Solex Float Adjustment Help

hades · 05-09-2006

Hey folks I can't seem to find at what level my float needs to be adjusted to.
here are the specs as I know it.
70 Gt
1.9 liter engine
two barrel Solex with an electric choke and a mechanical secondary.

The only thing that I can find in my manual is that there was a guage to use but I don't know where to find one and would like to get my wife's car on the road.
If someone could tell me the correct measurement to adjust the float to I can adjust it just like an edelbrock that part is not to hard.
I just need some correct numbers.

Thanks

SpringGT · 05-09-2006

This seems to not be of much help, but my 1973 factory service manual says of the solex with electric choke, "No float adjustment is possible, so check position of float arm by comparing with a new float of the same carburetor type. If float arm is bent, replace float".

However the x-sectional diagrams of the carb all show that when the float is properly installed and the inlet needle is fully seated, the bowl is exactly half-full of fuel and the float arm is parallel to the top of the bowl. So, if you don't get any better info on this, just half-fill the bowl with gas and see if the float arm is about parallel to a ruler laid across the top of the fuel bowl and this should give you a good initial setting. If your float has never been altered, it may work fine.

I haven't overhauled a solex in over 20 years, but seem to remember that the floats, rather than brass, were made of a plastic "foam" which can develop porosity and absorb gas with age, thereby causing flooding due to the less bouyant float.

Tomorrow I'll see if I still have an old overhaul kit in the attic containing any better info than this. Good Luck.

WannaBOpelOwner · 05-09-2006

i would say your best bet is to buy a weber

deaner · 05-09-2006

You can also use different thickness needle valve sealing rings to adjust the float level. They're different needle assemblies available too. I have found different inlet sizes as well as different overall height of needle inlet assemblies. If you choose to bend the tab on the float. (which is acceptable) be careful. HTH.

hades · 05-10-2006

Thanks fellas,
The float didn't look bent and I filled the bowl with gas and the level stayed at half so I'm gonna give it shot and see what happens Thanks.

ALSO if I could have afforded a weber, I wouldn't be rebuilding the Solex now would I?

05-09-2006	#1 (permalink)
hades Opeler Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Elkins, WV Posts: 17	Unanswered: Solex Float Adjustment Help Hey folks I can't seem to find at what level my float needs to be adjusted to. here are the specs as I know it. 70 Gt 1.9 liter engine two barrel Solex with an electric choke and a mechanical secondary. The only thing that I can find in my manual is that there was a guage to use but I don't know where to find one and would like to get my wife's car on the road. If someone could tell me the correct measurement to adjust the float to I can adjust it just like an edelbrock that part is not to hard. I just need some correct numbers. Thanks __________________ It is better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.

05-09-2006	#2 (permalink)
SpringGT Opeler Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 252	This seems to not be of much help, but my 1973 factory service manual says of the solex with electric choke, "No float adjustment is possible, so check position of float arm by comparing with a new float of the same carburetor type. If float arm is bent, replace float". However the x-sectional diagrams of the carb all show that when the float is properly installed and the inlet needle is fully seated, the bowl is exactly half-full of fuel and the float arm is parallel to the top of the bowl. So, if you don't get any better info on this, just half-fill the bowl with gas and see if the float arm is about parallel to a ruler laid across the top of the fuel bowl and this should give you a good initial setting. If your float has never been altered, it may work fine. I haven't overhauled a solex in over 20 years, but seem to remember that the floats, rather than brass, were made of a plastic "foam" which can develop porosity and absorb gas with age, thereby causing flooding due to the less bouyant float. Tomorrow I'll see if I still have an old overhaul kit in the attic containing any better info than this. Good Luck. Last edited by SpringGT; 05-09-2006 at 05:48 AM.

05-09-2006	#3 (permalink)
WannaBOpelOwner The Great Opel Search Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Casey, Illinois Posts: 411	i would say your best bet is to buy a weber __________________ 1998 Sunfire "The Great Opel Search Continues" © of Skyler Shelton "The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work" Mark Twain "Tobmstones Dont Talk Back" Smoke Tires, Not Drugs... http://sportcar.net

05-09-2006	#4 (permalink)
deaner long time Opeler Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fallbrook, Calif. Posts: 298 Provided Answers: 1	You can also use different thickness needle valve sealing rings to adjust the float level. They're different needle assemblies available too. I have found different inlet sizes as well as different overall height of needle inlet assemblies. If you choose to bend the tab on the float. (which is acceptable) be careful. HTH. __________________ 75 MANTA A "2.0 Euro stuff! Fun and Fast "Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."

05-10-2006	#5 (permalink)
hades Opeler Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Elkins, WV Posts: 17	Thanks fellas, The float didn't look bent and I filled the bowl with gas and the level stayed at half so I'm gonna give it shot and see what happens Thanks. ALSO if I could have afforded a weber, I wouldn't be rebuilding the Solex now would I? __________________ It is better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.

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