TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:18 am

My spark plugs are black as coal and need cleaning after every journey to allow the car to start again!! Obvoiusly, the mixture is running too rich (I've checked that the choke is fully opening).
However, the volume/mixture jet is screwed almost all the way in to its seat (it's only about 1/4 turn out). Is 1/4 turn out from stop normal on a 26VFIS?? I'm used to setting up all sorts of later VW carbs where 1.5 or more turns is normal.

Any help much appreciated!!

Cheers
Rich.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:35 am

Hi Rich,
Good to see you on Sunday. I had a carb reconditioned locally and from memory, It was the same sort of process to get the car running right as with later carbs. You have a ball park setting to fire initially fire it up then, once running and warmed up, you adjust it till it starts hunting then back it off a little. You should find the number of turns in one of your manuals.

If it's not working, might be time to get the carb reconditioned.

Malc

Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:02 am

For what it's worth, an old mechanic told me that the color on a spark is not always a result of the fuel mixture. There are many variables, valve settings, timing, compression, intesity of the spark, condition of the rings, etc. Not excluding petro octane level and even elevation. Additionally, you can only "rebuild" a carbureter once or twice before it will require being re-bushed. Once the shafts start to wear out they let quite a bit of air in upsetting the mixture. Even th idle screw itself will wear out. Just some thoughts to ponder.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:16 am

Thanks guys.

I don't think that there's anything fundamentally wrong with the carb. It's is in good condition and the engine runs like a Swiss watch when it starts. I just have a feeling that there's something not quite right with the mixture jet. 1/4 turn out and running rich seems wrong to me. I don't have a spare carb or jet to try out.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:19 am

Rich, drop Jim Bremer a PM/e-mail, he rebuilds those.. He may know how to set them up. I think his user name here is his e-mail. jim@zarwerks.com

Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:21 am

johnshenry wrote: Rich, drop Jim Bremer a PM/e-mail, he rebuilds those.. He may know how to set them up. I think his user name here is his e-mail. jim@zarwerks.com

Thanks John.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:27 am

RichOakley wrote: Thanks guys.

I don't think that there's anything fundamentally wrong with the carb. It's is in good condition and the engine runs like a Swiss watch when it starts. I just have a feeling that there's something not quite right with the mixture jet. 1/4 turn out and running rich seems wrong to me. I don't have a spare carb or jet to try out.

I've still got my old 26vfis that I took off if you want to try that, or just the screw? It was running fine but, like your's, took a while to fire up from cold.
(hence the recon carb)

Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:40 am

Val1950 wrote: RichOakley wrote: Thanks guys.

I don't think that there's anything fundamentally wrong with the carb. It's is in good condition and the engine runs like a Swiss watch when it starts. I just have a feeling that there's something not quite right with the mixture jet. 1/4 turn out and running rich seems wrong to me. I don't have a spare carb or jet to try out.

I've still got my old 26vfis that I took off if you want to try that, or just the screw? It was running fine but, like your's, took a while to fire up from cold.
(hence the recon carb)

Cheers Malc. Might take you up on the offer. Jim at Zarweks has suggested a couple of things to try first though.

Thanks
Rich.