Choke max closure angle

[stuartrubin]

All, I am fighting some carburetor problems after having some professional work done to the carb (1975 Spider), including connecting the automatic choke to the cooling system.

Since I got the car, I have been suspicious that the choke does not close sufficiently, but I have no reference. I had been told that before I had the automatic choke working that I should stick my finger in the carb and close the choke manually. When I do this, it only closes about halfway, maybe 45 degrees. See the picture below.

How closed should the choke be? Is this the right amount?

Thanks!

[aj81spider]

I have a manual choke, so it's not identical, but mine closes all the way via cable (and that's the way I start it when it's cold).

[So Cal Mark]

the choke plate should be completely closed at 70F

[stuartrubin]

Mark, thanks for your response (as well as ALL of your contributions to this excellent site).

I'm guess the ambient temperature in the garage was about 80F, but I'm guess that the choke should still be closed a lot more.

Any tips on seeing what's wrong here?

Something to do with the choke "reset" from the gas pedal?

Binding?

Thanks again.

Stuart

[bradartigue]

You have a water choke I assume - I can't tell from the picture but you're saying "automatic." It isn't going to open fully at rest when the car is cold unless you press the gas pedal down or move the throttle open by hand. If the thing still binds then loosen (but do not remove) the bolt in the center of the water choke and turn it slightly to loosen the tension on the spring inside of it, which loosens the plate.

[stuartrubin]

Brad, it turns out the water choke (what I had heard called "automatic choke"), at least at some level, is working. From a cold start, fully engaging the gas pedal (or pulling the throttle) does snap the choke into the closed position. After that, the idol is high (1200 RPM?) and eventually goes down.

BUT, the car stalls every time I slow down, not even to a dead stop, but if I'm cruising at 30 mph, if I let up on the gas, the engine dies completely.

BTW, your "Engine Maintenance and Modification" guide is awesome. I'm still making my way through it, but gaining some good understanding.

Any tips?

Thanks again.

[So Cal Mark]

you may have a low speed jet that is plugged, or an idle cutoff solenoid not working

[stuartrubin]

Aha! Mark, I think you nailed it with the solenoid issue. I started to do the "click test" (unplug, plug the solenoid and listen for the click), but merely jiggling the wire caused clicking. I tested the wire disconnected with a multimeter and I have a very constant 11.5V. If I "halfway" connect the wire and measure the exposed connector of the solenoid, there is also 11.5V. But, just moving the connector a tiny bit causes rapid clicking. I believe that there is a failure in the solenoid itself and I have ordered a replacement.

Is there any "work around" until the part arrives?

Thanks, Mark, Brad and others!

Stuart

[stuartrubin]

Just a little follow-up: I finally received the idle fuel cutoff solenoid, popped it in, and the problem is solved! No stalling!

The idle is still a little rough and there is some hesitation between gears while warming up. I think I need to re-setup the carburetor now that the choke is properly installed and the solenoid is working, but it's running well enough for me to zoom around a bit!

Thanks for the help, everyone.

Stuart