Old 316 / new Weber gremlin

[Guest]

Hi all,

This is my first post, (well, actually my second, the first may have been obliterated by the site problems on Friday). Hope someone can help.

Before Christmas I got around (at last!) to having a Weber carb fitted on my beloved 1988 316.

Whilst the difference to the crappy old Solex was incredible, the new carb seems a wee bit sensitive to a problem.

After starting from cold, I travel 2-3 miles to the point where the engine is just nicely at operating temperature, and the choke is in. At this point the engine stutters and dies if I let the revs reduce (i.e. stopping at junctions, lifting off the gas pedal etc..).

Restarting, (and maybe restarting again at the next junction) seems to right the problem, and the car runs fine from then on for the rest of the day.

This occasionally used to happen before, but only about 1 in every 10 journeys, as opposed to every time with the new.

The guys that fitted the carb are excellent (and BMW trained) so I'm not dissing them, but they've adjusted the settings once (weak mix) and the problem is still there.

Other things that may be related are:
Engine running on occasionally when switching off (didn't happen before)
'Lumpiness' in the ride when coasting (far worse with the old carb)
Struggles when trying to start sometimes (just as irregular as before)

I've booked it in again for Tuesday (18 January) to have the settings checked again. Does anyone have any other pointers that I could recommend to them. (Not stopping for the first 5-6 miles is not an option!!!)

The car has 95000 on the clock.

I've tried every possible combination of choke in/out against time combination.

I've nearly had two shunts this week when it's died on a roundabout and the car behind has been caught out before I've had time to get the hazards on!

[johnl320]

have you ever heard of carb icing? that could be your problem by the symptoms you describe especially in this cold weather although it doesn't have to be below zero for it to happen. If you have the standard air filter on make sure its drawing air from around the exhaust manifold , hopes this helps, john

[Si316]

Check all the timing gear on the car. ive been having so many problems recently with mine. Ive had the same thing happen as you and also really rough running on anything but full throttle.

Is the carb new or used?

Have you noticed much difference in performance over the stock carb? alot of people say the weber is rubbish but i think its great when its set up properly.

oh yeah and welcome to the zone

[Guest]

Thanks.

Internet was playing up, so I didn't get chance to get back on earlier.

Carb is brand new. Generally speaking it's been great. Much more responsive and up for it.

Took it in yesterday. Apparently the timing was spot on, they checked it last time. They modded the carb to take into account the possible icing, and reduced the mix, it was running lean.

Used it this morning; it was ****ing awful. Stalled every time I stopped until I got halfway to work. They've adjusted the idle today so give it a few days and we'll see...

There's still a slight judder though when coasting...hmmm...

Good to be in the Zone though, I've admired the site quite often over the past year or so.

Nice motor. That's the look I'm after. Unfortunately my bodywork ranges from pink to rusty, so until that's sorted I'm extremely envious...