Quadrajet Choke Won't Close
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 25
From: Buxton Maine
Quadrajet Choke Won't Close
69 with 350. Trying to figure out why my choke will not close when engine is cold. Could it be a linkage problem or is there a way to adjust it? Typical divorced choke with the bimetal coil on the manifold. Runs excellent when warmed up. I'm sure it's something simple but don't know where to start, Thanks for any advice.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,328
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Something is jammed in your linkage. Notice that the short, dog-legged rod (going from your choke shaft lever to the choke pulloff with the spring behind it) has the spring fully compressed. That spring should not be compressed - it should be pushing that lever aft and should be fully extended. The fact that it's jammed all the way forward means you have something incorrectly assembled in the choke linkage on the carb, and it's got you locked wide open.
Lars
Lars
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 25
From: Buxton Maine
Thanks for the replies. The choke spring is pulling down but very weakly. Could it be I have the wrong length link from the choke spring? Maybe it's too long?? Not pulling down hard enough? The choke seems ok once I manipulate the weight by hand but will remain on high idle even when warmed up until manipulated by hand again. Only then will itl revert to it's old (wrong) position.
Last edited by 69L46vert; Jun 11, 2019 at 06:41 PM. Reason: Added "weight"
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,328
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Thanks for the replies. The choke spring is pulling down but very weakly. Could it be I have the wrong length link from the choke spring? Maybe it's too long?? Not pulling down hard enough? The choke seems ok once I manipulate the weight by hand but will remain on high idle even when warmed up until manipulated by hand again. Only then will itl revert to it's old (wrong) position.
Lars
Last edited by lars; Jun 11, 2019 at 10:38 PM.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 505
Likes: 25
From: Buxton Maine
Following up. The problem seems to be solved. This morning I shortened the choke rod (from the bimetal coil) about 3/16", maybe 1/4". It was pulling down but just barely. The fact that the lever was not down as far as it should have been when cold was causing the linkage to jam so I never had any choke or fast idle. BTW I bought this rod from a reputable Corvette house. Simply not the right one. I had never used the car in cold weather since rebuild so it wasn't very noticeable. Today after the alteration the car started and I had fast idle which gradually decreased just like it's supposed to. I'm waiting now for it to cool down again and retest. Thanks to all for the help and ideas.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 940
From: Wauconda IL
Glad you got it figured out. I used this to help me when I needed to adjust mine a few years ago:https://www.hemmings.com/blog/articl...ke-adjustment/