Can't get this thing running right...very frustrating!

You might try Walck's or JeepDoctor or any of the others in the suppliers listings on this site.

 

Stout, any luck with the carb adjustment. I have your same set up. Solex, mechanical advance. At idle, runs rich and smells like gas out of the tail pipe. Used to stumble at initial acceleration. I have played with mixture/timing all day. Now have it to no acceleration stumble, runs great at speed, but has a spit during idle. Are there any internal adjustments to the Solex(jets, needle, etc). Would hotter plug help?. Maybe I should leave it alone

 

Sounds about the same. Mine spits at idle as well, that's actually a good way to describe it I've twiddled with the settings but haven't found the right ones yet. I lost the instructions that came with the carb but I doubt they would have helped anyway. Funny thing is, I can screw in/out the adjuster all day long and it makes no difference.

 

I hear you, I do the old mixture method, turn it in until it stumbles then back it off 1/4. Last time I backed it off 1/8 and that cured the aceleration stumble. So if you turn your mixture screw all the way in with no difference, then that means you are not able to restrict the fuel?? I am thinking about that right?? Keep playing with it and let us know what happens, I will do the same!

 

Solexes seem to like very low fuel pressure, and an adjustable regulator is the best way to do that... Watch out for the real cheap ones, some have plastic parts and don't last..If you are running rich with a Solex and cannot adjust it , get a FPR.

 

OK I put a fuel regulator on it, an el cheapo chrome thing from Mr. Gasket. I can't tell for sure but I think it made a difference. I set it to 1 lbs of pressure and it may be running much better. It still sputters (or spits) periodically at idle and I can still smell fuel out of the exhaust but these weren't exactly the clean burning engines we have today. But the throttle response definitely improved.

Anybody have any suggestions for a good fuel regulator that isn't a chrome eyesore? My engine and frame are freshly painted a pretty black and having a round chrome thing sitting there stands out.

 

Hit it with a Scotchbrite pad and a dose of black Rustoleum - done

 

yeah, just paint it to match.

 

Hmmm this makes me wonder. I've set my valves to the best of my ability and my engine is very quiet, it doesn't have the valve clatter that I'm told to expect from an F head. I wonder if I have them too tight.

 

I have the same set up as you and the same issues. The engine starts right up with the solex, runs for about 20-30 seconds and dies. When I try to give it throttle it dies too. Engine was professionally rebuilt by an old timer who built lots of F heads. Is there a choke on the Solex? I can not seem to find it if there is. I have adjusted the idle and the other adjusting screw with no luck. Did you ever get yours fixed?

 

I got mine running OK now, although it runs very rich because of the Solex. I'm going to rebuild my original carb and have it re-bored. I just kept fiddling with the timing, fuel mixture, and valve adjustments until I got it running very well. There is a choke on the Solex per se, but it doesn't work like a traditional choke. I think it richens the mixture rather than starve the air flow.

Basically, I don't think I'll ever get mine running 100% until I trash the Solex.

 

Stout,

Where is this "choke" on the Solex? I have a lever of some sort with an opening for a choke cable on the left side of the carb, but it does not do anything. It moves forward and back with zero resistance and does not move anything. A traditional choke should open a valve to let more air in and out. I guess this is suppose to inject more fuel to richen the mixture. I have another lever on the front of the carb that squirts more fuel in once i depress it but the supposed choke lever does not engage this.... Im at a loss. I have my original Carter YF that i rebuilt twice but it needs a pro this time around. Shes old and rotten.

 

Sorry to barge in, I did too had the same problem with the solex carb; however I didn't put a FPR but did tinker with the adjustments on the carb and accelerator pump adjustment and checked and rechecked the timing and dwell...I've have it running as good as it will with the solex....Anyone have any more suggestions, would be appreciated...

 

Yeah that's the choke. It doesn't feel like it is doing anything but it does. I rebuilt my YF as well with no luck -- and I have successfully rebuilt many carbs in my day. From what I've learned, the old Carters had a tendency to wear out on shaft and need rebored in order to work properly. I'm guessing that's what mine needs.