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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Choke cable problem

Hi I wonder if you could help me out please . When I’m pulling the choke cable out it stays out and doesn’t retract unless I push it in and takes quite a bit of force Looking at the cable from under the dash it kind up bunches up the outer sheath just after the metal tube/ ferrule thing . Took the cable out and works fine out of the car and even locks on. 1/4 turn . Put it back in attached to the carbs same problem.
Mike Fairclough

Is the carb linkage at the other end working, are the jets lowering and inner cable moving if you push the cable from that end?

Put double skinned cardboard to protect the rad fins if you leave it in.

Nigel Atkins

Thanks , carb linkages work fine if a little stiff and cable runs freely through the outer cable . Not sure I follow the cardboard rad fin advice ,
Mike Fairclough

Mike,
sorry last sentence was for another post and thread (wonder what I put there)!

Could the thin nut that hold the cable assembly to dash be loose or cable assembly not fully seated in the slight D'shape hole in the dash.

There a John Twist on repairing a choke cable but I'm not sure it applies here.

When you took the cable out from the car did you fully remove the inner cable from the outer to check both?
Nigel Atkins

Sorry, got called away.

I'm not quite with this problem, not unusual though, I've probably missed something or misread or misunderstood perhaps a photo of the cable under the dash and connection at carbs.

Have you jammed or broken the mechanism as the springs pulling the linkage back are quite strong.
Nigel Atkins

Here's the John Twist video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQIRaHBfps8

I don't think this would apply since Spridget cables have a solid wire instead of the multi strand one that John shows (at least the early ones did).

Do you have a return spring for the choke mechanism?
Martin

Martian,
I'm glad you put choke cables used to be solid wire as that's how I remembered them but for years now they're been multi-strand AFAIK hence the greater need for return springs.

The JT video might deal with the basics of the problem if not the problem.
Nigel Atkins

It’s definitely a stranded cable and does move freely disconnected from the carbs. It does take some force to pull it out but I can’t understand why that would make it bunch of the cable outer rather than pull the linkage .
Mike Fairclough

Mike,
as with the JT vid are some strands broken and coiled, have you completely remove the inner cable from the outer and inspected it?

Modern made cables can be rubbish and stiff from start.

Are you sure the carb end of the choke all works fine and moves through full range back and forth?

Pushing with your finger or thumb against the carb choke lever will feel stiff-ish against the strength of the return spring so you could remove them to check as that with give you move feel to any real stiffness.

Again photos might help, I expect I'm missing the obvious but I just can't get this but I have seen carbs, linkages and springs that are set up in the standard way. Stock (1275) images of a set up to give you the idea. -





Nigel Atkins

Mike,

Stranded cables are made to be pulled, not pushed. The return spring should do the pulling one way whereas the knob pulls it the other way. Pushing on a stranded cable tends to "untwist" the cable giving you the bunching that you've seen. And if there is no resistance as when you pulled it out of the car then yes it will move easily.
Martin

Blast my brain, I meant -

>> ... I have seen carbs, linkages and springs that are [ NOT ] set up in the standard way<<.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 01/06/2021 and 02/06/2021

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