C1 choke question

[Don Izzo]

Finally got the heads back on and the smoking condition is cured. Now I want to tackle why my choke doesn't set consistantly. When I started the car the other day, it was cold enough for the choke to set but it didn't. I know I have enough load on the choke spring to set the choke. I removed the air cleaner and found The choke seemed to be stuck in the open position. I manually set the choke and high idle cam by putting some pressure on the choke butterfly. When I did this I heard a "click" . I disconnected the choke rod to the butterfly and find there is no binding. I think the problem lies with the choke housing/piston assembly. Once I manually set the choke it operates freely and will wipe off when the car gets hot, but when I restart after it's cold the choke wont reset and the linkage seems bound (but it is not the butterfly linkage or the high speed cam).
A local carb shop tells me it's the choke housing. When They get old they warp and don't work properly. Is there some way to repair this or must I got hunt up another housing. I have a spare carb but it does this also. I changed the choke housing from one carb to the other and it still does it. Thanks for listening.

Don

[Mike McKown]

Next time your engine gets cold

pull the choke housing off and touch the tang that the choke spring pushes against. If it's stuck, you will be able to feel it. I don't know about these things warping but I have freed several by removing the piston and cleaning up the piston bore with a was of Scotch-Brite pad and carb cleaner. I didn't have to buy any new parts.

[Jack H.]

Re: Next time your engine gets cold

Mike's advice is good! I've seen more than one Carter who's choke had collected 'crud' over the years (ESPECIALLY true if there was a pinhole in the fresh air tube in the exhaust manifold feeding hot exhuast gas into the choke!) that freed up nicely when all interior surfaces were cleaned and scrubed out.

Also, when inspecting the freedom of the choke's butterfly valve shaft, remember when fully connected there's a subtle side loading of the shaft due to the choke actuating coil. Even the slightest 'burr' on the shaft can cause it to hang under 'just right' circumstances....