Carbs - help please :)

[minxgirl]

Hi
My car is being a real PITA - Ive had it at the mechanics for a week and back for one day and theres a new problem - this time its the carbs. I have twin solex's on my 2t-geu (dont ask why - I dont know, only bought this thing a few months ago!) and I knew they were up for a rebuild, had it booked in - but it seemed pretty driveable - just rough and rich when cold...but today it wont start and I am damned if I wanna ring the NRMA again...Its really getting embarrassing, we're on a first name basis
Anyway - any interim backyard remedies I can do to get her going?

And a HUGE thankyou to Rob for speeding up my registration

[Rodger]

Hi Minxgirl,

I wont ask why. Suffice to say a good set of Solexes are always better than a bad EFI set up.

Check the following:

Fuel filter- clean?

Fuel pump- working and fuel is getting to the carbies?

Points- correct gap and good contact surfaces?

Plug leads- connected and in correct order?

Plugs- correct gap and in good order?

Coil- firing?

Timing- correct?

The usual basic things.

Then Carbies:

Search for the threads on 2T series by River for the Solex diagrams to use as reference.

Normally you will find that there is no need to use the chokes to start if everything else is ok.

Check that they are in fact turned off. Both levers against the front stop and have springs holding them closed. If choke cable connected then pushed away from the firewall.

Without engine running and filters off check:

The Inner Venturies- are they in place and not loose?

Remove the jet cover if S5 type, typical 2T-G style one screw.
Or if T Type four screws to take off the choke/jet cover.

Check that the main jet blocks are screwed down firm.

Pump the throttle pedal several times and listen for fuel squirting into the motor.

If no fuel is being pumped into the motor it will be very hard to start as it is this first couple of pumps that get enough fuel in to ignite at starter speeds.

If no fuel then remove the pump jet covers (4) and pump throttle again. If no fuel fills in around the pump jets then the problem lies deeper in the carbies.

If there is fuel getting to this spot then remove the pump jets and check if blocked or damaged or have been install facing the wrong way.

When ok then re-install with the "D" facing the intake port.

That is a start.

See how you go. If nothing else you will now know how these Solexes go together.

Regards

Rodger

[blue22]

hey minx......an easy way to get fuel into your eng' (if thats the problem) is to remove the air cleaners and hold your hand over the throats of the carbs' while the eng' is turned over (helps to have a friend there). this works like a "normal" choke and can also help to clear blocked passages in the carb........cheers

[sillycar chick]

Hi
just rough and rich when cold...but today it wont start

Hey,
Do you have a choke cable set up? I was told my a lot of people I shouldnt need one, but installed it cos I got sick of not being able to start my car in the cold... now I dont have any problems

I cant really give you a great deal of advice as my carbys were my dad's, and he had already rebuilt them, but when i built my engine my car went to a carby specialist for a tune who had worked on those particular carbs before. It made a huge difference once he rejetted and tuned the carbys to suit my hybrid.

I still have some flat spots when she's cold (could be partially due to the fact that I need a re-tune since I have replaced the timing chains) but once she's warm, I dont have any problems.

Hope you sort yours out!
Cheers,
Dana

[75Ta22LT]

I have a 4age running twin webers, there was a vacuum leak in between the weber and inlet manifold that made it a bastard to start.

I reset everything back to factory settings, didnt play around with the tuning (thats for the proffesionals!^^^).

The engine kicked over half alright after that, brought it to high rev's and gave a good dose of carby cleaner. Fixed the lopey idle, even with the vacuum leak, there was obviously something blocking the jets or progression holes.

If you can get the car running, its worth it to run some carby cleaner through the bellmouths. Also have a good listen for leaks, a good indicator is fuel fouled plugs (as most nrma mechanics, compensate for the extra air, by adding extra fuel)

[minxgirl]

Well, to update ...
I found a hose had kinda fallen off (the one in from one carb to the next) so I hooked it back up and drove it...to the mechanic...It was tragic the poor thing - the carbs were so shot I could only get it to about 30km/hr and had to keep my foot on the accelerator (even at the lights) or it would stall.......three weeks later roughly I have it home with two rebuilt carbs...

