1974 Velosolex 4600 V1

Here is a customer's yellow 1974 Velosolex 4600 V1 that I will be reconditioning in the coming weeks:



As you can see, the headlight, tailight and toolbox are missing. The paint is peeling off of the frame, and some parts are rusty. The engine will need to be rebuilt.

I have:
-totally disassembled the bike and engine.
-sent the frame pieces to the painter
-cleaned and decarbonized the engine pieces
-replaced the crankcase bearing (6203 2RS C3) and the seal
-Flex-honed the cylinder and painted it with high-temperature paint
-cleaned the points, tested the ignition coil and condenser, and made a new spark plug wire assembly.
-cut the decompression valve seat using the special valve seat tool
-resealed the front of the fuel pump

Very nice Brian, thank you very much for the pics too!
Good luck with that Lemosolex!

Thanks, Bruno!
I am rebuilding the engine...I have:
-painted the small front fender white
-installed a new plastic dust protective plate
-adjusted the points (timing)
-installed a new fuel pump seat and diaphragm
-installed a new stator bearing, 6202 2RS C3
-installed a new spark plug wire
-cleaned and gapped the spark plug

You really know what u´r doing, makes you a Solex-guru, therefore the frenchenized title you got
Hey, i heard you use engine enamel to paint the solexes, is that 2comp paint in cans, or 1 comp, spray-can or else?
This white frond fender seem to only be on these american solexes, right?

Thank you for this great honor, Bruno!

For painting, I use this paint: Dupli-color engine enamel with ceramic:
http://www.duplicolor.com/products/engine.html
(I am a good mechanic, but not such a good painter, so this is good enough for me and most of my customers. It is easy to use, does a nice job, and is durable.)
Here is a 4600 V2 that I painted yellow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63216488@N00/3342371925/

The white small front fenders can be found on the yellow, blue, or orange 4600 V1s and V2s. (The black 4600s have black small front fenders.)
The 4600 V1 was sold in many countries, not only in the US. The 4600 V2 was only sold in the US and Canada. (The 4600 V3 was only sold in the US, but the small front fender is painted the same color as the frame.)
The small white front fender can also be found on the model 5000 after July 1973, and also on the Pli-Solex. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63216488@N00/303932212/

http://velosolex4600.over-blog.com

Yes, i have seen the results on photos, you are doing fine, you could be getting the title of "Grand peintre" very soon!
Seriously, it looks very good, how is the paint to handle, compared to regular spray can?
No need for heat curing or so?
We don´t find that paint at the hardware store here, i will be looking for a local dealer.
We have bought a really big sandblaster box at the shop, i may be be stripping some ugly rusty modern Solex frames for black powder coating, wonder if it is worth doing the sandblastering by myself?
The frenchies always says powder is the right way, do you think it may be a bit thick and look dipped?

Thank you, Bruno.
This place has the paint and ships worldwide I believe:
http://www.jegs.com/p/Duplicolor/Duplicolor-Engine-Enamel/763060/10002/-1

This paint is slightly thicker than regular spray paint and it is more resistant to the gasoline and oil, since it is made for an engine. I am not a good painter and I find it easy to use. But the weather must not be humid and the parts must be very clean. No need for heat curing but you must apply the second coat within 10 minutes or so, or else you must wait for the paint to cure.

I would like very much to own a sandblasting booth, but I live in a very small house, attached to other houses on either side (row houses). I hope to at least buy a small one soon.

I personally don't like or need powder-coating. I am not entering the bikes in any show. All of my Solexes, and almost all of my customers' Solexes are used for transportation and fun, and not generally put on display. Most people here want a Solex that is dependable and safe, and it is only necessary that the bike looks presentable. As you can see in my videos, some people don't care at all about the looks of the bike...just that it starts right up and runs well. After painting or powder-coating, on most Solexes, it is necessary to clean the paint from the bolt holes in order to let the electrical ground pass through the frame parts back to the engine. And, with the powder-coating, since it is so thick, there is often difficulty fitting some parts back together without scraping them.

I am finished reconditioning the engine and will have photos posted soon...still waiting for the owner to bring the parts back from the painter. I will start cleaning and preparing the wheels and such.

