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77 Cold Natured

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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 01:49 PM
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Default 77 Cold Natured

Need some advice guys. My 77 has been cold natured when first started since the first day I owned her, and I really have not looked into trying to determine why and how to remedy the problem until now. I have always figured that my choke may not be working properly. I started checking it out last night to see if the choke butterfly was closing upon startup, and found that it was. Everytime I start the car when it is cold, I have to baby it with the throttle to keep it running until I get out of my driveway to the open road where I can throttle up. But until that point, it is all I can do to keep her running. Once the engine is warm the car idles and runs great. Any suggestions on possible causes of the problem and how to fix? Thanks in advance for your help.

Scott
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 02:06 PM
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I have the same problem, is yours not going to the cold fast idle?
Mine is not. Judging from the googly, this is common and the most cited "fix" is to adjust the cold idle set screw (down low on the front right). That did nothing for mine since it seems the cold fast idle is never getting "tripped".
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 02:08 PM
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Does it go into high idle? If not maybe it's something simple like adjusting the high idle screw.
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 02:17 PM
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No, it doesn't go into cold fast idle when I first start it. It starts, but I have to turn the engine over for a few seconds to get it to start, and then have to keep tapping and feathering the throttle to keep it running. If I don't, it won't idle and will die. It's as if the choke just isn't working. My son's 75 starts up and goes into cold fast idle just as it is supposed to, then after a few minutes you can touch the accelerator and it idles back down to normal idle speed. My 77 doesn't do any of that. I keep thinking it has to be something simple, but I am no carb expert by a long shot and have no clue how to trouble shoot.
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 02:23 PM
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Start by removing the air cleaner with the engine cold- before the first start of the day. Move the throttle lever one time to open, and see what the choke plate does. It should drop closed or very nearly so. Crank the engine, as soon at it starts the choke plate should open about 15* from where it was. Idle speed should be per the specs in the manual, if not, adjust as needed.
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by TimAT
Start by removing the air cleaner with the engine cold- before the first start of the day. Move the throttle lever one time to open, and see what the choke plate does. It should drop closed or very nearly so. Crank the engine, as soon at it starts the choke plate should open about 15* from where it was. Idle speed should be per the specs in the manual, if not, adjust as needed.
Thanks TimAT. I did confirm last night by moving the throttle lever one time to see what the choke plate does, and it does close all the way. I have not observed it upon start up though. I'll check that tonight and see what happens. When you refer to the specs in teh manual, are you referring to the original owners manual or the shop repair manual?
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 03:16 PM
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Default fast idle ajustment

I found this, does any of this make sense?



Fast Idle (1977-1979)

Use choke valve measuring gage J-26701. Rotate degree scale of tool until zero is opposite pointer. With choke completely closed place magnet squarely on top of choke valve. Rotate bubble until it is centered. Rotate scale so that number of degrees specified in opposite pointer. Place cam follower on second step of cam next to high step. Close choke by pushing upward on choke coil lever. To adjust, bend tang on fast idle cam until bubble is centered. Remove gage.
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by sprtplt
I found this, does any of this make sense?



Fast Idle (1977-1979)

Use choke valve measuring gage J-26701. Rotate degree scale of tool until zero is opposite pointer. With choke completely closed place magnet squarely on top of choke valve. Rotate bubble until it is centered. Rotate scale so that number of degrees specified in opposite pointer. Place cam follower on second step of cam next to high step. Close choke by pushing upward on choke coil lever. To adjust, bend tang on fast idle cam until bubble is centered. Remove gage.

I am sure it makes sense to someone who knows what they are doing, but it definitely is over my head.
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