Solex Split Shaft Carbs??

[Tom Oxner]

It's ALIVE! I have managed to get the engine started on the 912 that my son and I bought. The car had not been started in at least 20 years. We finally got the engine to turn over with a wrench on the crank. I rebuilt the carbs and the fuel pump (how about the price for a new one ??). I then filed the points, and set the point gap. A bunch of starting fluid (probably ether) from a spray can and we got it to run. We then set the timing and are trying to get the idle set. I cannot get the engine to idle without manually making sure the forward portion of the solex cabs is closing completely. There is a spring on the shaft that connects to the throttle linkage. Is there supposed to be some sort of spring on the other shaft also. If there is one, I cannot find it. The throttle shafts in the Solex carbs seem to be pretty tight and free of slop. There appears to be a bushing in the carb body that the shaft rides in. Is this standard or have the shafts been rebushed? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Tom and Luke Oxner

[C. Clark]

Two throttle springs are needed one for each carburetor. Checking the shafts is a little more complex, I use a squirt bottle with water in it to check the shafts. Once the engine is running I squirt water onto the shafts and listen for a change in RPMs or running conditions, a change usually means a bad shaft bushing and yes bushings is how they work new or rebuilt. Solex have idle adjustment setting on the forward shaft site plus idle jets on the outboard section of the carburetor, these are really finicky. Since the 12 has been sitting for a while a thorough fuel system cleaning is in order from the gas tank to the Solexs. Get a manual for this car, I think the "Orange" one is good for starters get it at http://classicandspeedparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=107&osCsid=fe1e8dcad0db62d2b5fda16f090ba3e3
Best of luck,
Chas.
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[Tom Oxner]

The problem I am having in getting the idle set is that there seems to be a part missing on both the carbs. One part of the split shaft (the one nearer the front of the car) does not close completely. In looking at the carb, there is nothing to make it close all the way. Is there a small spring or plastic piece that should fit on the linkage between the two shafts to make both throttle plates close at the same time? I have not been able to find an exploded view of the split shafts in either the factory 912 manual or the Elfrink Manual. Thanks for your help.

Tom

[C. Clark]

Tom, Look around here http://www.hillmanimages.com/912/fuel3.html
also visit this site for much more info, http://www.912bbs.org/index.php
Chas.
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911

[Tom Oxner]

Thanks for directing me to those very helpful web sites. On the first one there is a great exploded view of the Solex Split Shaft carbs. Sure enough the item I do not have is labeled as

11a 692.100.993.01 Spring clamp

These items appear to be missing or have rusted or rotted away during the period from 1979 until 2007. I cleaned the fuel lines and plan to take the gas tank to be dipped and coated next week. The engine runs but the compression is quite low. I bought the car assuming that I would have to rebuild the engine. I just hope the crank is not messed up.
Thanks for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

Tom

[C. Clark]

Tom,
Joining the 912 Registry will be invaluable during the restoration process, many knowledgeable people willing to share.
Best of luck,
Chas.

[69-912-swt]

Hi Tom,

Just come over to the 912bbs. It's not part of the 912 Registry, so membership is not necessary !!!! Most of your questions you might have you should find the answers to with the search function.

Here's the 912bbs home page: http://www.912bbs.org/index.php

Lot's great information over there.

Also when you register there make sure you list you location as sometimes if a another 912 owner is close to you they might be able to help you one on one or tell you where some places to get parts or repairs at locally !!!!

If you need some more help my name is Bill Kent.

Good luck on bringing it back to life.

[C. Clark]

Joining the 912 Registry is just a small way of supporting what has been done there....... it's $40.00 a year if I remember correctly, well worth the money, but as Bill Kent said it's not necessary joining to gleam the information, it just makes me feel better......... and after all we do own a Porsche...... don't we?
Chas.
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912
911

[Tom Oxner]

I joined the 912 Registry last Saturday. It will take a while before I begin getting mail from them. I have already received a great deal of information from the website. Thanks.

Tom