Idling Issues

Finally got the motor in the Ghia fired up yesterday, but it will not idle. Motor is a 1500 SP with 34 pict 3 carb. Accelerator pump seems to work fine as the engine will start and rev without issues but will not idle and does not like to hold a steady rpm.

I will recheck the valves tonight and make sure that the timing is close. Anyone have any suggestions?

Check the idle sylinoid on the left side of the base of the carb.
It should have an electrical jumper from the positive side of the coil (should also jump from there to the electric choke on the right side top of carb).
If it already has a wire, then you need to check it. turn on iginition w/o starting engine, then go around and pull off the hot wire from the coil at the idle sylinoid contact. You should hear a click, when you pull it off. Just seing a spark isn't enough. When in doubt unscrew the sylinoid and ground to engine block with the hot attached to the electrical lead. the plunger should move. If the plunger doesn't move, then the sylinoid is bad and needs to be relplaced. You can temporaily run it by cutting off the plunger end and reinstalling the housing.
Typing this takes about 3 times longer to do than the work to do it...
LOL, Good luck!
KC

KC, thanks! I have checked the cut off and it makes a nice solid click when power is applied. Think there is a need to visually make sure it is moving?

Oh...and I had Clyde rebuild teh carb, so I feel good about that. Unfortunately I am a carb idiot. I messed around with the two screws on the left of the carb with no results. I know that the smaller (mixture?) should be 2.5 to 3 turns out to start, but what about the larger one? Also should turning the larger screw in or out increase idle?

This page has a pretty good write up for adjusting a 34/3.
http://www.vw-resource.com/34pict3.html#carb

Good luck with it! I hate messing with carbs.

fluxcap wrote:This page has a pretty good write up for adjusting a 34/3.
http://www.vw-resource.com/34pict3.html#carb

Good luck with it! I hate messing with carbs.

Thanks!

fluxcap wrote:
Good luck with it! I hate messing with carbs.

X2!

If the clicking is happening, then the plunger is probably working.
It will not hurt to pull and look also, if you pull it blow some carb cleaner through it... Will not hurt

ASBug wrote:Check the idle sylinoid on the left side of the base of the carb.
It should have an electrical jumper from the positive side of the coil (should also jump from there to the electric choke on the right side top of carb).
If it already has a wire, then you need to check it. turn on iginition w/o starting engine, then go around and pull off the hot wire from the coil at the idle sylinoid contact. You should hear a click, when you pull it off. Just seing a spark isn't enough. When in doubt unscrew the sylinoid and ground to engine block with the hot attached to the electrical lead. the plunger should move. If the plunger doesn't move, then the sylinoid is bad and needs to be relplaced. You can temporaily run it by cutting off the plunger end and reinstalling the housing.
Typing this takes about 3 times longer to do than the work to do it...
LOL, Good luck!
KC

Make sure it's screwed in all the way too.

take a flat tip screwdriver, and unscrew the brass plug on the right side of the carb. this is the idle jet. when u pull it out, see if there's a piece of junk in the jet, there's one hole on the face, and two holes on the side, if you stare thru the hole in the face, you should be able to see thru to both of the side holes if you hole it at just the right angle. blow it out if there's any junk in it. this problem will keep comming back if you don't have an airfilter, or if you have one of those aftermarket filter that have the K&N style filter, with out oil. the aftermarket style airfilter neds to be oiled (K&N filte oil works great). if its not oiled its prety much the same as not having a filter at all. everything smaller then a leaf just passes right thru it

Thanks to all that replied and all of the advice!

Clyde got in touch with me and suggested backing off the idle jet half a turn. Tried that and voila it idles!

Still so much to do, but having a running engine makes everything else seem minor.