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Wed Aug 20, 2025 8:59 pm

Bought a Solex 30 PICT 3 carb at the swap meet this past weekend. Settled into a rebuild, and an EMPI rebuilt kit, and all went fine until THIS happened. The absolute LAST part to install was the mixture needle valve, and I decided to replace the old one. Matched up the new needle, put the new oring on it, stuck it in the hole, and attempted to screw it in. No go. Ok, back it out... no go. Oring is to big and there isn't any amount of lubricant to make it move either way. So now it wont screw in, and I can't back it out. I've tried hot glue, tweezers, those medical clamp things, micro screwdrivers, even glued a bit of JB weld steel stick on the head and left it to cure. NOTHING. ZIP. NADA. The only way to get it out I believe would be to drill out the aluminum plug on the opposite side and punch it out. Wasted $50. I'll never buy another EMPI rebuilt kit again, and maybe not any other products either.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 5:07 am

Do you think the O ring grove was machined wrong or is it the threads that don't match?

Thu Aug 21, 2025 5:28 am

IIRC, the 30/3 has a unique mixture screw.
that's the carb that the manual says is "not adjustable".
it was originally sealed over from the factory.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 6:04 am

try compressed air

Thu Aug 21, 2025 6:59 am

Try a left-hand drill bit. Really.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 7:29 am

Its brass try soldering something to it .... Solder will have a more positive grip on it than any glues....

Thu Aug 21, 2025 8:25 am

I think I would try boiling the carb for a bit. Maybe 10 minutes. Let it get good and hot. The metal would expand a bit. Remove carb and set on a working surface and try again with a screwdriver. Maybe even a shot of PB blaster! I would go that route several times. It may take more but would most likely work with no more damage than what is already present.

My next step would be what Cusser has stated, a left hand drill bit has worked for me a few times, but what really works is drilling an 7/64” hole with a left hand drill bit (just in case it wants to come out on it own) then get a left hand threaded screw, size #6 and screw it on in there. It will eventually bit into the brass, lock up and start turning the brass screw.

If that did not work, I would be the threads are mashed. But if you still think it is viable, Dale’s idea works as well. But you may end up melting the carb body.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 8:33 am

in one resent rebuild kit that screw didnt have a screwdriver slot in it so i used the old brass one ..........next kit had a steel screw for there not brass so again i used the old one ......... some kits come with a float some dont .....the kits arent as good today as they used to be .

Thu Aug 21, 2025 10:08 am

id like to revise my earlier comment to say, get another carb. heh heh. seriously though, I never have liked those and cant work on them to save my life

Thu Aug 21, 2025 4:43 pm

BFB wrote: id like to revise my earlier comment to say, get another carb. heh heh. seriously though, I never have liked those and cant work on them to save my life

I ordered TWO 30/31's from a VW guy in Austin.

The threads aren't smashed, I don't even think the threads on the needle have made it to the threads on the housing yet. The o-ring is too big and isn't letting the needle go forward or backward. I've tried hot glue, steel stick, screwdrivers, tweezers, medical clamps, a drill bit (which grabs the needle but just spins it). I made sure and matched the new needle to the old one before I inserted it as well.

I was told that the 30 PICT 3 was a "one off" carb that was only around a year or two, and that it was pretty finicky. Maybe these Brosol 30/31's will be nicer to me.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 4:45 pm

VW_Jimbo wrote: Maybe even a shot of PB blaster!

I tried silicone personal lubricant, and let it sit there on top and seep in for a while. It just made it spin easier. Still wasn't able to move the needle. I tried just sending it, and put all 180lbs of myself behind it (thinking that if I could just get it in, the rubber would eventually disintegrate in time) but even that didn't budge the thing.

Thu Aug 21, 2025 4:45 pm

Dale M. wrote: Its brass try soldering something to it .... Solder will have a more positive grip on it than any glues....

Haven't tried that, but it's been suggested a few times. It's my next attempt!

Fri Aug 22, 2025 4:00 am

Chris, in the future try to find a 30PICT-1 for a 67 bug, with the power valve. 66 uses the same carb without the power valve. I have used these for many years and is an easy carb to deal with. Throttle bushings get loose on these but can be rebushed. The base on the 67 carb will have 105-1 stamped on it.

Fri Aug 22, 2025 4:16 am

I would mig weld the end of a shitty screwdriver right to the screw. Grab the carb and a screwdriver and head to the closest welding fabricator with a 6 pack of beer.

Fri Aug 22, 2025 2:52 pm

If it's just the O-ring holding it and threads are threaded then take a propane torch and apply heat. It should melt the rubber O-ring enough to remove the screw.

Fri Aug 22, 2025 5:23 pm

Dale M. wrote: Its brass try soldering something to it .... Solder will have a more positive grip on it than any glues....

Tried soldering one of the other brass needles to the stuck on, didn't work.

I'm going to hold on to it and give up until I find someone that can help me spot weld it on.

Sun Sep 07, 2025 11:41 pm

hunh.... I'm watching this old VW training "video" and the 30-3 they have in the video doesn't even HAVE this little needle.

Sun Sep 07, 2025 11:43 pm

borninabus wrote: IIRC, the 30/3 has a unique mixture screw.
that's the carb that the manual says is "not adjustable".
it was originally sealed over from the factory.

Totally missed this post.

And according to the stamped numbers, this carb originally came on a T2 1600 Bus!

Tue Sep 09, 2025 4:27 am

I would consider getting s magnifier and a Dremel with a burr and just grinding away at the screw back past the O ring groove in the screw, if it has not engaged the threads yet it should fall out.

Wed Oct 08, 2025 7:13 pm

WHAT IS WITH THE PICT 3 CARBS MAN????

I took a chance on a ebay carb cause it was cheap and I figured the worst that could happen was that I'd have a parts carb to use with my other one. Well THIS stupid mixture screw is stuck too! It will screw in and seat, but will only screw out so far. And this is either the original o-ring, or someone rebuilt it a number of years ago.