Pinto powered manual choke issue - Resolved. I hope.

[cort16]

My cortina has always been a dog to start as the auto choke doesn't really work making it a pig to star from cold.

Rather than investing in a pricey kit from the UK I bought a non model specific one for the carb from the USA. Many pounds saved, quids in.

 

I ran into a few bumps installing it such as the cable bracket being useless on a Cortina so I had to make something up etc etc.

 

I got it on today and after quite a lot of fannying around I can now get it to engage the choke when I pull the cable but not disengage when I push the cable back in.

 

You can see the setup here. It's not rocket science the cable just turns the black bit on the side of the carb. It's all setup according to the somewhat vague instructions.

 

There's quite a lot of slop in the mechanism, which turns the choke on the carb just held in place with a couple of R clips.

The butterfly isn't exactly smooth I couldn't get it to engage at all at first only loads of wd40 and working the mechanism back and forward eased it up.

 

Any ideas? All the factory installs  of manual chokes I've seen have had a return spring to make pushing it back in easier but this kit doesn't have one.

Is it worth fannying around trying to make something up? I imagine getting the right spring rate could be a pain  in the arse.

[Tamworthbay]

The kit I had on my last Capri had a BFO spring to return the choke. I will try and dig out a pic and see if I can work out where it went to.

[Tamworthbay]

No luck but I seem to recall there was a bracket that it attached to. The spring was about 50mm long and about the thickness of my little finger. I will need to get a kit for my Capri once it’s up and running so will keep an eye on this and see how you get on.

[cort16]

Cheers might have to order a bag of random springs off eBay

[AlabamaShrimp]

Hasn't anyone else on here got a pinto with a manual choke carb?

 

If not would it be similar to the one on my Valencia? I can take a pic when back off holiday.

[DodgeRover]

I'll try and take a picture of mine as it's a very similar kit, mine doesn't have a spring from memory but returns ok. Will check and post tomorrow.

 

Any chance of a picture of how your throttle cable linkage is set up? Mine appears to want to pull from the wrong side compared to the single choke I have fitted.

[twosmoke300]

I’m sure the one I did on my pinto had a big clock spring that was used for the original auto choke that you kept when you did the conversion

[cort16]

I know what you mean . I don’t think that would work with this kit though.

[Mally]

We don't use choke when racing, hand over carb and away you go.

 

There needs to be a return spring some how.

Would also think the outer cable is usually cut off closer to the retaining bracket, although I realise there is more inner cable showing when choke is off. Or clip/brk should be closer to the butterfly maybe. Probably not affect the operation though.

Butterfly operation should move freely.

[cort16]

The instructions say to mount it at 6 inches max from the mechanism on the carb . I’m under that but not by much.

[cort16]

I spent more timing knobbing around with this today including adding a return spring, which even when using a very light spring stopped me engaging the choke.

I moved the lever on the axle thing in towards the body to try to remove some of the wobble but it's now totally and won't go on or off.

 

There's so little movement required to engage and disengage the choke that any slop in the system makes it fail.

 

I may have to admit shortly the kit is wank and splash 40 quid on this (which I would have first time around if I knew it exists).

 

The bracket, which hold the cable is part of the manual choke assembly, which bolts to the carb. I think this should reduce the slop in the system also the bit that fastens the cable on the level looks like a 

much better design.

 

 

https://classiccarbs.co.uk/product/weber-dgav-dgev-dgv-dgas-dges-dgms-dfav-dft-manual-choke-conversion-kit

[vaughant]

I must admit the kit and install looks pretty rubbish tbh, not meaning to be particularly harsh but the install is probably 90% of the problem here.

 

If at all possible the first thing I would do is try and get the cable entry point above the carb spindle, ie you're then pulling the cable upwards to close the choke and pushing downhill to return it, that makes it a lot easier then before you start.

 

Keep the cable run as straight as possible as well and make sure you only clamp the cable outer, it doesn't need too much really, people often think it needs to be tightened up with a 3/4" impact wrench.

 

Probably the easiest place to get parts for this type of thing will be a cycle place, they should have loads of things like that.

[cort16]

I've tried it from all different heights and angles but to no avail with that setup. The cable moves freely if I disconnect it so it's not nipped.

Looking at the kit above I think part of the issue is the distance from the point the cable is mounted to the choke assembly itself. Although it's within what's spec'd in the instructions I think there's too much potential wobble.

i think i need to get it closer by either trying to get that bracket to fit onto one of the carb bolts or welding something onto the plate that holds the manual choke mechanism in place so I can do as above.

 

i wish I'd found that kit before I ordered this one.

[Stixy]

I have fitted similar kits to this and the operation is different to normal manual chokes 

 

pull choke out  and floor acc pedal and the choke will set    , you can push the choke knob in but the flaps will stay shut until the pedal is pressed again 

 

I have never had a problem with them and they work fine  

[cort16]

Cool, I'll give that a try.

[oldcars]

Hasn't anyone else on here got a pinto with a manual choke carb?

 

If not would it be similar to the one on my Valencia? I can take a pic when back off holiday.

Are you on holiday in Valencia? If you are take a photo of Valencia in Valencia so you can fix your Valencia when you return from Valencia. (Two Ronnies mode off ) 

[AlabamaShrimp]

No I was in centre parcs. I once did take a picture of a Marbella in Marbella if that helps.

[cort16]

I had a rethink and made a new bracket, which bolts directly onto the carb. It's still really stiff at the knob but I can just about move it. 

 

 

it's really free when I move it at the carb end. I'll put it back together and see if I can live with it then spend 40 quid on that other kit.

 

 

 

[DodgeRover]

Is that a solid cable or a Bowden type? You might struggle with a solid one going round curves?

[cort16]

It is a bowden cable.

[cort16]

I've been struggling this. There was genuine 2nd hand Ford sprung manual choke mechanism for this carb on ebay but it went for £42 quid plus 7 quid delivery. That can FRO.

I finally copied the bracket in that picture I posted on the 3rd. I cut the mounting bracket off, made a new one and welded it on further down and further back.

After a bit of tweaking and about 2000 man hours it only flipping works! I jumped in it after it's been sitting for a week, pulled the choke and it fired right up (ish).