Carburetor for a VW 1600 Turbulent

[ktwlf]

My aircraft has a Solex 32 PHN carb with a flat spot at around 1500 RPM. When I've spoken to carb specialists they've told me that they recommend newer 3 jet carbs. I'm guessing the successor would be the Solex 34 pict-3.

The problem with the Turbulent is that there's not a lot of room under the cowling - what do other people use, and would it involve a lot of work/paperwork/testing to change?

[JohnLindsay]

Christopher,

Have you always had the flat spot or is it something that has developed recently? If the latter, it could be that the accelerator pump is operating below par, in which case an overhaul kit from Gower and Lee (Jeff Carter) might put things right. I run a Solex 32 PHN-1 carb on the 1834cc VW in my VP-1 and, touch wood, to date it has been flat spot free.

John.

[ktwlf]

The previous owner has posted on the internet that he was 'plagued with this flat spot' back in 2011. Not sure whether he ever got round to trying the overhaul kit, though he said he was going to.

[Chris Martyr]

With VW's. most people who don't use the Solex carburettor, use the 150CD Stromberg. It's a great combination with a VW, but it does stick out in a few more places than the Solex does and if you were to opt for it, you would have to make a cut-out in the cowling and probably modify your throttle linkage too, as well as having to make an adaptor for your inlet manifold and carb.heat . As for the faffing about and paperwork.......................Is the Pope a Catholic ??

John has said exactly what I would have said. Get on to Gower and Lee , or whichever supplier you feel comfortable with and order an overhaul kit and any other upgrades they recommend. If you're not sure what the previous owner has done, then assume it's nil.
If you already have a Solex then stick with it. The Turb. has a pretty tight fitting engine cowl and the Solex is a nice low profile carburettor whilst the Stromberg's dashpot does tend to protrude upwards a little. Good Luck

[ktwlf]

Thanks for the feedback - if the current carb can be made to work, then it sounds as if it's worth persevering with it.