Choke Cable

[summerinmaine]

The CC in my S2 has broken off at the very end of the knob/shaft (the 8-10 cm rod behind the knob) and rather than source a new one, I want to try repairing it (just to see if I can do it).

I'm confused though about an apparent anomaly. The wire connected to the enrichment levers on the Webers is solid, as I would expect for a cable that must work in both directions (push/pull) like the heater valve cable. And the broken end is broken off cleanly. But the end projecting (barely) out of the shaft appears to be a braided wire.

Does this make any sense?

[prloz]

Yes, the choke cable is a braided wire. The choke levers on the carbs have spring loaded returns, so the choke cable is only required to pull, not push.
Regards,
Peter.

[bcmc33]

The choke cable on my Elans have always been coiled up behind the dash simply to prevent anyone from mistakingly pulling it out on start-up.

The first piece of advice given to me on collection of an S2 in the mid 60's was "NEVER USE THE CHOKE- THREE PUMPS ON THE LOUD PEDAL ONLY".

When I returned to the fold a few years ago I noticed the carbs were Dellorto and not Weber, when I asked is the start routrine the same I was told in loud words; "YES - NO CHOKE"

I guess the situation could be differenet for central Russia or Canada in mid winter, but in temporate climates - no choke seems still to be the order of the day.

[summerinmaine]

Thanks for the replies! I'm not sure why the PO inserted a (non-functional) solid wire and connected it to the choke levers, but it's not the only strange glitch I've found.

And no, I don't use the choke for starting either, but it offends my sensibilities to have a non-functional control on the dash. That's just me, of course.

[bcmc33]

And no, I don't use the choke for starting either, but it offends my sensibilities to have a non-functional control on the dash. That's just me, of course.

I know of at least two people that use the "choke cable" as a bonnet release - using non-standard latches, of course.

[rcraven]

My Dellorto choke cable (which has been disconnected since before I acquired the car) is a solid wire at the carburettor end. I don't know what form it is at the knob end. I would not have thought any return spring on the carburettor would be strong enough to pull either a single or stranded wire back when the knob is released.
Obviously I never use the choke to start the car, and though I get the usual problems when the car hasn't been used for some time I'm not tempted to reconnect the choke because I assume the problem is lack of fuel in the carburettors rather than a need for a choke. Of course, Wilkins's book says you should use the choke with Dellortos as opposed to Webers.

[summerinmaine]

My Dellorto choke cable (which has been disconnected since before I acquired the car) is a solid wire at the carburettor end. I don't know what form it is at the knob end. I would not have thought any return spring on the carburettor would be strong enough to pull either a single or stranded wire back when the knob is released.

The return springs wouldn't need to be that strong, nor would you want them to be. Just by releasing the knob, it should stay in place. But when you push the knob/shaft back in, the springs should keep the cable straight, rather than having it bunch up and not operate the levers.

It's like the old command expression "you can't push a rope."