Helping our less fortunate brethren!

[mac]

Evening Girls,

Nothing to do with 300s, but much to do with Solex and F2N.

I'm sure he won't mind me posting this here - I was approached recently by a Renault bod (we can't all be perfect) who has issues with an F2N fitted with a Solex carb of unknown type. He had seen my "carbs in bitz" thread and was taken by my fetish for taking things apart (without necessarily any evidence to suggest I can put them together again).

Photos supplied allowed the carb to be identified as a Solex Z13 as fitted to some R19s, R21s and 1.7 Clios similar to "our" Z10/11s but with the added complexity of a vacuum operated secondary barrel and a curious throttle drum/spring arrangement.

Being local (ish) said Renault bod brought said carb over to my cave for me to have a play. A very cursory first look showed it to be suffering from the "standard" Z series base warpage.

The upshot is that I will carry out an examination and rebuild - after all I've not had a Z13 apart before!

The unit was present in a moderately grubby condition but not unduly so - suggesting that major leakages have not been an issue.





A pre dismantling examination revealed the following:-
A failed gasket between the base and thick insulating block,
A bent and distorted throttle return spring which has been displaced,
A missing screw from the throttle drum cover,
Two air cleaner housing bolts not supplied with the unit,
Renix vacuum source pipe blocked with a bolt,
Secondary throttle vacuum servo has epoxy around pipe connection (sealing a leak?),
A wiring plug with butchered wiring, and a severed earth lead.





Removal of the top cover showed a mismatch of securing screws,





The Z series float is notorious for failing porous and absorbing fuel - the usual test is to accurately measure the weight which when sound should be no more than 6g. The float in this unit would seem to be fine.



The choke cam arrangement, and choke spindle/flap are similar to that in the other Z series units,





Dismantling and examination of the choke pull off diaphragm mechanism revealed no faults and the diaphragm is suitable for re-use,



The float chamber vent valve is however quite different to the Z10 but is straightforward in operation and is serviceable.



The top cover is now in the cleaning tank and will be rebuilt tomorrow (before I start on the main body of the carb,

Meanwhile my bench is thus -



Work in progress - Mac.

[macplaxton]

Very good Mac!

Another chapter to add to Mac's Big Book of Dali Carbs.

[Chris_C]

"The Mac Association for the Rehabilitation of Old Carbs"

MAROC then?

Nice one mate, I'm sure the owner is very grateful.

[mac]

Let's continue children - i'm in a bad mood - either I've got a head cold coming on or my hay fever has decided to have a go at me.

The carb top and it's components are now clean and checked - allowing my signature dish - carb in bitz,



Top rebuilt - only new parts need have been a top gasket and two new choke flap screws, and running a tap through the choke spindle threads,









And now to begin on the main body, as said before signs of use!,



One thing of interest that explains some of the "extra" wiring was found lurking under a plastic cover (which also concealed the idle mixture screw) - an idle passage thermistor heating disc,



The full load enrichment diaphragm seems to be in good order and can be re-used! It looks a bit rippled in the pic but is actually OK.



Likewise the accelerator pump diaphragm is also in good order and does not need replacement.



After a busy morning it's all in pieces -


The last thing before the body goes in "the tank" was to address the warped base which was showing a consistent degree of distortion amounting to 0.25mm in both axis.
The pics below show before first cut, and final result!







Tomorrow we'll see how the main body has cleaned up - and start the fettling of the body components.
Now I need my trough!

All for now - Mac.

[macplaxton]

Tomorrow we'll see how the main body has cleaned up - and start the fettling of the body components.

I'll see if I can find some time away from my Easter egg to "tune in"

[mac]

Update, update,
MAROC now operating with tissues stuffed up nose!

Main body now cleaned and prepared for rebuilding.













Beginning the refurb of the components, linkages etc. priming the levers and links prior to coating with my favoured YZP spray (see choke cam).
Taking the accelerator pump cover apart.






Oh, and you didn't really need to know about my cold?, hay fever? Did you?

Mac

[Chris_C]

Much enjoying reading this. Thanks for writing it up Mac

[brainz]

wow it looks like a completely different carb, it must be quite satisfying afterwards when you realize what a brilliant job you have done, even kleenex is trying to steal some of the credit, hope you are tissue free in no time.

[mac]

Today's labours,

As suspected the liberally spread epoxy on the secondary throttle vacuum servo was there to attach a broken pipe connection - now loose! - cleaning off the flaky flaky reveals,





Chances of aquiring a replacement, not great, so fix it. 7 rabbits, a wildebeest and half a pack of garibaldi may have died to produce a suitable glue - pipe now solid.

In my signature style the main body components are now refurb'd and laid out for inspection,



Peripherals now fettled, replacement gaskets made and all ready to rebuild,


Off on one of my endless trips to the Shamen tomorrow (120ml round trip to the Papworth for somebody to not know what's wrong and send me away with some spells and a pinch of yum yum root) so now't will get done until Wednesday when "the great rebuild" will proceed. Then it's basic settings, make up a new loom for the reduced wiring needs, write an instruction sheet for what to fit where, and what to adjust and it's, hopefully, another problem sol-ved!

PS - nose stopped running - at the mo.

Mac.

[mac]

And so to the final assembly,
Rebuilding the linkages,





Two further problems, a completely blocked main jet (cleared) and a completely blocked accelerator pump nozzle (no chance to clear it so replaced),



The throttle drum and spring fitted correctly,



The top refitted,



Beginning to sort the (now simplified) wiring out,



The choke cable in the correct position with the choke flap open,
And with the choke flap closed,





The bits that have been replaced,



The vacuum servo refitted and the wiring for the idle passage pre-heat and idle solenoid completed,



Another couple of views of the completed unit,





Mac.

Seems like Photobucket is screwing around at the mo - pics randomly not appearing! Will have a further look tomorrow.

[Chris_C]

Pics working here.

Will be interesting to see how the owner finds it compared to before!

[mac]

Pics here too this morning! Odd problem, on PhB uploads were showing as failed but some were appearing in the folder.
When linking, some would appear some not. All normal today - uploads fine, and "missing" pics have appeared in thread.

How will the "customer" find it - rather better I hope!

Mac.

[bogbasic]

So you're a picaholic, too. They all look excellent to me.

[mac]

All good? things come to an end!

The wiring with a new plug installed (to feed the idle solenoid and pre heat thermistor),



The crankcase breather hose in position - still has its restrictor,



The final article - complete with new gaskets, bits "left over", pipes, and choke cable (I've guesstimated the fixing point on the carb which may need adjusting when fitting to the car),



Finally crib sheets for the "customer",



Mac.

[thododd]

Incredible service!! Kudos good sir