weird problem
 

well, I'm having my first tuning problem, 700 miles after I got the car on the road...

it sounds like a misfire, at least that's the way it started. now it's like the car is "gargling" and there's no power...none...

I'm thinking it fuel starvation, and will be checking the float levels tomorrow along with changing the oil and doing a compression check.

anyone have this problem?? it originally started at 3k rpm, but now seems to be running rough all the time.

there was no fouling of any sort on the plugs BTW...they were all clean, dry, and a slight tannish color. i cleaned them anyway and the car seems to be worse.

the timing was spot on when I checked it.

oh yeah..they're solexes...

sjd

I dont know anything about solex carbs but I know the webers are very sensitive to any speck of dirt in the idle jets. When I get any, it really runs bad, and I mean really CRAPPY, thru all rpm ranges. Its hard to believe that blocking just one little 060 idle hole could do it but I guess that anytime you throw the engine out of sync by 25% this is how it runs... Check your valves again too.

Craig

Cgarr made a good point on the jets & the jets should be checked, heck check the air & metering jets too and blow them out-can't hurt.
I would check the needle & seat first. Sounds like one side or the other or both took a dump ergo the gargling, erratic fuel squirt ,thus loss of power etc. Bowl levels may be off, but the needle & seat controls the bowl levels. If a needle sticks in the wrong place, no gas or too much gas or intermittent gas happens. The needle & seat is the thingy in the top of the carb...take the screws out to remove the Solex top, turn the top upside down & you cant miss the big brass piece @13mm or so with the ball tube sticking out. I found bad needle in seats in NEW carb kits...that are made in who knows where! Also, in the bottom of Solex bowls is an accelerator valve-it has a ball valve and a filter screen. I think its an 11mm atf brass fitting. It may have clogged up on you from carb grit & fuel junk so fuel doesnt drain out of the bowl into the passages. Check it out too. Good luck. George in GA

well. there was about 1/16" of rusty sludge in the bottom of the float bowls...I cleaned them out and man does it ROAR now.

sjd

Steve,

Does that indicate a fuel tank problem? How is your filter etc???

Any time I hear of "rusty sludge" I get concerned about the fuel tank.

Craig

it's not the tank...the tank's been out and resealed and it's double filtered before the pump. all the fuel line in the car has been replaced...ExCEPT the stuff attached to the engine.

I'm worried about the hard lines across the top...maybe I'll just cut and replace with soft lines...

sjd
not too concerned with originality.

Steve,

If you are concerned about originality, BMW fuel hose (7mm I think) is damn near identical to what Porsche used on 912. Just a little more meat to the hose than what was available in the 60's.

C

SOLVED!!!

it was a misfire, mostly due to the #4 spark plug being hit by the piston and pushed into the electrode.

why??? There was no washer on it...

all that other work wasn't for nothing...it runs GREAT now...the carbs are clean, the ground connection is solid, and it just PURRRRRRS.

thanks everyone for the help.

sjd

sjd