Choke Question

[mo-bronco]

I've got a '79 short bed 4x4 with a 351m. It runs great, but the choke is not working. When I first start it I have to keep my foot on the gas to keep it going and it will hesitate a bit when I take off etc. Once it's warmed up it runs great. I'm wanting to try to fix it this weekend as I'm probably going to make it my daily driver soon and it's getting colder. I've searched and looked at a few threads on chokes, but I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of the best place to start? I thought about replacing the whole thing, but that seemed a bit expensive. Any thoughts or links to threads that show where to begin? Thanks.

 

[smokey]

It could be just dirty from varnish and needs a good cleaning. They will stick and not respond well if they get even a little gum on them.

 

[m78]

When it's cold pull the air filter, start it and see what position the butterfly is in.

 

[Ranger429]

And also make sure you have voltage going to the choke.

 

[Mil1ion]

A few questions first:

1) Does it have the original air cleaner assembly on it?

2) Electric choke or just vacuum heat assist choke

An electric choke that has been hooked up wrong can burn up the bi-metal strip in the choke housing, rendering it useless.
E,Chokes should be hooked up to the STATOR TERMINAL of the alternator so power is only delivered while the engine is running

Heated Vacuum assist chokes require a free of binding linkage which includes the piston actuator inside the choke housing.
People often forget that there is a lot of temperature fluctuation in choke systems.

Before you fool with the exterior linkage ...I would recommend that you take the choke housing apart and make sure the parts are moving freely inside it.

 

[mo-bronco]

Thanks for the advice. It has the original air cleaner. I just ran out and looked and it is electric. Should it have a full 12 volts? I'll check the voltage and see what I've got and then if I have voltage I'll take the housing off and see what I've got.
The only thing I've ever done with a choke is convert them over to manual on a couple of old broncos. Funny story on that though. I put a manual choke on a '76 bronco one time and ran it around the block to check things out. Almost back to the house when I saw smoke coming out from under the dash! Shut it off and coasted to the front of the house. I carefully opened the hood and found the fire at the firewall. I got the fire out and figured out (thanks to help from a bronco site) that there was an improper ground and the manual choke cable became a ground and caught the firewall grommet/insulation piece on fire.

 

[Mil1ion]

7 volts.. from the stator connection because, it only needs it with the engine running