Solex S3800 - 1967

Описание: There is no certainty as to the date of commencement of production of the S3800, but it can be inferred from the receipt of the prototype, dated March 14, 1966, that the S.I.N.F.A.C. was already able to produce, perhaps in limited quantities, as early as February-March 1966. The sale to the public, however, began on 1 September 1966, when the new model officially took the name of "Velosolex S3800". The series began with the engine № 3 800 000 and changed the numbering system in 1976, starting from № 9 000 000. Around 1978 the numbering changed again, recycling serial numbers around three to four million. The new model had the new Solex 3800 engine, retaining the chassis of the Velosolex S3300, with widened fenders. His production in France ended on 7 November 1988. Aesthetically, it differed from its predecessor by a red plastic label with the inscription "3800", on the air filter cover and by the word "S3800" on the headlight fairing. As far as the technique is concerned, the roller had a diameter of 42 mm which allowed a "better uphill attitude" (main advantage and advertising topic of the S3800), supported, instead of by ball bearings, by bushings. The cylinder was also improved, bringing the diameter of the entry light from 7 to 8 mm and raising the engine power by 0.1 bhp. The metal tank was finally replaced, as already announced, by a nylon one. In May 1968, the Velosolex, for the first time in its history, was also produced in colors other than black. The "Luxury" models were available in red or blue, while the "Super Lusso" was white. However, apart from the aesthetic changes and the price, they were identical to the normal S3800. The output of the Solex 5000, declined in four colors, decided the end of the S3800 "Lusso" and "Super Lusso". The 5000 release also meant that the two rather similar models began to share some parts, first of all the rear drum brake, already in 1971. In the following years, even under Motobécane management, some minor parts were shared, such as nuts, bolts and the cylinder screen, eliminating the particular counterparts to the S3800. In March 1973 the system was modified to tighten the rear brake control wire, abandoning the patented lever system. In the following year the diameter of the brake drum went from 83 to 80 mm and the golden threads that decorated the fenders disappeared. In the first two years of Motobécane management, the Velosolex did not undergo significant changes, but then efforts began to standardize production, equipping the Velosolex range with parts already used on other Motobécane mopeds. Among the first normalized parts there was the taillight, mounted since October 1976. In 1986 the characteristic aluminum inverted brake levers were abandoned to replace them with ordinary straight black levers. In 1986 the lever to raise the engine was replaced by one designed for the decompression control on the left instead of, as it always had been, on the right. In the same year the S3800 returned to be available in colors other than black, as in 1969; the colors used were the same as the contemporary Mobylettes. On the sides of the Velosolex S3800 were also applied four reflectors. In July 1966, to simplify the maintenance and construction of the carburettor, a new petrol filter was introduced, which also performed the functions of the air intake column, previously made of brass and integral with the carburetor body. In May 1968 the gas knob was introduced, which flanked, but did not replace, the brake synchronized control (the possibility of introducing a motorcycle-type gas knob had already been ventilated around 1950, but not it had gone beyond the filing of two patents in this regard). In June 1973 a new clutch mechanism was installed, called "simple effect" of more economical construction. This new type of clutch, already mounted for testing on some S3800s in 1972 was abandoned about two months after its introduction, returning to the compound clutch. Also in 1973 the red label applied to the air filter, which clearly distinguished 3800 from the other Velosolex, was removed. In 1974, the last major change under the SINFAC management, the cylinder and piston were modified: the cylinder inlet light was enlarged by 0.5 mm, the exhaust light was in turn enlarged and changed the transfer ports , which passed from the tunnel construction to the excavated one. The mantle was shortened to the piston. The purely technical improvements to the engine ended with the Solex property. On March 23, 1975, dealers were informed of the introduction of electronic ignition on the S3800 model. This change was not new in the circles of Motobécane, which had similar systems installed on its products in the 1960s, nor of the old Solex management, which from the mid-1950s had patented, but never installed, alternative equipment to the delicate platinum contacts. generally based on the replenisher principle.