Adjusting auto choke - How?

[froggy]

When i start the van from cold it struggles to idle unless i physically go and set the choke up.
Is there a way to test and set the auto choke? I know i have power to the choke as i've put my meter across it. If i adjust the choke linkage (brass cam) it will stay in position but the choke flap doesn't follow it (cam on top step / fully open, choke still closed)
Once the engine is warm then it idles OK so it must be a choke fault right?
Any procedures for setting up?

 

[froggy]

Forgot to add it a 34 PICT 3 (not a solex its a B??????)

 

[Justin & Muttley]

If you carefully remove the 3 screws and bushes, then the collar from the auto choke you'll be able to carefully pull it out. Once it's off you'll see that the choke has a spring like mechanism (actually a heat-reactive coil) inside - this should sit against the choke spindle (it'll be obvious when you see it); what you need to do is replace the choke mechanism so that it doesn't engage, then turn it so that it does connect (in other words, so that it just starts to move the choke butterfly open) - just!
If you're lucky you'll have some factory marks on the collar and choke (they might be faint) that will give you an idea of whereabouts it should be. All this is much easier with the air filter off!

 

[chrisby]

Have look at http://www.vw-resource.com search for choke,loads onfo,Ive found this site very helffull in the past.
Good luck. Chris

 

[Guest]

Like J&M says, you can make light adjustments to the choke by loosening the three retaining screws around the outer ring and moving it either a little anti clockwise or clockwise for winter/summer driving there should be three marks for reference

 

[Loxy]

Ditch the auto-choke altogether, perhaps find someone that has a manual choke conversion for a vw bus :wink:

 

[froggy]

Ditch the auto-choke altogether, perhaps find someone that has a manual choke conversion for a vw bus :wink:

Do these exist?
I would love to be able to have more control over the carb, I currently run a classic mini and much prefer the manual choke over the VW auto choke.
Please tell me this isn't a wind up

 

[Guest]

no wind up... most duel carb conversions remove the chokes and use blanking plates instead, doing away with the chokes completely as they are a pain in the ass setup to keep in sync.

 

[Loxy]

Ditch the auto-choke altogether, perhaps find someone that has a manual choke conversion for a vw bus :wink:

Do these exist?
I would love to be able to have more control over the carb, I currently run a classic mini and much prefer the manual choke over the VW auto choke.
Please tell me this isn't a wind up

My van came with a manual choke conversion (its got a cruise control as well), including the instructions etc, only problem is the cable to the front is a bit knackered.
Fitting my van with 36 DRLAs so it wont be much use to me soon. Never seen one before so I assume they werent very popular.
Not sure I want to get rid of it though as its part of my vans history (ask haveacamper about all the stuff I "plan" to sell :lol: ), would have thought that you could make one pretty easily though, it doesnt look all that complicated, probably modify an auto-choke & use a few bike brake bits - will scan instructions/pics later.

Of course you could disable the auto-choke completely then just pump a bit of gas in before starting then keep it idling with the pedal for a few minutes as per the preferred John Muir approach in his book - I think he suggested rolling a cigarette/joint & smoking it before driving off :lol:

 

[timmo24]

Hello Froggy!

That was the exact same question I asked the vendor when I bought my bus- I was looking around the dash looking for the choke pull, "How do you adjust the choke" I said! haha,- (because I too have a classic mini)!

My Westy idles quite slowly to begin with too, and at the moment I just do a bit of dancing with my feet across the pedals as I keep thinking she's going to stall.

I'll be looking into this shortly.

:wink:

 

[Araon]

Try ebay theres a few manual solex chokes on there.... may be able to get one to run the length of the bus or modify one....