Choke control won't stay out - 1850HL

[Bumpa]

In this cold weather the engine needs some choke once it has started, but the control on my 1977 1850HL won't stay out. Is it meant to be a friction mechanism that holds it, or should it be a twist lock control? Mine doesn't twist at all so I guees it should be held by friction. How can I improve things without the tricky job of removing the control and cable?

[GlenM]

Use a clothes peg to hold it out. I remember many of my parent's cars having one on the choke back in the 1970s.

[tamtrucks]

im sure they are twist to lock/hold

[cliftyhanger]

In this cold weather the engine needs some choke once it has started, but the control on my 1977 1850HL won't stay out. Is it meant to be a friction mechanism that holds it, or should it be a twist lock control? Mine doesn't twist at all so I guees it should be held by friction. How can I improve things without the tricky job of removing the control and cable?

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... egUIARDzAQ

[Richard the old one]

You will find both types of choke cable controls being used in Dolomites. If it is a friction type, I have found that it is no longer holding the cable just bend the cable in the engine compartment. Do not go too mad and it does not have to stay bent and this will increase the friction. It it does not work the first time you can always have another go and increase the bend.

[Bumpa]

Thank you Richard for your helpful reply. I'll give it a go. It looks to me that to actually remove the control would mean taking out the parcel shelf, a horrible job, especially as the shelf is now 44 years old and showing its age.

[xvivalve]

The vent panel into which the choke control is mounted fixes to the underside of the dash with two screws, so you can access it without taking out the parcel shelf.

Feeding a replacement cable through though might be a little trickier when trying to locate the hole through the bulkhead...

[new to this]

Do the original choke cables,come with replace able knobs ?

Dave

[Richard the old one]

To change the choke cable you have to take out the console air outlet assembly which is held in with two screws and washers but I do not think you would have to take the shelf out. If the bending of the cable does not work for you I think I would go for the clothes peg option. I used that approach of a long time before I came up with the bending approach.

[xvivalve]

Do the original choke cables,come with replace able knobs ?

Dave

No.

[Richard the old one]

Just out of interest have you attempted the bend method to increase the friction and if you did did it work?

[Bumpa]

Not yet Richard. Taking off my MGB Roadster's sills is occupying me at the moment. And since we aren't allowed to go anywhere there's no hurry about the Dolly's choke control. Plus the car is outside and it's a trifle chilly out there!