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I have a Edelbrock 1411 with Electric Choke. The choke function works fine, closes and opens as the coil heats. The problem is the fast idle cam, specifically how it is tied to the choke motion. When you first start the choke closes and the fast idle cam sets to the notch based upon the fast idle speed setting. If you touch the accelerator while on choke the cam disengages and falls off losing all fast idle on a cold engine.
Has anyone else had this problem on any edelbrock carb with electric choke? Is this the way the carb is designed or did you modify to tie the fast idle directly to the choke opening?
The fast idle cam is held up by the closed choke and as it heats....it drops off leaving only the pressure from the throttle spring holding it at that notch as you have found out.
I know of no way to keep it on the fast idle cam nor make the choke open slower......once it opens, it drops. It is just how it is designed.....to hold high idle for a bit til you get in and go.
I had the same problem with my CJ5. One "fix" that I found on the internet was to add a resistor to the wire going to the choke to slow it down. I tried it, but it didn't seem to help much. I ended up setting to choke coil to 4 marks to the rich side, and it works much better.
I recently swapped my cold blooded holley for an edelbrock and just set this choke up last week trying to figure out the same thing.
I'd say Jebby nailed it.
Just a thought....... perhaps a little bubba, but wouldn't an "off" toggle switch in the choke 12v keep it on fast idle longer until turned on to start opening it?
The fast idle cam is held up by the closed choke and as it heats....it drops off leaving only the pressure from the throttle spring holding it at that notch as you have found out.
I know of no way to keep it on the fast idle cam nor make the choke open slower......once it opens, it drops. It is just how it is designed.....to hold high idle for a bit til you get in and go.
Jebby
Just adding that my old edelbrock 625cfm carb as well as my Holley SA670 carbs behaved this same way as it was designed to do so. I actually find myself tapping the pedal to make the idle drop as I dont need the choke or fast idle for long. When I was learning this I played with turning my electric choke and If I remember right the result was that the choke plate wouldnt fully open when warmed up until I put it back. Although I could have adjusted too far who knows.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Dec 26, 2020 at 12:28 PM.
I don't think this is how it's suppose to work. I had the Qjet on my 79' rebuilt by Lars, and it does not operate this way. Never stumbles or stalls when cold. Clearly he has the touch.
I don't see how changing the choke setting (i.e. going rich) is going to prevent it from coming off choke when you blip the throttle, because that is what causes the fast idle cam to drop.
Seems like a design flaw, but's that's the way it works.
Just don't blip the throttle and let it warm up naturally.
I don't see how changing the choke setting (i.e. going rich) is going to prevent it from coming off choke when you blip the throttle, because that is what causes the fast idle cam to drop.
Seems like a design flaw, but's that's the way it works.
Just don't blip the throttle and let it warm up naturally.
Fast idle is controlled by choke tension , the fast idle Cam weight on the linkage , idle speeds steps on the Fast idle Cam and engine air flow . Revving up a engine naturally opens the choke do to the extra air flow . The fast idle cam should come down some when you blip it but should not be anywhere close to curb idle if the choke tension is correct .
Another thing you have to watch is most of Edelbrock’s electric choke models are jetted slightly lean which Amplifies cold weather back fires and choke running problems during the warm up process
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by JavaJolt78
Would this also work on an OE Q-Jet???
JJ78
No. A Q-Jet fast idle cam will not drop down when the throttle is opened unless the choke has opened. You can delay the opening rate by setting it to a richer position, but the Q-Jet linkage is completely different, and does not have the Edelbrock problem. If your Q-Jet has that problem, your linkage is assembled incorrectly.
Note that the Q-Jet fast idle cam is hard-supported by the choke lever arm (green part) - the fast idle cam cannot drop down until the choke coil rotates the lever and allows the carb to come down off fast idle - doesn't matter if you tap the gas pedal or not. Edelbrock choke linkage bears no resemblance to this design:
Fast idle is controlled by choke tension , the fast idle Cam weight on the linkage , idle speeds steps on the Fast idle Cam and engine air flow . Revving up a engine naturally opens the choke do to the extra air flow . The fast idle cam should come down some when you blip it but should not be anywhere close to curb idle if the choke tension is correct .
Another thing you have to watch is most of Edelbrock’s electric choke models are jetted slightly lean which Amplifies cold weather back fires and choke running problems during the warm up process
Well as Lars pointed out an Edelbrock is a differnt design than a Q-Jet and it still comes down to how the Edelrock Fast Idle Cam functions, which is that the cam will drop IF you blip the throttle.
Edelbrock choke looks like the Holley. You rotate the black cap to speed up or slow down the choke operation. If you need even more control you can add a Holley Electro-dyne heat sensor in place of the ground wire on the choke cap. It senses if the engine is hot or cold not just the ambient air temp.