Missing spring or not

[Avec]

I am beginning to pull a 72 Manta out to begin work. The first thing I found was the the Solex was screwed up. I have most of it cleaned up, but have an issue with the secondary. I would think there should be a spring to open it, but there is nothing there. Here is a picture to show what I do have, but don't even see where a spring would attach. What am I missing.

[hrcollinsjr]

I believe if you will look you will see a place for a return spring that attaches to the throttle linkage where the bracket bolts to the intake manifold.

HTH,
Harold

[anastosmotors]

hi Jeff
I have a solex carb out of my 22k motor (has been EFI).
PM me with your address and i can UPS to you.
Pete

[Avec]

Thanks Pete. Right now I think I can get this thing running if I can figure out the spring thing. From my picture, I am looking for the way the left hand butterfly is supposed to open. It opens turning clockwise, while the throttle cable turns the shaft on the right one turning counter-clockwise. The right hand butterfly is the one with the return spring. The left hand butterfly closes when the cam on the right hand shaft forces it closed.

The issue is that I see no reasonable way for the left hand butterfly to open. This has me stumped.

[hallgeir]

See if you can figure out something from this:

SOLEX 32DIDTA OPEL

I wonder if your Solex should have the vacuum operated secondary....? #72 on the drawing.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by Avec I am beginning to pull a 72 Manta out to begin work. The first thing I found was the the Solex was screwed up. I have most of it cleaned up, but have an issue with the secondary. I would think there should be a spring to open it, but there is nothing there. Here is a picture to show what I do have, but don't even see where a spring would attach. What am I missing.

. . . compared below . . .

[Avec]

Originally Posted by hallgeir See if you can figure out something from this: SOLEX 32DIDTA OPEL I wonder if your Solex should have the vacuum operated secondary....? #72 on the drawing.

That is what it looks like. The post is there on the shaft end bracket, but nothing attached to it. Thanks for the help

[kwilford]

It looks to me like the secondary shaft is actuated by that cam-shaped piece on the primary throttle shaft, pushing against a roller on that post on the secondary linkage. I think I see a piece of spring wire that might hold the roller on the secondary linkage against the primary cam plate, so the spring force of the primary linkage should also close the secondary throttle. Perhaps a slightly different view of the linkage, and perhaps another with the throttle part-open, would clarify how it functions.

HTH

[timemachine]

I run a Solex 32DIDTA in my '74 Manta with very good results and have rebuilt a half dozen over the last 30 years.

The second barrel does not engage mechanically so you can't judge when the carb is off the car (or when the car is not running). The pic you posted looks normal to me.

The Solex secondary is vacuum operated and the throttle plate engages only when the engine is running and accelerated under full pedal (i.e. "passing power"). You'll see it when you rev the engine hard while looking down the barrels. If it doesn't move there is most likely a vacuum problem (which would already be evident in other symptoms).

Several folks have written about open bolt holes or seemingly missing parts on the Solex. It's a rather complex carb compared to the Weber (for better or worse), but what appears to be missing parts is often just the way it was configured for the Opel.

The main problem the Solex had, and what caused so many Weber conversions, was heat warping that caused vacuum leaks and fuel dump because the exhaust manifold was bolted directly to the intake (for quick warmup and vaporization), not the best idea when you turn off a hot car because there was pressure and boiling in fuel lines close to the engine and the plates tended to loosen when a hot car was shut down.

If you have a Solex in decent shape, keep the top screws and all vertical attachments firmly tightened on a regular basis, spray some cleaner across the throats from time to time and it might last a long time and work as well (or better?) as a Weber 32/36.

Pete, if nobody else wants that young DIDTA, I'd be interested...

Jim

[hallgeir]

I think part #72 is missing, and it should be attached as shown below. When you push down the throttle pedal, the vacuum will pull open the secondary, as the roller on the secondary linkage will roll on the primary cam plate. Hope this is understandable.

[tomking]

Isnt there a torsion spring on the secondary shaft to open it when it comes of the closer cam attached to the primary? I think it is a mechanical opening secondary that is actuated by a torsion spring around the secondary shaft. I have one like it somewhere.

[Avec]

Originally Posted by hallgeir I think part #72 is missing, and it should be attached as shown below. When you push down the throttle pedal, the vacuum will pull open the secondary, as the roller on the secondary linkage will roll on the primary cam plate. Hope this is understandable.

Everything is there for a vacuum opening but the vacuum actuator. Pete, I will be sending a PM.

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by Avec Everything is there for a vacuum opening but the vacuum actuator. Pete, I will be sending a PM.

All Solex carburators imported to the US on Opels are vacuum secondary except the 68 1.5 and the GT which both has mechinical sacondarys you have a piece missing on your carb. looks like the vacuum diaphram pot.