Idle Cut-off Valve Questions ( stalling / sputtering )

[PotatoePapa]

Well, I nearly logged my first 1000 worry-free miles. Nearly.

1600 DP, 34 PICT-3, 009

Basically, a couple of days ago I noticed the bus sputtering upon accelerating from a cold start. Once it was up to normal operating temperature things seemed to be fine, so I attributed this to the "cooler" weather we'd been having in So Cal.

Fast-forward to yesterday, I was approaching a stop light down a fairly steep hill and as I press the clutch in, she dies. No struggle, just totally dies. I was able to start it back up no problem, and as long as I was giving it some gas it would still run and I got to work by avoiding all stops. (My home is 75 miles from work, but I'm sleeping in the bus on my workdays.)

So, I figured the culprit to be the idle cut-off valve. I turned the ignition on, and pulled the connection to the valve and it clicks each time it comes in contact with it. HOWEVER, I am able to actually move (wiggle?) the black core (for lack of a better name) WITH the wires connected and I hear it clicking in the same fashion as if I were removing and reconnecting the connection. If I'm parked, I can get the connection to hold and idle, but if I go back and move it around at all, it immediately dies. I'm able to drive as long as I don't need to come to an idle, but it sputters pretty good.


My questions:
-Am I crazy in assuming that wiggling the valve should result in NO clicking and stalling a running engine?
-Are these valves/solenoids things that can just simply fail?
-If not, was the sputtering a bit of a sign?
-Is the sputtering at acceleration a symptom of an intermittently working valve?
-Is there ANYONE in the SAN PEDRO/SOUTH BAY that might have a spare, working idle cut-off valve? I'd need it by tomorrow morning. Preferably delivered.

PS. Desertbusman, I now have a Bentley. Can we be friends now?
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1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[Desertbusman]

Sure, good idea, providing you use it
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[Klaussinator]

Remove it & plug the hole! Fixed --- ask me how i know . . .

-Klauss
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I have taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money!
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the Klaussinator - `73 hardtop Bay custom-built camper

[PotatoePapa]

How do you know?
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1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[Randy in Maine]

Is the solenoid tight to the body of the carb?

Never use a sealant on the solenoid as it will interfere with the current that shuts it off.

Does anything change when you run a known good ground to the body of the carb? Might try running a test ground wire from the battery "-" terminal to the carb to see if that changes things.

Are the connections tight at the coil/solenoid/electric choke? Sometimes they need a little pinch at the crimp connectors. I assume you are wired correctly...

I see you are using a 009 distributor (lousy choice in my book) but make sure the dwell is correct (if you are using points) and that you are timed correctly for a 009. 28º is the number I would use and remember that the timing notch on the pulley would be at 5º ATDC if it is indeed the stock pulley.

http://www.type2.com/library/electrip/bosch009.htm

If you decide that the solenoid really is bad, you can snip off the plunger on the solenoid and re-install it. It won't won't do what it is supposed to do when it works right (cutoff fuel when the engine is off or at idle), but it won't stall due to the solenoid. I would do that last.

[PotatoePapa]

Thanks I actually already had that diagram printed out.

I'll have to try making sure there's a good ground to the carb.


One of my major questions, is it unusual for the clicking to occur with everything wired up?
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1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[Randy in Maine]

The "click" (which is the sound of the plungers extending & shutting down) should only occur when the power to is it cutoff. I THINK (but don't know for a fact) there were different plungers for the 34 and 30 series carbs.

Someone will be along in a minute that knows though.

[Klaussinator]

[PotatoePapa]

I'm not sure why that makes me laugh so much, Klauss. What did you use to plug it?
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1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[Wildthings]

If the cut off is bad anyway, like it sounds like, just cut the end off and screw it back in. If you then have a problem with the engine running on after you turn the key off then go out and buy a new fuel cut off solenoid when you get the chance.

[Klaussinator]

[PotatoePapa]

I ended up taking the plunge...well more like cutting the plunge off. So far so good. I'll be sure to replace it very soon.

Thanks for the assistance all, and thanks for the laugh, Klauss. lol, love it.

And Desertbusman, I've used the manual a few times, now. However, I found only a few sentences on this particular part. It also would be fantastic if those wiring diagrams were in color, but the internet has helped. God bless it.
_________________
1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[Desertbusman]

[PotatoePapa]

Yessir, I have. The Kinkos idea isa a good one.
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1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[aeromech]

[PotatoePapa]

[Sawsalesman]

[aeromech]

[PotatoePapa]

...lol

Glad someone caught that. You may be the first.
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1971 Westfalia
1969 Camaro

Nothin' but Love.

[keifernet]