Choke won't hold.

JFBrink · Post by **JFBrink** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:44 am

Hey, gang,

So, I completed my "restoration" in time to use our '66 as a wedding get-away car. The car now runs like a top and looks beautiful, the former largely thanks to you folks. Professional photography to follow!

The problem: one of the last things I did to the car was replace the two jury-rigged choke cables with a new, proper cable from Datsun Parts, and now the choke won't hold position. I pull the knob out and the throttle return springs pull it right back in.

The carbs and springs are also new, and I've never been sure where to attach the free end of the springs. In the end, I did what the previous owner had done, and hooked each to the base of its mix nozzle. This seems to put a lot of lateral strain on the nozzle, which seems bad.

It also makes for a real tight spring, so is that why my choke won't hold?

Thanks,

Jesse.

impinhigh · Post by **impinhigh** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:51 am

Not to sure about the 66 but on the later cars, a twist of the knob to the right will hold it in position. Same action needed for the throttle controll.
Matt

Jorge022770 · Post by **Jorge022770** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:57 am

Jesse: If you are talking about the two external springs on the carbs, one end goes to carbs like you surely know, and the other end goes to two small "hooks" on the front edge of the heat shield plate (the one screwed to the intake manifold, protecting the carbs from the heat of the exhaust manifold.

Hope this helps....or if you are a "visual learner" like me, I can send you a picture of it.

Jorge

Post by **dbrick** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:16 pm

And if the little ears on the heat plate broke off, like mine you can drill a small hole and hook the spring.

Keith has a good picture here http://hometown.aol.com/keith0alan/for-sale-1.html

Post by **spl310** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:22 pm

This is a good place to remind folks NOT to connect their springs to the brake line if the heat shield is missing. I have seen that on at least 3 cars that were destined for the bone yard. Pretty scarry stuff...

JFBrink · Post by **JFBrink** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:38 pm

Ah, I see. It happens that I do not have a heat shield. Anyone have an extra they want to sell a fella?

I tried the old twist-and-lock trick on the choke and it doesn't seem to be a feature of the early cars.

I can't imagine how I could stretch these springs to reach a brake line.

Jesse.

Post by **spl310** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:50 pm

What do you have them connected to? Are you running a 1600, or some other engine in that 66?

Post by **dbrick** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:46 pm

You could place a post in Classified Wanted, Also try contacting Keith Allen, The photos were from his site.

TR · Post by TR » Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:27 pm

If your choke knob isn't holding, it may be defective.

There are really strong ball indents on the knob that will hold the carb springs no matter how far they are stretched.

Get your springs on the right spot and ensure you are using the correct ones. Too much spring force wears out the shaft bore and ruins the carbs. Then they have to be sleeved...TR