choke problems
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
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choke problems
Hey I was wondering if anyone could help me. I know some about working on cars, but I am far from a mechanic. Anyways my problem is that i belive that my choke is sticking. Its a 1977 Ford pickup. I didnt notice any problems till it started getting cold out this winter. The engine was rebuilt about 4 years ago before I bought it. When you first start it up and give it gas, it tries to die. it the same way when you drive it. when you try and give it gas, it kinda chokes and tries to die unless you let off and kinda pump the gas. I tried getting carb cleaner and that seemed to help for like a day, and then the problem was right back. The carb had been rebuilt about two years after the engine. if anyone has any ideas what the problem is that would really help.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 22
From: Lacey, WA
Hi,
I take it then that this only happens when the engine is cranked up when cold?
If so, check the adjustment on the choke. With the engine stone cold and NOT running, pump the gas to the floor 1 time. Then pop the top off of your air cleaner and look at the choke butterfly on top of the carb. It should be almost closed all of the way. If not adjust the choke. It's the large black cap looking thing on the passenger side of the carb. Loosen the 3 screws and rotate the cab while looking at the butterfly valves to close them. Then tighten the screws and crank it up.
Hope this helps,
I take it then that this only happens when the engine is cranked up when cold?
If so, check the adjustment on the choke. With the engine stone cold and NOT running, pump the gas to the floor 1 time. Then pop the top off of your air cleaner and look at the choke butterfly on top of the carb. It should be almost closed all of the way. If not adjust the choke. It's the large black cap looking thing on the passenger side of the carb. Loosen the 3 screws and rotate the cab while looking at the butterfly valves to close them. Then tighten the screws and crank it up.
Hope this helps,
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
Boondock,
I just went through this a few days ago, slightly different, but I'll tell you what I did.
Same thing, colder weather and the truck would nearly die upon takeoff, after about 5 minutes or so into the drive. I didn't have a problem starting up, but the carburetor would never kick out of high idle.
I have a Carter carb with a Carter Climatic Control electric assisted choke on the inline 6. The Climatic part uses exhaust heat to activate the choke after the engine warms up, and is adjustable as lee describes. The electric assist, as I understand, gets a 6V signal during running operation that helps to de-choke the engine before the exhaust heat is hot enough to de-choke the engine by itself. Driving around for a while choked until the engine is warm enough creates excessive emissions, so that's what the wire to the choke is for. Check for +/- 6 volts to that.
My problem was a broken metal 1/4" pipe running from the exhaust manifold up to the choke. The choke never got hot enough to de-choke the engine and I'd flood , stall, etc, when the engine warmed up 5 minutes later. Check that there's no restriction on the pipe, if you indeed have a climatic choke. Does the pipe get hot near the choke when the engine is hot?
Like lee, I pump the accelerator at least once before cold startup to ensure the engine returns to choke. The adjustment on the choke cap has a pointer -- index is right in the middle, and rich is counter-clockwise. To lean it out, rotate the cap clockwise (as you're looking at the cap). It should nearly be totally closed when cold. I couldn't find ANY info about my specific carb in anything I own, but a lot of Carter carbs in the manuals say to keep the cap adjustment at index. I monkeyed with mine and was able to smooth out my cold startup a bit, although the truck always started up OK.
Sorry for the length...
I just went through this a few days ago, slightly different, but I'll tell you what I did.
Same thing, colder weather and the truck would nearly die upon takeoff, after about 5 minutes or so into the drive. I didn't have a problem starting up, but the carburetor would never kick out of high idle.
I have a Carter carb with a Carter Climatic Control electric assisted choke on the inline 6. The Climatic part uses exhaust heat to activate the choke after the engine warms up, and is adjustable as lee describes. The electric assist, as I understand, gets a 6V signal during running operation that helps to de-choke the engine before the exhaust heat is hot enough to de-choke the engine by itself. Driving around for a while choked until the engine is warm enough creates excessive emissions, so that's what the wire to the choke is for. Check for +/- 6 volts to that.
My problem was a broken metal 1/4" pipe running from the exhaust manifold up to the choke. The choke never got hot enough to de-choke the engine and I'd flood , stall, etc, when the engine warmed up 5 minutes later. Check that there's no restriction on the pipe, if you indeed have a climatic choke. Does the pipe get hot near the choke when the engine is hot?
Like lee, I pump the accelerator at least once before cold startup to ensure the engine returns to choke. The adjustment on the choke cap has a pointer -- index is right in the middle, and rich is counter-clockwise. To lean it out, rotate the cap clockwise (as you're looking at the cap). It should nearly be totally closed when cold. I couldn't find ANY info about my specific carb in anything I own, but a lot of Carter carbs in the manuals say to keep the cap adjustment at index. I monkeyed with mine and was able to smooth out my cold startup a bit, although the truck always started up OK.
Sorry for the length...