That´s what i thought would happen with a too thick powder coating...
I am not really chasing for a mint-look Solex (i have one and it is enough), if i would let go for the powder it would mainly be for the ease of it.
Powder cannot be touched up, that´s not so good.
But wet paint is always a stinky mess and i could throw in the solexes with another black powder batch i order.

I have too many machines and need to get rid of a few very rusty but well working common examples, selling them in a nearly new shape would get them some kind of future, so they don´t end up broken behind a barn again, where no one will take care of them.

The Solex is easely sandblasted in a small booth, but the compressor cost may be an issue because of the high noise they make, you need a lot of air and silent compressors that big are awful expensive.
Using only aluminium silicate instead of sand is a good deal because of it´s agressivity, it would go many times faster and the need of air will be greatly reduced.

I will be looking the the paint, thank you very much for these hints and tricks of yours!

Got in contact with JEGS, no one will send spray cans internationally.
Not suprised, i tried for a month to buy a pond air-pump from US, no way it could be done, some businesses simply don´t ship overseas.
Sweden is really a 3rd world country thinking of what´s available in terms of hardware, paints, parts, reasonably sized clothes or special stuff.
Compared to Sweden, France is an Eldorado for fixers and US, of course, beats it all.
I´ll be passing at the hot-rod and american car part shop near me this week, and see if they have something similar.

Perhaps the info on this page will help find a retailer for the Dupli-Color paint:
http://www.duplicolor.com/solutions/wheretobuy.html

I have finished reconditioning the engine. More parts used:
-fuel tank filter
-small metal flywheel cover
-gasket for small flyhweel cover
-nut for small flywheel cover
-stator bearing, 6202 2RS C3
-fuel overflow tube
-gasket and seal set

-cleaned the carburetor and air filter

It is very important that the various engine nuts and bolts be tightened in the proper sequence,
and that they are torqued to the proper specifications.
Check the service manual posted on my Velosolex 4600 site for the proper sequence and torque.

Hopefully, the customer will request a new white fuel tank and new white flyhweel hood.

Looks real neat, you´re the one!
Got in contact with DupliColor but alas:
"Currently we are not able to distribute the Dupli-Color Line in Sweden.
There is another company who has registered the Dupli-Color name, which
prevents us from distributing our product in many areas of Europe.
The trademark "DUPLICOLOR" is registered by the German Company Vogelsang."
Once again, germans interfering in french business, holy war!
I may find something equivalent and useful to our members, i´ll be back with info.
Dunno if it is allright to ask but how much do you charge for an average, complete motor rebuild with new gaskets, membrane, piston rings, honing, replacement of 6203, 6203 and belonging joint and so on?

Hi Bruno,
Please feel free to ask any Solex-related question with no problem. I generally charge about $100 USD plus parts and shipping to recondition a Solex Cyclomoteur 3800 engine.
http://velosolex4600.over-blog.com/pages/_BrianSolex_Services_-1007078.html

I have: polished the wheels; cleaned, greased and adjusted the bearings;
cleaned and lubricated the freewheel; installed new Michelin tires.




Also, the parts have returned from the painter.
And I have polished the handlebars and pedal-crank assembly.



Photo Album

The Solex is all assembled.
I have installed a new headlight and taillight, a new sheath for the decompressor cable, a new rear brake cable,
new wiring, several new bolts and nuts, etc.
I have cleaned and painted the exhaust muffler.
The customer is going to polish the bike and install the stickers.
I will try to make a video and take some better photos tomorrow or later this week, depending on the weather and such.

The engine started on the first try and it runs very well.

Here is a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqcS9CUZfTs







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqcS9CUZfTs

Happy New 2010 Brian and congratulations to a great yellow Solexurection!
You´ll allways make me blush, thinking of the pile of Solex junque i own, immobile projects "of the future"
No tracks of ceramic paint yet, but i still gotta ask at the speed shope.

Thanks, Bruno!

I have installed a new white fuel tank and a new white flywheel hood...also, I have taken some new photos and a new video:

Photo Album

Video







The customer will pick up this Solex at the end of the month. He also owns another 4600 V1, and an S 3800.

Impressive!!

Enjoyed reading about it and looking at the photos!

Bets regards

Malkus

Thank you, Malkus!