Choke cable swop

[Cadence]

A dumb question - is it possible to change just the inner choke cable and leave the existing outer in place (Sprint on Webers)

Thanks

[alan.barker]

What do you need a Choke cable for. Never used one in 50 years
Alan

[Craven]

Yes you can, I would cut the carb end off first get rid of any kinks.

[skelteanema]

I have changed inner choke cable and knob on my car without a problem. Just make sure the end of the new cable is not frayed in any way otherwise it can be difficult to slide it in without catching.

[Cadence]

Thanks everyone for your quick replies - that’s an easy job now

[elanner]

What do you need a Choke cable for. Never used one in 50 years
Alan

Ha! That's funny, Alan, different horses for different courses.

I use my choke/starter circuit every time I start the car from cold. I do it because it works flawlessly (don't touch the accelerator!) and I like to keep all the parts moving rather than doing nothing and potentially gumming up with our ethanol laced fuel.

Anyway, the Heath Robinson/Rube Goldberg mechanism appeals to me. It's too wonky to ignore!

Nick

[pcarew]

I have changed inner choke cable and knob on my car without a problem. Just make sure the end of the new cable is not frayed in any way otherwise it can be difficult to slide it in without catching.

Hello did you change the cable and knob as a unit or were you able to attach a new inner cable to the existing knob?

Paul

[Cadence]

Hi Paul - Thanks for asking.

The answer is No atm - Like many projects, one thing leads to another……

The carbs came off & I decided to fit new 151’s as the cost wasn’t much more than rebuild quotes. I had a devil’s own job getting the ram pipes out of the original 31’s to release the airbox backplate. The previous owner had liberally applied sealant to seal the back of the airbox and a minute amount had squeezed around the pipes creating a strong bond.

Finally got the old carbs apart this weekend. I’ll be putting the new carbs on after powder coating the backplate. I’ll then look again at the choke cable and make a call on how to approach this.

[skelteanema]

Hi Paul,

I replaced the cable and knob as a unit. My car had the incorrect knob when I purchased the car. I managed to find a cable/knob unit from an Anglia (I think) that was correct and I swapped them over as a single piece..

[Baggy2]

What do you need a Choke cable for. Never used one in 50 years
Alan

Ditto - fills a hole in the dashboard

[tonyabacus]

When fitting a stranded cab;e(rather than a solid one), I a;ways solder the end of the cable. It does not mean a blob of solder, but heating the end and using some flux, just lightly coat the last 1/4 inch which then holds the strands in place, allowing the cable to go through the outer. If you use too much solder you can gently file the solder from the middle towards the cable end to smooth it down to enable it to slide through. Once in place of course the end has no effect on how the cable moves in the outer, also makes it easier to go through the different holes and nipples.
Tony

[RotoFlexible]

I have always adhered to the conventional wisdom of "Forget the choke, two shots of throttle will do" - to the extent of cutting the cable, leaving the knob in place. I understand that you don't want to leave the choke on. But recently, the Elan has been quite hard to start cold, requiring much cranking and careful use of the throttle (after the initial two pumps). It runs well and will start right away if at all warm.

As an experiment, I jury-rigged the chokes to full on with a length of baling wire. Without touching the throttle, the engine started instantly and ran with a high, ragged idle for a few seconds until I turned it off. (Temperature in the garage in the 40s F.) I undid the jury-rig and tried it again - it started easily and ran normally.

So now I have a new project, to resurrect the choke.

[RichardHawkins]

Andrew,

Your countryman in California, Keith Franck of sidedraft central, reckons we should all be using the choke.

Richard Hawkins

[tonyabacus]

For those that need the large button typw choke cable as used on S4's and others, then Sue Miller is a useful source of repairs and possible new complete cables. She had mine restored with a new cable attched to the original knob. It was some time ago now but I recall she sent my cable away which took about two weeks and was not expensive.
Tony