I have to hold the carburator choke closed to start engine?!

[The_Handier_Man1]

From: TrixTret1  (Original Message)
Sent: 8/11/2004 4:27 PM

Hi all,

What do I need to do to keep from having to open doghouse and hold the carburator choke closed each time I start my Maddiebago.  I just had it tuned and was starting fine, now I cannot find my mechanic.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Brenda



From: denison
Sent: 8/11/2004 4:42 PM

Aside from removing the air cleaner, spraying a stream from an aerosal of carb and choke cleaner, wiggling the choke butterfly all around, and hoping you can free it up, I dont know. I think its an accumulation of varnish and dirt, plus some loss of the tension from the aging choke bimetallic spring. I have been known to clean the surfaces where things contact with an old toothbrush dipped in gasoline.
Mine came with a manual choke, converted from the electrical. All I have to do is pull the choke knob out, turn the ign key to start, and push the choke halfway back in about 1 second after it fires up. I put the choke the rest of the way one minute later. If I want to drive away within the first minute I have to puil the choke knob out a little, and push it fully back in when I am up to about 30 mph. This method will vary with your carb type, the jets in it, the air temperature.



From: denison
Sent: 8/11/2004 4:44 PM

Im assuming that when you flip the choke butterfly to the closed position that it stays there more or less? If not you either have a choke that is far out of adjustment, or has a broken or disconnected bimetallic coil spring in it.



From: Enigma960080
Sent: 8/11/2004 8:39 PM

dont  forget.   the gas pedal needs to be depressed once for the choke to close when the engine is cold unless  using a manual choke



From: SeaRaySRV16O
Sent: 2/5/2005 4:41 PM

I too am having what appears to be the same problem. Engine won't keep running after starting cold unless I manually hold the butterfly in the closed position. Been looking for carb specs on the net for this Holly & 413 combo.

Actually would prefer to convert to a manual choke cable. It is simpler and positive. You said yours came with the manual. Do you know if that was a MoPar option item or something that was converted? I think the quickest and easiest solution would be to buy a manual choke kit. Thanks.

Best regards,

Robert Donley

Jenison, MI



From: denison
Sent: 2/6/2005 10:19 AM

I think mine was converted from the electric choke. I guess they still sell them in auto parts stores.



From: cooneytunes
Sent: 5/22/2005 10:23 PM

Figured I'd posr this here since I coundn't find another choke board, and SOb won't have to move this... I have a question ... The choke on my thermaquad is a spring type, what holds the bar ( which comes up from the spring) in the butterfly? There is no notch on it for a clip ring, and no threads, just slips through the little hole for the butterfly. It keeps falling off....Anyone have any ideas? I was thinking maybe a little rubber gromet or something of that sort.

Thanks, Timmy



From: SeaRaySRV16O
Sent: 5/22/2005 11:06 PM

Timmy...

Since I had the doghouse & air filter asm off cuz I'm cleanin' & paintin" my valve covers, you inspired me to go have a look.

The Holly carb on my 413 has a link that has a C-shaped hook at the top. It is prevented from falling out by the side of the venturi casting and the proximity of the butterfly shaft arm to that casting. It is simply trapped there. It also is restrained where it comes up through the hole in the flange by a white plastic slider that it passes through. There is nothing on my Holly to hold it in place at all, other than it can't fall to the inside because it contacts the side of the casting first, in fact when I push it to the inside, the link still has a full stock hold on the hole in the arm, plus a few thousands..

Could the butterfly shaft arm on yours have been bent out away from the carb venturi casting enough to let it slip to the inside or could the shaft itself have developed enough wiggle in it to free up the link?

BTW, on mine the link's C-shaped top faces out, that is, the link goes through the hole in the arm on the butterfly shaft from the inside, with the open part of the C facing out.

Well I hope that discription was a little clearer than mud. haha
Good luck...

Regards,

Robert Donley
Jenison, MI