c1 choke stuck again!

[don izzo]

last week I asked if the choke should set and the high idle kick in when starting my 1960 after it sat in my garage all week. temps ranged from 70s-80s. Some said yes others no. Yesterday, I pulled the air cleaner to put a little more spring tension on the choke spring and found that the choke buttefly valve was stuck (in the open position). I was able with some force to get the valve to move a bit but know this is not normal.

Last year I had this same problem and found the piston was stuck in the bore. so I removed the choke piston and lightly honed the piston bore and polished the piston with fine sand paper. had it working just right until now when I noticed the choke and high idle weren't working again.

My questions are...is this a common problem able to be repaired or is the housing/piston shot? If I hone and polish again will I run the risk of loosing the vacume pull on the bottom of the piston? How tuff do you think it would be to locate a used housing with piston from a local carb rebuilder? a local guy has 55 gallon drums full of parts carbs. Is this a common part or is the housing unique to my model?

Thanks again
Don

[William C.]

Re: c1 choke stuck again!

Somewhat common, as the '59-65 pass cars used the same setup, but I'd look to see if your heat tube in the exhaust manifold is intact and try cleaning yours again before getting into replacement. If the tube in the manifold is split, all kinds of nasty stuff will wind up plugging your piston, which seems to be what has happened.

[don izzo]

Re: c1 choke stuck again!

Thanks Bill, The tube is new and clean,. only a few hundred miles since last problem with the choke. I have partially disassembled the choke housing and it is clean, however I did not have the baffle plate installed. Was told by others this was ok . I will remove the piston again and see what I see.

Don

[William C.]

Re: c1 choke stuck again!

Use the baffle plate!

[don izzo]

Re: c1 choke stuck again!

Bill, further disassemble showed two score lines on the piston. I buffed them off with fine paper and reinstalled but the piston is still binding in the bore. I am going to force out the plug in the bottom and look inside the bore. Purhaps I need to ream this hole to clean it up. I will attempt to do this tomorrow at work,meanwhile I have installed the choke setup from my backup WCFB.
Don