner and blow it out with compressed air... You would not believe how much crud gets in those passages over the years.



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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino" - FS
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese" - FS

[Pete65]

Thanks guys, I was already leaning towards rebuilding it, but not exactly sure what this entails. Is this procedure covered in a manual or online page? Who makes the rebuild kits for this carb?

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Project Farfrumwerekn
http://www.geocities.com/farfrumwerken

[UncleBob]

I have never seen the actual procedure covered in a book or website, but it isn't difficult enough to warrant one, in my opinion. Here's a page to let you know what parts will come out of it: http://www.w-p-c.com/buggySolex.htm
Just tear the thing apart, laying out the small parts and remembering where they go. Soak the body of the carb in carb cleaner, and the jets and small parts in the carb cleaner basket. (Don't put rubber stuff in the cleaner!). After an hour, or a day depending on how dirty you think the carb was, pull it out, and rinse the body off with water. Get your compressor, and with the needle tip, blow through EVERY passage that the needle will get into. Both ways. Dry the carb body off good with the air, also. Put it back together. I squirt WD-40 on the small moving parts, and the float arm and fuel cutoff piston when putting them back together. It's really not that big a deal. You can do it, and you'll gain a knowledge of what the inside of a Solex looks like, and how it works. You'll be surprised just how simple it is. Good luck!
P.S., you can get rebuild kits anywhere. I think NAPA even carries them.

[UncleBob]

I get mine at Discount Auto Parts. But, I'm sure it can be had at any decent parts house. Do not buy the carb-cleaner in an aerosol can, only the good stuff in a gallon paint can. It comes with a neat little basket for the small parts, jets and stuff. It is reusable, and lasts a long time. Do not get it in your eye, and whatever you do, DO NOT spill it in your lap! You'll dance around, looking for something to dip (teabag) in. Don't ask.

[Pete65]

Thanks, I appreciate all the help. I would like to keep as much of the work as possible in our garage. It seems this is a job I can do.

As for the carb cleaner, do you buy that or can you mix it yourself?

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Project Farfrumwerekn
http://www.geocities.com/farfrumwerken

[vicsvw]

The VW carb is an orginized leak and can be rebuilt over and over. The only thing is striped threads and crackes. It takes some special skill when the throttle shaft is loose and sucking air. > http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/~carb.solex.htm and > http://www.1800vw.bizhosting.com/wontidle.htm