Solex carbs refurb

[neverbuysaround]

Where is best to get them done ideally in the North West and what should I be expecting to pay?

[hunter]

Hi
Feel i've got to jump in at this point and say dont use carbex.

I had my carbs rebuilt by them and quite frankly they did a fairly shitty job.

I have documented most of the hassles i have had with this rebuild and am still not a happy man. (do a search for the topic)

I still have to send them back for carbex to redo some of the work.

This will be the 3rd time i have sent my carbs to them.

After the initial rebuild they came back full of machining swarf and things not set right. When i got them back i was still having trouble with them and spent too many weekends mucking around with them for there not to be something else wrong. In desperation i tried blowing through the air corrector and idle bleed jets with an airline only to find that there was a blockage which i had to remove with carb cleaner and a pokey stick.

The stubborn crap that i found blocked the whole passage in one of the jets and took me a good couple of hours to completely remove.
This was on a carb that was supposed to have a complete rebuild and come back like new.

I also discovered at the same time that they had only removed and replaced one of the four jets on the top of this carb as they had screwed up the slots in the other jets which made them unmoveable.

The car is now running ok but because i was so miffed off about this i phoned carbex and told him so - when i challenged him over why he hadn't removed the jets and that they had buggered up the slots in them he got very sheepish and asked what i wanted him to do - i told him in no uncertain terms that i expect him to sort them out properly as he should have done the first time he had them. I am going to send them back in but only when the car comes off the road for the winter.

All in all i think that the service i had from carbex was very poor for something that cost me £360 and i have a nagging doubt over wether carbex actually did my carbs themselves. I think they actually farmed them out to another company, although when i asked him if this was the case, he denied it.

912UK has aslo had problems with his carbs from carbex.

Problem is - this outfit are supposed to be the boys for sorting out these carbs - so i dont know what else to suggest. Maybe buy a set from andy prill. Although his carbs are also done at carbex but he seems to get a top notch job done - something not right there really.

I dont make a habit of slagging people off but i would not use carbex again.

[Ian Gunney]

Difficult this one - Carburettor Exchange have done the carbs on my 912 and lots for my father and they have always been absolutely spot on.

not sure who else to recommend either as it is seems a bit of a dying trade!

[912uk]

yes it's a pain as they do seam to be the place. What I can't understand is they do a good job for the likes of AJP and then we get crap.. Now I have to point out a few things here.

One they need to set up correct before you use them
they need to be also checked for the correct jets

once that is done they should run fine... but I am starting to think that Carb Exchange does NOT DO THE WORK.. as when you talk with him he doesn't 100% understand what your on about and also I found my carbs full of Silicone used to seal the carbs, now if you use silicone on the carbs your asking for loads of troube.. so how come he did it!!! also he never seams to know where your carbs are or how long they will take as this does indicate that some one else is doing the work.. eg bulk up an order of carbs and then send them to them.

I know one Porsche engine builder that has no problems with his work and has returned some carbs back to him, I feel if I knew what I do now I wouldn't have accepted his work ( well the other people he has do it.. )

both Hunter and I and others have had to learn alot about these carbs, I for one now have them working right and well at the moment. But its been a LONG up hill battle..

if you use him as he clearly can do the work right , it's a case of being very strick about what you want doing and ANY parts not used to be returned with the carbs and tell him he has people who are not happy with past work and support that he has offered.. well there hasn't been any..

I have to say I am pleased with them now but how much work have a i had to do to get them there of my own accord.. it's what I paid him for!!!

[rafiki]

Whilst I have no experience with this firm regarding Solex carbs, they did an excellent job on renovating the Stromberg CDs 125s for my Imp. They have just despatched a set of gaskets for the Solexes for my 912.

The company is Southern Carburettors and Injectors down in Mitcham. Not, I appreciate, in the NW!

[neverbuysaround]

.....

As usual thanks for the response chaps, very informative. I won't be going to Carbex and perhaps need to look further afield.

