I've got a carb off a series one land rover to have a shot at rebuilding for someone, i've got the rebuild gasket set with new jets etc, its a solex carb.
any guides online anywhere about how to rebuild it? whats bes tto clean the outside with? i've got carb cleaner and some petrol, do i jsut take it all apart and soak in one of these? tooth brush the outside?

any tips?

Top tip - Ultrasonic cleaning for really good internal cleaning after you have all the crud off the outside.

downside - ultrasonic cleaners are a bit pricey but do a good job.

failing that, clean as you say but blow through all the orifices with an airline to get it as clean as possible.

Take lots of piccies! Lay stuff out as it comes off as if it was an exploded diagram. Then, after taking more piccies of your exploded carb, take each piece, clean and inspect it, then put it back in it's place in the explosion. They are very simple carbs and chances are you'll get it to bits and back together in the same sitting, but it's very easy to forget where bits go if you have to leave it for a couple of days. I find little soft copper brushes are good for cleaning carbs. Like suede cleaning brushes!

You have already got the first part right.
Practice on someone else's carb before you do any of your own.

Common problem with carbs is a distorted mounting flange , use a sheet of fine emery paper and a surface plate if you have one , a sheet of glass works well if not to reface it. Don't forget to check for wear in the throttle spindle, if it's badly worn it may be a job for a carb specialist to sort out

[Edited on 27/6/12 by rusty nuts]

cheers for the tips did it bit by bit so as to not end up with the whole thing everywhere. the only bit i couldn't work out how to take apart was the choke assembly. its a weird disc thing with two springs. its easy enough to take off again, so left it well alone.

anyways, before i started, sprayed with carb cleaner and wire brushed thed outside, and rinsed. the rebuild kit is from john craddock, a bit confused though, as i'd taken everything apart, sprayed with carb cleaner toothbrush and compressed air, and put it all back together. didn't even use half kit....
found this exploded diagram
http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel/SolexCarbs/ZenithSP169.htm
and i replaced everything in the diagram that was in the kit. must cover multiple carb models, i hope!

thing is, many of the screws were pretty loose, so looks like someone has already had it apart

the throttle spindle and flap is very loose, and i didn't take it apart, there's nothing i could have done to it anyway

fingers crossed it works! seemed easy enough, but it is a very simple carb really.

[Edited on 27/6/12 by blakep82]