Bi Metal spring for solex auto choke 28 IBT

[Quintin]

looking for this spring as mine has rusted into oblivion and would rather have the Plein air on the road rather then sitting in the garage

 

[angel]

Hi Quintin, better to convert to manual choke as these electric chokes never worked fine.Even Renault realized it and suggested the conversion in the factory manuals!
Did you receive my email? I am looking after a measurement for my Plein Air replica, if you have the time...

 

[Quintin]

yes i did.......my father has been quite busy and hasn't had the time yet to measue.....he just yesterday desided on getting the thing to run again


also, what carb would you sudgest to put on?

 

[angel]

Solex 28 IBT was originally fitted to Dauphines and the heating for the bi-metal choke spring was provided by exhaust gas heat (contrary to R4 electrically heated bi-metal spring). Does your R4 have the Dauphine-like mechanism? (we have never seen it here on European-spec R4s).
The manual-choke equivalent is the 28 IBS fitted only to some Spanish built R1125s, you can fit only the choke mechanism from this to your existing carb. But it would be hard to find. The most popular option is the Zenith 28IF. Dell'Orto 28 FRD will also fit, Solex did not make any other 28mm carburettor for official R4 use.
You have a lot of options in 32mm size but you will first need to replace the manifold (or at least modify it.

 

[Quintin]

yes it has that system.....it was done as a custom modification by the previous owner. still has the manual choke wire attached to the knob in the dash... I think my dads going to get one of the old Zenith carbs he has cleaned up and rebuilt to put in there

 

[angel]

Did they drill the exhaust manifold to pass the tubing loop for the choke warm-up, as it is on Dauphines/4CVs??!!!

 

[Quintin]

yes it is.....

 

[Clifton]

I have a 1957 Dauphine fitted with the Solex 28 IBT and the automatic choke mechanisim is causing a lot of problems. Is a rebuild kit for a 28 IDT the same or shall I just give up trying to get it to work and try and find a Zenth 28IF or Dell'Orto 28 FRD?