MOTO HEROES 11/2015 FRANCE THORSTEN IHLO's CARBURETOR MANUFACTURE

In the workshop of the German Thorsten Ihlo, toxic carburettors are treated like top models in a wellness oasis! Visit a workshop where time has stood still before the age of injection.

Texts Charlie Lecach, photos Götz Göppert

"Corbus chose me, not the other way around," Thorsten says when asked how he came to specialize in restoring carburettors. "I have been tinkering with vintage cars for over twenty years, and at some point I had to replace the anti-corrosion devices. And I developed a kind of affection for these parts, for these often neglected pieces. I reworked them with love and care, first for myself, then for my colleagues and finally for customers. And so it came about that one day he opened his studio in Hamburg, for which he ultimately gave up his job as a graphic designer in the advertising industry.

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Although Thorsten Ihlo has only been on the market for a short time, he already counts several big American names among his regular customers.

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The success of his "Vergaser Manufaktur" - his manufacturer of high-quality carburettors - is impressive. And this despite the fact that Thorsten has not yet advertised, as he has only become known through word of mouth. He even goes beyond the borders of his home country, as he already counts some big American names among his regular customers.

One of his many specialties is - upon express request - purely technical restorations in which the valuable patina that has accumulated over the decades remains intact. One of his Swiss customers, for example, owns vehicles from the 1910s that are still in their original condition. Equipping them with a polished carburettor or a micro-bead carburettor would therefore be heresy.

Another strength of the "carburettor manufacturer" is the possibility of customizing a carburettor. Thorsten is paying tribute to the tenth anniversary of Indian Larry's death by polishing and engraving a large SU Rivera, which today drives a RevTech engine with a displacement of just over two liters, which responds perfectly to the kick. Even though he has his preferences, the Hamburg magician likes to repeat what an old man who taught him the trade told him: "Every carburettor is the best there is if it has the right jets and is well adjusted."

This is even more true when prehistoric parts are replaced by modern technology, as Thorsten does when, for example, he equips an old Linkert from the 1940s with a new composite float and gaskets that are better than the old, relatively leaky paper discs. Other parts that cannot be found are made to measure, preferably from stainless steel to ensure a long service life. With a share of around 70% motorcycle construction sites and 30% automobile construction sites, the "Vergaser-Manufaktur.com is the address to turn to if you have any questions about carburetors.

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Ihlo.carburetor.com Carburetor restoration from the expert: Thorsten Ihlo. Precision for historic vehicles. Individual solutions for collectors and specialist workshops.