• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

VW~Snow Trac ST4B carb issues/questions, please help

Melensdad

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
We have a Snow Trac owner/member who is new to using forum software, not sure how to post threads so I am starting this for him. I'm not a parts/repair expert (heck I have a hard time tying my shoes) so hopefully someone else can help him out with an answer.

Here is his question:

I have an snowmaster ST4B it has the solex 32PCI-1 carb. I need to replace the carb. The 32PCI-1s seem to be hard to come by. Is there a common VW replacement carb ? I would appreciate any help

Bill
(member name: wjberezo )​
 
All the Snow Trac's had manual choke carbs. One can get rebuild kits cheap for everything but the 30 PITC. The easy way out is to buy an aftermarket 32 or 34 PIC from a VW'b place or order one thru a VW Magazine or on-line catalog.
Snow Cat's as a rule don't get used for long periods of time, sometimes more than one winter, and the fuel goes bad. It is wise to clean or replace the entire fuel system.
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=3814
 
what is the problem with the old carb.mine had rusted up throttle and choke cross shafts and a rusted float piviot a little dot 3 brake fluid and every thing freed up and it works fine if all the parts are there i shur i can make it work fine again
 
Thanx for the help on the carb. I called CIP1.CA and gave them the throat and distance between studs. They're sending me a 30 PICT carb. When I get it I'll install it and let everyone know how it works.

Bill
 
Put some stabil in your fuel and run it a little before you shut down for the summer next year. It helps to keep it from gumming up inside. Or just run it once a month like I do my generator.
 
CIP1.CA sent me a 30 PICT carb. the distance between the the studs was the wrong size so it didn't fit. I took the top off the old carb, there was a dead spider blocking the outlet beneath the float. I removed the spider put the carb back together and with a little adjusting on the idle screw she works just dandy.

Bill
 
Lyndon said:
All the Snow Trac's had manual choke carbs.
Click to expand...

My '67 ST4 has a 1600 engine but has a Solex 28 PCI. This is not the recommended carb for the 1600 as the throat size is too small and will cause the engine to run lean at high rpm's. Since this is a snow vehicle (not a highway vehicle) I question whether the high rpm thing matters. I have contemplated replacing the carb with a Brosol 30/31 or a 34 pict/3-4. the "newer" carbs have the electric choke. I would love to hear opinions on:
1) Best carb size for the 1600 in the snow trac.
2) Electric -vs- manual choke.
3) single adjust screw -vs- the newer "emissions-control" carbs.
4) vacuum advance -vs- centrifugal advance in the snow trac.

As Lyndon notes, manual chokes were standard. So are centrifugal advance distributors.
 
AKdadio said:
My '67 ST4 has a 1600 engine but has a Solex 28 PCI. This is not the recommended carb for the 1600 as the throat size is too small and will cause the engine to run lean at high rpm's. Since this is a snow vehicle (not a highway vehicle) I question whether the high rpm thing matters. I have contemplated replacing the carb with a Brosol 30/31 or a 34 pict/3-4. the "newer" carbs have the electric choke. I would love to hear opinions on:
1) Best carb size for the 1600 in the snow trac.
2) Electric -vs- manual choke.
3) single adjust screw -vs- the newer "emissions-control" carbs.
4) vacuum advance -vs- centrifugal advance in the snow trac.

As Lyndon notes, manual chokes were standard. So are centrifugal advance distributors.
Click to expand...
i have a 32 pict i got from california j bugs i think it cost me a whole $130.00 for a new noy rebuilt carb has an electric choke and all neceassary vaccuum ports i only used the advance port and wired the electric choke to the run circut not the plus side of the coil the engine runs so strong it will slip the new 180mm clutch it was monety well spent will post some pics when the sun comes up
 
AKdadio said:
My '67 ST4 has a 1600 engine but has a Solex 28 PCI. This is not the recommended carb for the 1600 as the throat size is too small and will cause the engine to run lean at high rpm's. Since this is a snow vehicle (not a highway vehicle) I question whether the high rpm thing matters. I have contemplated replacing the carb with a Brosol 30/31 or a 34 pict/3-4. the "newer" carbs have the electric choke. I would love to hear opinions on:
1) Best carb size for the 1600 in the snow trac.
2) Electric -vs- manual choke.
3) single adjust screw -vs- the newer "emissions-control" carbs.
4) vacuum advance -vs- centrifugal advance in the snow trac.

