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MG TD TF 1500 - Another Choke Question

Rather than hijack the other thread I thought I would pose this question separately.

On my car I can pull out the choke and twist it and it holds in place, but it does not hold for long, it just lets go suddenly and the choke is closed long before the car is ready for it. I think it is vibration that is shaking it loose. Anyway, is there a fix for this other than things I have seen on the web such as using a clothes peg to hold it out!

Thanks much
Simon
Troy Il
S Griffin

Hi Simon,

I recently repaired my choke knob but unfortunately didn't take any photos. However if you remove the knob and cable from the car you will a small sprung collar around the housing for the stem. Slide this along the stem and you will see a small slot. There should be a half moon in this but I suspect in your case it is missing. You will find teeth cut into the knob stem and the half moon clicks into these to hold the choke open. The sprung collar pushes the half moon into the teeth. The teeth are only down one side of the stem so rotating the knob disengages them and you can push the choke in. I suggest you dismantle everything and sharpen up the teeth with a file. If the half moon is missing one can easily be made up by cutting a suitably sized washer. When you reassemble everything twist the flexible cable before securing it to the carbs so that the knob is tensioned to engage the teeth at rest. You may want to try twisting the cable as a first resort

Jan T
J Targosz

The shaft on the choke is serrated,
There is a brass key that locks into the serrated heath when you rotate the shaft. This is held in place by a spring clip.
First check that the clip is there.
Then remove it an check for the key.
Look at the key and see if its all there and not buggered.
If it is you can make a new one with a piece of 1/16 sheet boss and a coping saw.
Attached is one I made
The red is dye used to scribe the pattern.

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

Simon it's worth noting that there are two types of choke. The original is twisted to release which is opposite to the later replacement. The following diagram was posted on one of the archived threads by Rod Jones & clearly illustrates the difference. It's also possible to use the shank of a MS bolt to make the half moon key. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Thank you all and thank you for some off BBS messages that came in on the subject. Looks like I have a plan for this weekends predicted ice storm as it does not look like I will be able to leave the house or the garage!
S Griffin

I've also read the the inner cable has to be pre-twisted in a certain direction so it locks unless the knob is turned in the opposite direction. This works better with a stranded inner cable rather than a single wire type. Can't recall which direction the inner cable has to be twisted however.
John Quilter

This thread was discussed between 11/01/2017 and 12/01/2017

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