They had no ID no on the carbs apparently and the mechanics couldnt identify them to get a kit so they took them to the spares place for them to ID, they quoted me $85 each for the kits, and it took FOREVER. Anyway at pickup time the invoice said $135 each for the kits and the guy said "uh uh that cant be right" and he adjusted it to what I was quoted, and knocked most of the labour off too

Still....wasnt bloody remotely cheap...but she drives nice again (even though they said she needs a choke installed now - so still a bit sh!tty when cold)...I think they had some fun - he said the guys out the back said when she was warmed up she went like a "scalded cat"

YAY to have my car home!

A big thanks again to everyone who replied in my thread - Im so busy writing Psyc papers for uni and getting ready for exams that I didnt have time to log on.

[Starfire]

If youre having a little trouble starting a car with a carb you can always spray a ilttle WD40 or similar through them.

A choke is essential on a car that runs a carb, especially one with twin carbs as they tend to suffer from low gas velicity at idle.

Cheers,
Terry

[river]

Hi,

I've always found the opposite to be true. When I replaced the 2T engine in my old TA22 with a carby 2T-G I found it did not like the choke at all. It always started without the choke and ran better. It was a bitch to start and would always stall if I used the choke.

I thought it was that particular engine... until I got the RA25, and it's carby 18R-G engine is exactly the same. It doesn't like choke. Matter of fact, it's never needed it, even after the carbs were fully rebuilt and the engine tuned.

Maybe if I lived somewhere were it was really cold I might need it, but in Sydney it's never needed choke.

seeyuzz
river

[sillycar chick]

Sorry River I have to disagree with you there, ever since I got the hybrid in 51LII with the solexs I have had problems starting here when the engine is cold. Once I got a choke in there, its been so much better. Even this morning, starting my car at 10am, when the temp would have to have been at least 25 deg (we had a warmish day up here today) she still needed a little choke to start, but once she warmed up a little she was right.

I havent regretted putting the choke in one bit, it has been fantastic. I know a few people other than river have never had any trouble and never needed choke, but I have needed it so I would suggest if you are having trouble, then just put one in. I got a kit from Autobarn, was probably only 10 or 15 bucks. Money well spent

[river]

Hi,

That's cool.. to disagree. All I can relate is my experiences. Of course, if your engine requires choke then get one.

Mind you, both engines I've used that don't need choke had the proper Toyota air-box/filter. Would such an arrangement make a difference?

seeyuzz
river

[sillycar chick]

Mind you, both engines I've used that don't need choke had the proper Toyota air-box/filter. Would such an arrangement make a difference?

Thats actually quite possible river.... never even thought of that!

Dont know the precise name of the type of filters im using, but here's a pic.... I would assume they get alot more airflow in than the standard airboxes?

[minxgirl]

Hi
I dont think it really needs a choke ...Im thinking I will put on the proper EFI gear next time the carbies need a tune anyway! I live in a cold place and found with a little patience and the revs in the right places she was fine through the frozen (literally) mornings I dont know whether or not to trust mechanics at all anymore - the more I deal with them the more I realise it seems to be a matter of 'personal opinion' And they still stuff things up....[/I][/I]

[minxgirl]

Silly - your car looks so good - I want my engine bay looking tidy and sweet like yours I love the wire wrapping

[sillycar chick]

Silly - your car looks so good - I want my engine bay looking tidy and sweet like yours I love the wire wrapping

HAHAHA its not that difficult.... just gotta be motivated!

I dont trust ANY mechanic anymore, the only person that touches my car is me, with the exception of a good dyno tuner just for tuning only....

Just get in there and get your hands dirty... you'll learn along the way and before you know it you'll be doing everything yourself like me! Its sooo much fun

[minxgirl]

ABSOLUTELY!!! I really wanna learn everything I can...Hate being the "helpless girl" and my boyfriend is just a tool-wrecker *LOL* latest was him degreasing the Fairmonts engine bay with my MAG BRUSH Dont even get me started there *LOL*...Ive been into cars since I was 17 and got the Minx (Hence my name) which is now long gone...never got much of a chance to learn too much, need a mechanically minded friend!!!!