Hello to all...I am looking for some good manuals/articles on the set-up, care and maintenance of my Dellorto DRLA 45's. Can't seem to find any manuals available. Also, what is the difference between the DRLA and DHLA models?......Thanks
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Dellorto Tech Book by Bob Thomlinson:
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/0101.htm
I always thought that a DRLA stood up and a DHLA lays down. Different orientations.
So a DRLA would be a "Downdraft" and a DHLA would be a "Sidedraft".
Well there ya go.....another piece of information to be stowed away....Thanks for the info....Larry
Just to cornfuse things even more, my Dad's Ford Furgeson farm tractor had a Stromberg "Updraft" carburetor that did exactly that.
@Gordon Nichols posted:Dellorto Tech Book by Bob Thomlinson:
Unfortunately, out of print and unobtainium. .
Back when I had a nasty flat spot on my Moto Guzzi Monza I bought this book to sort it out.
https://www.dellortoshop.com/c...arburetor_Books.html
It’s about their motorcycle carbs, but it unlocked the previous black magic voodoo of carburetion for me. The DRLAs were relatively easy to understand once I understood how a carburetor works.
Spoiler Alert: Carbs suck and FI blows.
eta: There’s also a good bit of DHLA info on the interwebs due to their popularity on Brit 4 cylinders. Pretty much everything transfers.
@dlearl476 posted:Unfortunately, out of print and unobtainium. .
Back when I had a nasty flat spot on my Moto Guzzi Monza I bought this book to sort it out.
https://www.dellortoshop.com/c...arburetor_Books.htmlIt’s about their motorcycle carbs, but it unlocked the previous black magic voodoo of carburetion for me. The DRLAs were relatively easy to understand once I understood how a carburetor works.
Spoiler Alert: Carbs suck and FI blows.
eta: There’s also a good bit of DHLA info on the interwebs due to their popularity on Brit 4 cylinders. Pretty much everything transfers.
Great.....Thanks
Ok, so that link sucked so try this one for rebuild info:
https://www.dellortoshop.com/c...lorto_downloads.html
There are a couple of shops in Europe that are great for Dell parts and info and if you search around on Google for all things Dellorto you’ll probably find not only parts but all the info you’ll need to keep yours healthy.
Yeah, a LOT of parts interchange between DHLA and DRLA, just like Weber IDF and DCOE also.
And for the record, @dlearl476, carbs suck, and EFI squirts....
@Gordon Nichols posted:Ok, so that link sucked so try this one for rebuild info:
https://www.dellortoshop.com/c...lorto_downloads.html
There are a couple of shops in Europe that are great for Dell parts and info and if you search around on Google for all things Dellorto you’ll probably find not only parts but all the info you’ll need to keep yours healthy.
Dellorto shop is great. I generally get my orders from them in <10 days.
But I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t buy Tomlinson’s book, back when it was available. Or from CB.
I’ve got both of Thomlinson’s books - Weber and Dells. I’ve had the Dellorto book for 20 years and got the Weber one years back when it was available. Some folks on here don’t care for Thomlinson’s books, but for me doing a rebuild or adjustments, they seem to be OK.
But then, I’ve got some experience rebuilding carbs over the years, although mostly American V8 versions (GM 350 or Ford 351) or Mikunis on snowmobiles or the occasional chainsaw or lawnmower….. As long as you don’t lose the Black Magic Jou-Jou in them, Carbs work pretty well.
Harneys Carb clinic goes into detail rebuilding and setting up Webers. I couldn't find them online, but they've been posted here in the "paying" section.
I can rebuild either Webers or Dells. I clean them in my ultrasonic tank. Really they aren't that difficult, just careful cleaning and assembly. Set up your work area and make it SPOTLESS. I use Simple Green, water, compressed air and spray carb cleaner. I change the cleaner in the tank for each carb. Use some brass and nylon brushes and a few screwdrivers and wrenches. After cleaning, blowing out and carb cleaner blasts I set the carbs in the sun. I put the small parts in CLEAN plastic bins. Make sure the screwdrivers fit EXACTLY into the slots, no slop. This way is doesn't look like a hack did the work. Use NEW rebuild kits from a reputable seller.
The most important thing is EXACT float height, make sure both carbs are identical for the top and the drop. Use NEW float valves. Weigh your floats, make sure they are the same(and not gas-logged). And fuel pressure: not more than 3.5 psi for Webers or Dells.
After float height, the same throttle stop setting on both carbs is key. Once the engine is running the stops will be set with a "snail". Also making sure all the jets are clean and the same size, and all "mixture"(they're actually idle mixture VOLUME screws, the mixture is set by the jet size) screws set to the same turns off lightly closed(1.5 Weber, 2.5 Dell).
Here's the Harney article that (I think) Terry Nuckles posted some time ago. I know it's for Webers, but much of the background info applies to ANY carburetor and it's super well written.
Hello to all of you who have contributed/responded to my query on the Dellorto Carburetors....now I need to settle down and do some reading .....Thanks Again!!!
Larry:
DannyP rebuilt my dual Dell 40's and they are perfect.
I have the Thomlinson book. I would be happy to scan some of it and email to you if you can let me know what info you are looking for.
Thanks....it was the one book that I was able to order, should be arriving tomorrow (if you believe what they say) appreciate the offer.....
@Larry Scislowicz posted:Thanks....it was the one book that I was able to order, should be arriving tomorrow (if you believe what they say) appreciate the offer.....
Where were you able to obtain it? Guys are always looking for it.
The book that I purchase was not the Thomlinson book. This is the ONLY Book that I was able to find, got it from Carburetors Unlimited.com. Let me look through it and if need some info that is not in there I'll get in touch and see if it is in your book. Appreciate the offer.....Larry
Don't know why CB doesn't sell digital copies of the Tomlinson book. Hard copy printing is expensive to produce and inventory, but discs, thumb drives, or online downloads are pretty cheap.
The problem is once it's digitally out there, even though it's way cheaper(zero cost basically) for them to sell, they'll sell less.
It would be cool to have the book available online as a download though.
@DannyP posted:The problem is once it's digitally out there, even though it's way cheaper(zero cost basically) for them to sell, they'll sell less.
"Sell less"? Am I correct they are selling zero now? If so, scanning the manual to digital doesn't sound like much of a sales/marketing risk. Even if they actually gave it away for free with a link on their website it would provide more sales/marketing value as 'good will' than the zero sales return their asset is providing now.
It seems to me that whether you sell in print or digital, the pirating risk is the same. Print copies can be scanned by anyone, same as copying digital files.
There could be a reasonable motive to intentionally stop circulation of the book. If there is a decision to stop commercially supporting the (obsolete) Dellorto product, there is no reason to provide a technical resource perpetuating support.
I'm not going to second-guess CB. They're the best at what they do. I can say for fact; I loved the heck out of my Tomlinson Dellorto book!