As Lyndon notes, manual chokes were standard. So are centrifugal advance distributors.
Click to expand...

Both my Snow-Trac and Trac-Master have 1600cc 126A engines and both use Solex 32 PCI carbs and centrifugal advance distributors(009 and 010). That combination seems to work quite well, but it does have a little bit of stumble/flat off of idile. I have never tried any other carbs or distributors so I can't comment on the suitability. I would think that a 34 PICT with a SDVA distributor would be a fun conbination to try out. LINK
 
here is some pics of my carb dist set up i get no stumble and reliable preformance also the 31 pic dosn't require modification or a spacer to work with thw alternator
 

Attachments

  • 31pic carb 001.jpg
    31pic carb 001.jpg
    36.5 KB · Views: 454
  • 31pic carb 002.jpg
    31pic carb 002.jpg
    38.1 KB · Views: 453
Thanks for photos and comments Don. I JUST replace my distributor with a new EMPE with centr-advance. However, the vac-advance is a tempting move. What engine do you have? What carb/dist did you have before you put on the new carb? Did all the improvement in power come from just these changes (or did you do other stuff)?
 
AKdadio said:
Thanks for photos and comments Don. I JUST replace my distributor with a new EMPE with centr-advance. However, the vac-advance is a tempting move. What engine do you have? What carb/dist did you have before you put on the new carb? Did all the improvement in power come from just these changes (or did you do other stuff)?
Click to expand...
i believe its a 1600 i will find out when i pull the juggs . i had the pic 28 worked ok after i got all the buggs worked out how ever hills were 3rd gear and lugging now i have to be careful not to slip the clutch i suppose it needs a hd pressure plate for the 180 clutch
 
Correction, EMPI distributor is what I bought. Don, read the numbers / letter(s) stamped into the case...they should be right behind the crank pulley (right below the generator mounting assembly and fuel pump). I can cross-reference the letter/# to an engine size. You probably know, but the 1600 industrial started with 126A.
 
I have a new not rebuilt snow cat/VW Solex 28PC1 carb with the vw part number tag on it that is for sale if any needs such an animal. It appears to fit many of the earlier vw engines and snow cats powered ones. I have no more VW snow cats so this is extra......and I will most likely hit ebay with it someday if no one here has a need.
 
AKdadio said:
Correction, EMPI distributor is what I bought. Don, read the numbers / letter(s) stamped into the case...they should be right behind the crank pulley (right below the generator mounting assembly and fuel pump). I can cross-reference the letter/# to an engine size. You probably know, but the 1600 industrial started with 126A.
Click to expand...
i know its a 1600 block but the engine was rebuilt and i don't know if it has over size pistons or juggs so to the best of my knowlage its a single port 1600 and i have been impressed with its power
 
dds said:
i know its a 1600 block but the engine was rebuilt and i don't know if it has over size pistons or juggs so to the best of my knowlage its a single port 1600 and i have been impressed with its power
Click to expand...

Yeah, mine does not have the original block, unsure of what has been done by previous owners.
 
AKdadio said:
My '67 ST4 has a 1600 engine but has a Solex 28 PCI........(edited out) ....... I would love to hear opinions on:
1) Best carb size for the 1600 in the snow trac.
2) Electric -vs- manual choke.
3) single adjust screw -vs- the newer "emissions-control" carbs.
4) vacuum advance -vs- centrifugal advance in the snow trac.

As Lyndon notes, manual chokes were standard. So are centrifugal advance distributors.
Click to expand...

I am still hopeful that others might chime in with their experience on carb replacements. - Kelly
 
i can't say mine is the best but it does work and doesn't seem to affect fuel consumption i have the electric choke and vaccuum advance the combo does work good and i ve also made a modified intake air heater to prevent icing in the venturies i wuuld almoste like to have a thermostaticly controled one but this system works and is reliable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top