Hi, The choke on my Elec Q Jet won't kick off, The carb was rebuilt Prof years ago, but the car doesn't see much use these last ten years, The other day day I started it up and the choke would not kick off, If I shut it off manualy it would just kick back on the next time I gave it gas.

I do plan to add a 650 or 750 Double Pumper this summer, But for now I would like for this carb to work, Can I Disable the choke? Thanks

 

I'm going off 30 years old memory...
Isn't there a choke pull off diaphragm that helps the choke disengage as it warms up? Look for a vacuum operated device that is hooked up to the choke linkage and see if you can troubleshoot that. Otherwise make sure the linkage isn't all gummed up and sticky.

 

The car has a Elec choke, I don't see a Vac can on it.

 

Well maybe that's why it ain't working.

 

Sorry about that, yes there is a vac can which is fairly new also.

 

I'm sure you already verified that is is getting 12 volts after the car is started. There is a heater in the round housing that holds the bi-metallic strip - and that starts to open the choke when the car is started. You also need to make sure the diaphragm is working when there is vacuum - it should pull against the choke, trying to help it open it back up, then when the engine is running up it should start to open. The plastic cap is an adjustment and that needs to be set so the choke just closes all the way for whatever temperature winter is there. It might need a different adjustment for milder temperatures, but you can experiment with it if you know how it works. You loosen the screws then rotate the cap and it is usually marked rich/lean. It might be set wrong since a guy building a carb isn't the guy tuniing the carb on the car. You rotate the cap on a cold morning just so the choke closes all the way (you may have to open the throttle to do this) and you want to be able to easily open the choke blade by hand (not too springy when shut). If you have it adjusted so the tension is right but it seems to not open all the way, then you can squeeze the wire loop in the linkage together a little to adjust it. The other thing that could be wrong is if it is hooked up to ported vacuum and not manifold vacuum, so make sure it is getting a vacuum signal at idle.

 

It was working but isn't anymore, The car did sit for a awhile, Just like in the Pic I don't have screws on the round thing where the spring is, it is riveted. I have not checked the power yet but will, Where should the wire be hooked up, I know where on the carb but where does it run to? I need a full Twelve Volts? Is there a way to just disable the choke all together? I don't really need it.

 

Yeah, you can always take all that stuff off or tie it open somehow. The 12 volts should really come from a source that is only on when the car is running, and that is so it won't try to open up before the car is even started, like if you turned on the key and sat there a while or it didn't start right away; however, if you don't even need it, then you should just wire it open and forget hooking it up to 12V.

Those rivits are a retarded way of keeping anyone form adjusting their chokes just like the too lean idle mixture adjustment screw covers. There used to be screws there...

 

Would i just zip tie the linkages to keep it from shutting? Does the choke control anything else, or just the flapper? If I drilled the rivets out what does turning it do? Would i have to put screws back in it?

 

Zip tie might work. The other thing hooked up to the choke is usually a fast idle cam with little steps on it. It's job is to open the throttle a little bit when it is cold, and close it back to warm idle in little steps. So you will lose that function in addition to enrichment. If it's a fair weather car and either it starts right up and runs Ok, or you can start it by giving it a pump or two then keep your foot in it a little bit to keep it running til it is warm, then you can get by without the choke. Regarding drilling them out, I don't remember if they are threaded - but if they are, then you can get some screws and be able to adjust it then. When you turn it lean or rich, it winds or unwinds a springy bi-metallic strip that works the choke. So it puts more or less tension on the flap when you turn it. There is a resistor in there that is a heater whn 12 volts is on it. That warms up the strip to open the choke. What it is doing is simulating a warm engine. In the real olden days, there was a tube coming up from the exhaust manifold that warmed the choke up to open it sometimes called a choke stove.

Now you know (almost) all I know about it

 

Thanks for your help, What does leaning and riching the choke do for the car?
The car is only driven in nice weather and even then it is not often ( Don't have the time like I used to ) I do plan on changing the carb this summer, I just need to decide on which carb to get.