Problem I have is that whilst you chaps seem to know what you're talking about, I am very naive regarding engine work and so unless I can find a firm that can get them right first time, I could end up spending silly money.

Any other companies further afield (inc cost if poss) that anyone else has used would be much appreciated. The carbs are already out and ready to go, I am just awaiting the right place to send them to.

Regards

Rick

[Del]

there is a place here in Leicester that has a very good reputation of servicing and setting up twin carbs.

They aint what is termed "Porsche Specialists" but they are very good with carbs which is good enough for me.

Maybe a problem for you being in the North West though. Can make more enquiries for you if you want as i am going to see them to discuss mine.

[hunter]

I suppose really, the question is, what does neverbuys mean by a refurb.

If he means a general clean up/setup and new gaskets then that can be done quite easily with a bit of patience at home.

If he has air leakes around the shafts then that means a rebush job which is a whole new ball game.

The problem with the first scenario is that it can quite often lead to other problems which makes option 2 neccesary.

This is what happened to me.

Neverbuys - what exactly is happening with your carbs? They could just need the injectors and float heights setting and the jets cleaning out etc.

I would try to steer clear of a complete strip if you can or at least acertain wether or not you have air leaks first before you decide whats needed.

The other way around of course is to say bugger the solex's problems and fit a set of new webers.

[Del]

if you give them to someone or send them away "off the car" for a refurb, they will still need to be set up fitted on the car, no?

[hunter]

Yes they will still need setting up on the car.

Injectors can be set on the bench but mixture/idle/float heights and balancing are all done on the car.

Float heights do seem to be critical on the solex from my experience and it is well worth investing in the tool to do the job. You will also need a measuring vial to ensure the injectors are pumping out the correct qty of fuel per stroke (or per 2 strokes as the case is with the solex's)

The solexs do tend to wear a bit and can also become porous (something to do with the alloy used) so even getting them rebuilt is no guarentee that all will be well afterwards.

The duane spencer book has a nice section on solex 40's and their problems - air leaks are the prime concern. Warped lugs and worn bushes.
being the main culprits.

[Del]

Right then neverbuysaround, just an update for you... I have my car booked into the garage for an inspection / potential service / clean tune up etc etc on Tuesday 13th November.

If you can wait until then, i will let you know how i get on and what they do to them / costs etc etc.

It is a place i have full trust in and am really looking forward to taking the car over to them and getting it back hopefully tuned up to be spot on.

[neverbuysaround]

Thanks for the further responses - I think I am now more confused than I was! Mike @ MB Porsche Engineering suggested they need a refurb as the engine occasionally misfires and sounds like it has mice running round a wheel most of the time squeaking!

Del - yes I can wait until next week. If push came to shove I could probably drive the car down to Leicester but I would rather send off and once received back take the car somewhere locally who could set them up if required.

Respond via the forum or on 07976 823429.

Many thanks in advance.

Sad thing is the car may well be going up for sale in the New Year as we are moving house and 5 cars including my wife's don't fit any more....

Rick

[Del]

Rick, Was thinking about this today...

Unless i missed it already in this thread, what is actually wrong with your carbs?

Has someone told you they need to refurbished? or is there a re-occuring problem?

[Del]

right then... as promised that i'd let you know how i got on...

The garage did the car for me. They said that the float levels were way out which is why it was behaving horribly on corners while accelerating. The timing and points were also miles out as was the overall set up on the carbs.

They did not remove them. Just took the lids off and set all the settings etc. The car now runs like a dream. Tick over is much better, i can accelerate around corners and there are no flat spots. I havent driven it enough to know if the back firing has gone. They spent a total of 3.5 hours on it including driving it around and tinkering with the settings. Im well pleased i can tell you.

And the irony of all of this.... i picked the car up and within an hour, someone drives right in to the back of me while im sitting stationery at the traffic lights!......... see thread>> http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17597