Solex 34 PICT-3 adjustment

Note: Before we begin to adjust the carburetor, the valves, points, and timing should be set. This is important, and they should be done in the right order, as you start with a cold engine, and end with it warm.

Valve adjustment is always done with the engine stone cold.

0.004 inches (0.1 mm)is the factory setting for pre-71 engines. Some folks find that this is too tight after the engine warms and use 0.006 inches (0.15 mm). Thats engines with a number starting B..., D..., E..., F..., H..., L..., or a plain number. (I've always used the factory setting on my H... engine without any problems.)

0.006 inches (.15 mm) is used on 71 and up engines. That's engines with a number starting AB..., AC..., AD..., AE..., AF..., AH..., AJ..., AK..., AR..., AS....

The aim of the tappet (valve) setting is to provide virtually NO gap when the engine is at operating temperature.

The points are adjusted to .016 inches (0.4 mm). Replace them if the contacts are pitted or the cam rubbing block is badly worn. Add a touch of grease to the cam lobs at the same time. Also pull off the rotor arm and take a look in the centre of the spindle it rides on. If your distributor has a felt pad in there, put a few drops of oil (engine oil is fine) on it to lubricate the distributor drive - don't overdo it though - a few drops only. Some distributors don't have this felt pad - in that case skip this procedure.

Setting the Timing

The usual timing settings are:

• 1200 engines with single vacuum distributor - 10BTDC. This is set static - engine off (or at idle with a timing light and the vacuum line disconnected).
• 1300/1500/1600 engines with single vacuum distributor - 7.5BTDC. This is set static - engine off (or at idle with a timing light and the vacuum line disconnected).
• 1300/1500/1600 engines using the double vacuum distributor - 5ATDC. This must be set using a timing light, with the engine idling and the vacuum lines connected so the retard line can pull in the 5ADTC (After TDC).

Note: Any VW engine using the Bosch 009 (or other centrifugal distributor) must be set at the maximum advance with the engine at 3000+rpm, and let the idle advance fall where it may. The reason for this is that the 009s vary in the total amount of advance they make, and the maximum advance is more important than idle advance. The normal setting is a max advance of 28-30BTDC. If you have high quality non-oxygenated fuels, you may be able to use 30-32 degrees advance. The idle advance will then usually fall in at about 5-8BTDC. Please note that VW never used the 009 distributor for any of it's beetle models, and so, although it will work, you may get flat spots and poor pick-up when using this distributor.

Checking the Choke

Now start the engine and warm it up. Take the air cleaner off the top of the carby (if it's the oil filled type be careful, you don't want a shoe full of oil) and check that the choke butterfly is standing vertical. If it isn't, run the engine some more to make sure it's throughly warm, and check the choke butterfly again. If it is not standing vertical, the butterfly needs adjusting or fixing (another topic).

It's important to set the valves, points, timing and check the choke (in this order) before setting the carburetor, they all work together for a smooth running engine.

Setting the 34PICT/3 Carburetor

Note: The correct idle speed is important with the 34PICT/3 carburetor, which is more complicated (and more sensitive) than the earlier types. It has three separate fuel circuits in it (only two in older carburetors), and the 850-900 rpm idle is designed so the airflow through the carburetor is balanced for the idle circuit fuel flow. That's why it has both Volume and Bypass screws in the side (the earlier ones had only Volume screws). This way the idle speed can be set correctly using the Bypass screw without touching the screw on the throttle arm, which has to be set exactly right.

1. The engine should be warmed up, but switched off. On the left side of the carburetor you will find the throttle arm, which is controlled by the accelerator cable that runs to the accelerator pedal in the cabin. On the top of the throttle arm, facing to the rear of the car, is a screw called the Fast Idle Adjuster. This works with the choke to give a smooth idle on a cold engine. As the choke warms (in concert with the warming engine, hopefully) the butterfly valve in the throat of the carburetor opens and the Fast Idle Adjuster moves down the stepped cam, reducing the engine idle speed.

   Note: Screwing the Fast Idle Adjuster screw in more will increase the idle speed, but doing so messes up the Volume Control and Bypass Screw adjustments. This destroys the idle geometry, and the car won't run right.

2. Again, make sure that the choke is fully open and the Fast Idle Adjuster screw is resting on the very bottom of the stepped cam.
3. Unscrew the Fast Idle Adjuster screw until it is clear of the stepped cam. Screw it in until it JUST touches the very bottom of the stepped cam -- NOT on any of the steps themselves. Now screw it in another 1/4 turn -- no more! This sets the throttle butterfly open the required 0.004 inch, so you can use the Bypass Screw (read on) to set the idle speed correctly. From this point on, leave the Fast Idle Adjuster screw alone.
4. The carburetor is adjusted with the Volume Control Screw and the Bypass Screw on the left side of the carburetor.

   Note: Before setting the Volume Control Screw per the step below, turn the Bypass Screw (the larger one) out a couple of turns, just to get things started.

5. The Volume Control Screw is the smaller of the two adjusting screws. Screw it in GENTLY until it bottoms -- you don't want to open up the hole. Now unscrew it exactly 2-1/2 turns. This is the starting setting.

   Note: Though you want to be careful to not screw the Volume Control Screw in too far, you also want to make sure that it is initially firmly seated before unscrewing it as specified. If you don't start with the Volume Control Screw firmly seated, you may have trouble adjusting the idle with the Bypass Screw, to the point where you may have it turned all the way in and still have the idle too high. This condition will cause stumbling on acceleration if not corrected.

   Also Note: The Volume Control Screw is NOT used to set the idle -- that's the job of the Bypass Screw. I would set the Volume Control Screw at 2.5 turns, then go to the Bypass Screw and turn it whichever way (most likely out) that will give you approximately the idle you want -- this is a starting point. Then return to the Volume Control Screw and set it according to the procedure. Then back to the Bypass Screw to set the idle at exactly 850-900 rpm.

6. With the Volume Control Screw out 2.5 turns, start the engine and use the Bypass Screw to set the idle at 850 rpm (fast idle if you don't have a tachometer). For a semi-automatic car, use 900 rpm.
7. Go back to the Volume Screw and adjust it slowly to obtain the fastest idle (usually out -- counter-clockwise). It should not be much outside the range of 2-3 turns (1/2 turn in/out from the basic 2-1/2 turn out setting). Then turn the screw back IN very slowly until the revs drop by about 25-30 rpm (slightly leaner). If you don't have a tachometer, listen until you can just hear the revs start to drop, maybe as little as 1/8th turn on the Volume Screw.
8. Now use the Bypass screw again to reset the idle speed to 850 - 900rpm.

   Note: If you find it difficult or impossible to make these settings, it is possible that you could have stripped threads on any of these adjusters, a damaged hole for the tapered screw, or a damaged needle valve or O-ring.

   It is also possible that you have a vacuum leak (i.e., leaking of air into the intake manifold). If there are any holes in the manifold or at any of the connection points, then air can be sucked into the manifold, causing the fuel-to-air mixture to become too lean. This can cause (among other things) adjustment of the carburetor impossible.

That's it - you're done.

You should now have an engine which purrs like a kitten.