Idle Adjustment

[Billy Smalls]

Hi

I’ve noticed my idle isn’t quite as smooth as it could be and has got slightly lumpier recently. It is fine accelerating and doesn’t hunt as such but it doesn’t make the steering wheel vibrate quite a bit.

On my old Citroen (with Solex carb) it was easy to adjust the idle speed / mixture with a screwdriver in 30 seconds

Is it possible to tweak the single Stromberg? On a 1970 DL Auto….

I know to do a full on service, I need to be checking timing, compression etc. but I thought I’d start with a little tweak, if possible?

Cheers

[arcturus]

Sorry billy but the LAST thing to adjust is the idle

[Billy Smalls]

Originally Posted by arcturus

Sorry billy but the LAST thing to adjust is the idle

what's the first?

timing
tappets

[swedishandgerman]

As above, Billy-Man

There's so much that can cause bad idling and it's almost never anything to do with carb settings

Have a look at this How To thing about sorting out your distributor

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=136261

It's USUALLY points....

For the small cost of getting a new set of points and a condensor, it's worth changing them. You need to look at the last 3 numbers of your distributor number when you order parts - I expect the last numbers on yours are 077

Also, while you're down there. check the cap and the rotor (again, dead cheap) and check the vacuum can holds vacuum by sucking it and check the distributor shaft by grabbing it, twisiting it and checking that it springs back

Hey, you're only in Bristol. Tuning up old engines is my geeky hobby. So if you ever want to drive the hour-and-a-bit down to Exeter, I'd be delighted to show you how to get that running as sweet as a nut

[Derek UK]

Originally Posted by Billy Smalls

what's the first?

timing
tappets

Tappets first.

[Billy Smalls]

Originally Posted by swedishandgerman

As above, Billy-Man

There's so much that can cause bad idling and it's almost never anything to do with carb settings

Have a look at this How To thing about sorting out your distributor

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=136261

It's USUALLY points....

For the small cost of getting a new set of points and a condensor, it's worth changing them. You need to look at the last 3 numbers of your distributor number when you order parts - I expect the last numbers on yours are 077

Also, while you're down there. check the cap and the rotor (again, dead cheap) and check the vacuum can holds vacuum by sucking it and check the distributor shaft by grabbing it, twisiting it and checking that it springs back

Hey, you're only in Bristol. Tuning up old engines is my geeky hobby. So if you ever want to drive the hour-and-a-bit down to Exeter, I'd be delighted to show you how to get that running as sweet as a nut

Hi There

Finally got round to looking at the points - one face has a tiny 'mountain' of metal, the other a tiny 'crevice' of metal - like a male / female connection!!!!!!

ordered some off Brookhouse, so will fit them whilst refrrign to your very handy guide, cheers.

And thanks for the offer of help - kind of you, cheers.

Last time I set points was about 17 years ago, so the guide is useful....

[Derek UK]

Your points could well be very old. The pip and pit makes it difficult to set the gap. Used to be that you filed them flat again but easier to fit new ones. Best to fit a new condensor at the same time as this also minimises the sparking across the points that causes this problem.

[arcturus]

Bite the bullet and get electronic ignition. No more points setting

[Billy Smalls]

Originally Posted by arcturus

Bite the bullet and get electronic ignition. No more points setting

Yeah, I've considered it. How much all in? and is it a simple case of inserting a 'unit' into the distributor cap.

I had 123-ignition on my old Citroen Ami and have to say it was nice to not even think about it...

but setting or replacing the points is a 10 minute job...did it tonight and it's running really well - at idle, under load, on compression (though it is auto. so that's not strictly true)...

cheers

[arcturus]

I think that the "123" is about as good as they come. They have been set up with a curve specifically for the B20b. Just google it. Easy installation