TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:00 pm

First of all, I'm the first to admit that I know nothing about VWs. I'm a hot rod guy, but my wife's always wanted a beetle, so I bought this '64 in pieces with new paint and put it together. It's got what I was told was a '69 engine. I do know it's got 12 volts. The engine was complete when I got it, but out of the car. I've got it all together now, but I'm having an issue getting the idle speed high enough to keep the car running. I can get it to run and run well, but I have to keep my foot on the gas to keep the idle speed high enough. I have the throttle cable adjusted as far as it will go. The car is running a vacuum advance distributor that's been converted to electronic ignition. The carb is a 30/31 PICT that I've gone through and rebuilt. Like I said, it runs well, I just can't get it to idle. How can I fix this?

Engine (Dont' mind the stupid air cleaner, I'm looking for a replacement):

Carb:

Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:11 pm

the second picture is the or could be the cuprit. idle cut off solenoid. Does it have 12volts to it. does it click when connecting the wire to it touch it click remove it click. if no click then pull it clean it and test again.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:41 pm

gt1953 wrote: the second picture is the or could be the cuprit. idle cut off solenoid. Does it have 12volts to it. does it click when connecting the wire to it touch it click remove it click. if no click then pull it clean it and test again.

Good idea. You want to hear a click, that means it's good. Mine went bad, so I unscrewed it, pulled out the valve, and cut it off. Works like a charm.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:07 pm

So if it's not clicking, and therefore not working, do I need to replace it or can I do something else, like is stated above?

Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:19 pm

Not the problem. I just went out and checked and it clicked taking off and putting on the wire.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:07 pm

Did you time it correctly? That looks like a SVDA dist, but the standard one on a 69 beetle. It should have been timed to 0*TDC. If its an aftermarket one, it needs to be timed to 7.5*BTDC. How you determine this is there are numbers on the dist body. Go to:

http://www.oldvolkshome.com/ignition.htm#A6667

And look up the number.Aftermarket ones are not listed. Also check your points. If those are not the problem there maybe a vacuum leak coming from the carb or the gasket under the carb, and when you add fuel, it riches the mix. With the car running (however you can get it) spray some starter fluid, WD-40 something to that nature under the carb. If you hear a change in engine speed, you have found it. If not, then the carb is the issue. One more thing, is that an aftermarket intake? You can tell because there is not a part number or no VW logo on the rear (meaning rear of car) and to the left (your left, drivers side). If its aftermarket, where the carb meets the intake could very well be warped.

Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:40 pm

have u checked for a blocked idle jet?
especially if the engines been sitting around for a while

8mm brass jet on the RHS of the carb just under the electric choke unit
unscrew it out and make sure the little hole in the tip is clear

Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:45 am

Have you done the basic carb adjustment?

Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:21 pm

Basic carb adjustment? The jets are all clear, I cleaned them out when I went through the carb.

Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:00 am

yeah u definately need to do a basic carb adjustment
closer look at ur pics i just noticed the throttle stop screw is wound all the way out.
it needs to be just touching the fast idle cam and done up 1/4 turn more
also the air bypass screw is wound all the way out too
i havent worked with reman carbs but with og german ones they shouldnt be out more than 1 turn

both of these fact show ur carb is way way out of adjustment

Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:00 am

This is a link to a website that helped me as much as the Samba did when I first got started back in bugs. I hope it helps you get your carb adjusted. It's explained in plain english and so easy.

I hope it is OK to post this link. I did so instead of copy/paste of the article so you can see who the original poster is. These are 2 great guys.

http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/34pict3.html

Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:39 am

i love that set of 34-3 tuning directions so easy anyone can do it