No choke needed!

[Gresley]

My Stag and I are enjoying this warm weather

I think I read somewhere once that in hot climates the use of the choke is unnecessary, so I had an 'I wonder?' moment. After my Stag had stood in the sun all day yesterday I thought I would see if it would start with no choke. I was amazed when it did instantly, and ran well! Same again today, and it started with minimal choke this morning... just one of my silly experiments but I find it interesting!!

Brian.

[73stagman]

Mine is having a proper "stag" time at the moment... sometimes the choke is required sometimes it isnt. Sometimes it wants half choke ..... it refuses to fire at all until the right setting is given it. Now it has decided that it wont fire when its cranking.... it fires the instant you let the key go! and then runs sweetly.....

[richard w]

Now it has decided that it wont fire when its cranking.... it fires the instant you let the key go! and then runs sweetly.....

Mine often does the same - maybe it's a Rover thing!

[Mark Shutt]

in this heat I have just use half choke and push it in by the end of the street.. what I have found is the choke is very stiff to pull out is this normal or is a drop of oil in order? actual mechanisms on carbs are free to move by hand.

[KOY 23]

Sounds like the ballast bypass is not working, not enough volts to power the ignition when cranking. Release the key, volts increase and power the ignition.

[DJT]

Mark,

Don't know if you have been told, but ALWAYS dip the accelerator pedal when pulling out the choke. The choke operates a cam on the LH carb and if the pedal isn't dipped too much strain is put on the cable and it can snap. New choke cables are expensive and poor quality.

Make sure that cam has some grease on it.

[Mark Shutt]

Mark,

Don't know if you have been told, but ALWAYS dip the accelerator pedal when pulling out the choke. The choke operates a cam on the LH carb and if the pedal isn't dipped too much strain is put on the cable and it can snap. New choke cables are expensive and poor quality.

Make sure that cam has some grease on it.

I didn't know that and the PO never explained that even when I commented on how stiff it was! will try it tomorrow

cheers, Mark.

[73stagman]

I reckon I know whats wrong..... I have wired a Accuspark stealth black box and a non ballasted coil. The coil is fed from the pump side of the inertia switch but I now suspect I need to wire the ballast bypass circuit to ensure the coil is live whilst the engine is cranking. Once its running there is no problem.....and the coil is never really hot even after a long run.

[73stagman]

Sounds like the ballast bypass is not working, not enough volts to power the ignition when cranking. Release the key, volts increase and power the ignition.

Koy I just read this post after posting my own thoughts below (now above!)...... same wavelength

[Tdm]

The weather is invariably always warm or hot here in Tenerife, but my Stag won't start in the morning unless I do the following :-

1) Blip the throttle & pull the choke knob fully out,
2) Partly turn the ignition key and wait for the fuel pump to stop "ticking",
3) Turn the key all the way & she fires up virtually straight away,
4) Once running immediately push the choke knob in to the point where it is only increasing the tickover speed.

Then I drive the car and after about half a mile push the choke knob all the way home.
Unless left parked for a good few hours won't need the choke again when restarting the car that day.

The above procedure has become automatic over the years - like an inbuilt reflex action.
Forgot to say I don't touch the accelerator pedal when firing her up apart from that 1st "blip" when pulling the choke out.

[73stagman]

Do the strommies have a fuel charge when you blip the throttle or is it just helping with the choke mechanism....

[Tdm]

Do the strommies have a fuel charge when you blip the throttle or is it just helping with the choke mechanism....

It's killing 2 birds with one stone - making sure there's fuel in the carbs whilst at the same time making the choke cable operate more freely.

[73stagman]

It's killing 2 birds with one stone - making sure there's fuel in the carbs whilst at the same time making the choke cable operate more freely.

I didnt realize your strommies pump fuel. I thought they were like SUs which only allow fuel into the throttle body when the air is passing over the venturi.... ie when the engine is turning..

[wilf]

Err, they don't.

Holding the throttle open while pulling the choke knob greatly reduces the strain on the choke cable, but there is no accelerator pump in a Strommie.

I was trying to explain what a "choke" was to a youngster at work, and what the startup routine was for Buttercup. They have missed out on so much basic knowledge............

[73stagman]

Err, they don't.

Holding the throttle open while pulling the choke knob greatly reduces the strain on the choke cable, but there is no accelerator pump in a Strommie.

I was trying to explain what a "choke" was to a youngster at work, and what the startup routine was for Buttercup. They have missed out on so much basic knowledge............

Thought that was the case....you can pump the pedal all you like when the engine isnt running without using any fuel....just the blip helps with the choke mechanism..