Hi guys, I get the feeling (hope) this issue is probably down to chokes (in which case someone far more familiar with them might be able to tell me an adjustment to try) but thought I'd throw it out there... When starting the van (T4 1700 standard twin carb) from cold I have no trouble, it fires up within a couple of turns of the starter. However, if I drive it for < 10 mins or so, leave it for 10 mins or so, and then try and restart it I just get a van that turns over like its run out of fuel (it hasn't), it just turns over and over and over and over and over and over [yawn] and over and over. All I can think is that in 10 mins the chokes have warmed up enough to switch off and when restarting it's then not able to fire? Leaving it longer, so maybe 40 mins it seems to start ok again. Like I say hoping its chokes but I'd have thought than thin metal would cool down and contract quite quick, especially with not a very warm engine under them. Any ideas? Cheers Stu
This is probably just normal. In general theres too much fuel around when hot especially if the chokes come back on. Normal hot start is pedal to the floor and turn over until it catches then release the pedal. Because airflow is low the carbs dont feed much fuel into the venturi so this simply has the effect of letting lots of air in to dilute the fuel. However leaky carburettors or boiling fuel in carburettors can make even more fuel drain into the engine when it is hot and stopped and make the problem worse.
could be I guess - check the choke operation, pop the airbox off and check they are closed properly when cold - and open when warm. You can adjust them by loosening the 3 x screws on the carb and rotating the choke unit
It might be the other way round - your chokes are staying on too long or they are stuck? With engine cold ,you need to take airfilters off, look down the top of the Carb inlet pipe, loosen the 3 screws (just a little) move the position of the choke does it move the butterly flap easily or is it a bit sticky? If sticky carbs need a clean? If ok then adjust the choke position so butterly flap is closed across the chamber but not too tight past that. Tighten the screws and do the other carb. You may have to undo the screws and take the choke element out also - check its not burnt out (easy enough to notice inside elements).If all ok , refit airfilter etc go for a run 15 mins. Stop remove airfilter and what position is the butterfly now? Still closed or fully open? Should be fully open?
I've had a couple of type 4 engines & they always seem to suffer from choke issues if they still have the original PDSIT solex carbs on. In my experience the best thing you can do with them is to disconnect the wire form the choke element (& tape the end up as it's live!) then take off th eair cleaner assembly, unscrew the 3 screws that hold the choke element a little then turn it round so the butterfly is vertical, i.e it's fully open, then tighten up the 3 screws & refit the air cleaner - you don't really need the chokes - it may tick over a little slow or lumpy for a few minutes if you are starting it in cold weather, but much better all round. Like Davidoft says, usually need foot to the floor to start when warm, but it should start. I've done it on both my type 4 buses and it makes the world of difference. You never have to worry about the chokes sticking on, etc when the bus is warm. Hope this helps.
Cheers all, never really suffered from it before in the 4 or so years I've had him so thought I'd check it out. Will try a few things at the weekend and see if I get anywhere (literally). Cheers
Mine with twin Solex was always as good as gold, but the chokes and their associated fast idle mechanism are more complicated than they might be and cause all kinds of problems if not set up correctly.
