cold start issues w/ solex (manual choke)

[Guest Anonymous]

I recently bought a 68 or 69 '02 with the original Solex carb, manual choke. The car runs pretty well when it's warmed up, but getting it started when it's cold, particularly if it's cold outside (below 50), is a bitch. It usually takes a number of cranks, working the choke from off to full on, to get it to fire and stay running. It will crank only for a couple of cranks. Then start sputtering for a couple of cranks. Then catch and run and die a few times. Then finally catch and run under full choke. Hitting the accelarator pedal at anytime always kills it.

I'm planning on pulling the carb and doing a basic rebuild, but am curious if anyone recognizes these symptoms and can tell me what to look out for?

tia

dug

[Guest Anonymous]

How do the plugs look?

[Guest Anonymous]

-check for fouled plugs. Make sure the plug wire ends (Beru ends) are tight and the contacts in the ends are not cracked off or broken.

-make sure the battery is holding a full charge and connections are clean at the starter.

-take a look inside the aircleaner. Does the carb throat look black and dirty? Shoot some carb cleaner in there and get it clean. Sometimes the air correction jet visible through the carb throat gets gunked up. Check the idle air jet on the right side of the carb body (intake side in the middle) shoot some carb clean on it, they can get gunked up too.

- If you have an inline fuel filter before the fuel pump look for grains of crap in it and replace as necessary. Might be a bad batch of gas or some crap from the tank got sucked into the carb and is stuck.

- Remove the bowl drain plug and drain out the carb, look for any crap that might have come out, shoot some cleaner in there, but the plug back on and try it again.

- The intake air pre-heater that usually gets taken off and thrown away really does help the old single-barrel solex's in cold weather. My 1600 warms up faster and stronger in < 40 degree F ambient temp weather with the preheater set to the winter position. > 45 degree F ambient temp, I would set it in the summer position.

-The single barrel solexes have more lives than most cats until the throttle shaft gets wear. Might just need to take it apart, clean and reseal.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

[Guest Anonymous]

I'll double check the plugs tomorrow morning. I pulled them to test the compression before i bought the car and they looked good, so I don't think that's the root of the problem. I set the intake to re-circulate (as opposed to grab the fresh air from the front), but it doesn't seem to have helped much. This weekend I'll actually get into the carb and further investigate. Thanks very much for the suggestions! I will update in a few days.

[Guest Anonymous]

As the other's said if the motor is in tune and spark plug's and wires are fresh the single solex is a wonderful carb. Once the shaft is worn though it will cause you troubles. Keep us posted! (a '68 1600)

[Guest Anonymous]

The carb base is a separate part from the float chamber assy; you should be able to find a decent one from a parts car. Mine has over 200k and isn't worn enough yet to cause problems.

Most of the carb-related starting problems I've had with mine have been crudded up idle jet, but that'll manifest itself as no idle when warm too.

But as my late father-in-law used to say--"most of your carburetor problems are in your ignition." Make sure you've got everything checked in the ign system before tackling the carb.

Cheers

Mike

[Guest Anonymous]

I've got her out today, 28 degrees heading out to work this morning, not garaged for winter just yet so I'm still driving the 2000 a bit longer. I've had a few "roundie" 2002's as well that had the single barrel Solex, like Attenuata said, once the throttle shaft goes it's time to replace with another Solex or go to the Weber, I like the one barrel Solex; my '69 2000 has a fresh engine rebuild and the Solex has also been gone through so the car runs very nice., make sure your ignition parts are in check, fuel filter is clean, and have the Solex rebuilt as long as your staying with the Solex.

Tim

'74 2002

'69 2000

[Guest Anonymous]

To set the man. choke on my '70 1bbl Solex I MUST:

(1) Press gas pedal to floor and hold it there. (2) Pull choke all the way out (still holding pedal down)(3) Depending on outside air temp. that day, push choke back in part way. (4) Release gas pedal and crank engine.

If I've guessed right on setting the position of the choke, tired, worn, engine usually fires with a roar.