Electric Choke Switch????

[76k5blazerr]

This may be a dumb idea but I was wondering if it's possible to wire up a toggle switch for the electric choke on my edelbrock 1406 carb, on a 350 in a 76 blazer. That way, I can just hit the switch when I go to start the truck and turn it off when it's running. Please let me know if this would work and how I would go about doing it. Thanks

 

[dyeager535]

I'd think I'd look to the factory solution before wiring up a toggle, if possible.

The oil pressure switch setup worked fine, any reason you can't use that?

 

[76k5blazerr]

Well the choke wasn't wired up when I bought the truck and I've been running with no choke since March which wasn't a problem but now it's getting cold and the truck takes forever to start in the morning when it's cold. And I think I'd like to have a toggle switch instead of the factory setup. How should I wire it up?

 

[diesel4me]

An electric choke uses 12V to OPEN the choke...shutting off the power to it will make it close,and flood the engine...the choke thermostat closes the choke by spring tension,when it gets heated up by the electric element,it loses tension,and allows the butterfly to open...this usually takes less than 5 minutes..by then the engine is hot enough not to need choke..

Sounds like you just need to adjust the choke so it closes a bit more when cold,so it'll stay partly closed longer...

I like a hand choke myself,but its easy to forget to open the choke fully after its warmed up,and that'll waste gas,and could foul the plugs ,even gas wash the cylinders...they work well as long as you pay attention!..I rigged up a "pilot light" to one of my manual choke cables to remind me to open it fully...

 

[76k5blazerr]

How do I rig up a "hand choke" like you are talking about? And are you saying that it's not possible to have a choke controlled by a toggle switch?

 

[dyeager535]

Exactly why I recommend automatic operation. Closed choke on a warm engine isn't going to kill anything in the short term (washing cylinders with gas is not good) but why even waste mental energy on it? Start the vehicle up and drive off.

Parts exist, removes human element to operation, reliable setup.

 

[76k5blazerr]

So your saying there's no way to have a toggle switch operated choke?

 

[Fordum]

No, its fairly simple. Just remember to have the power come from the ignition switch, so if you forget and leave it on, it won't run your battery down.

Look at your choke cap. If there are two terminals, then one goes to ground, and you put 12 volts to the other to OPEN the choke.
If there is only one terminal, then you put the 12 volts to that one.

Remember, you leave the switch off when its cold, then when the engine starts, turn the switch on and leave it on.
As for the manual option, they make a kit. Fairly cheap. In fact, usually a little too cheap.
If you get one, buy a heavier duty control cable. It replaces the choke cap. You press the accelerator down slightly, pull out the choke knob.
That closes the choke and puts the engine on fast idle.

As for remembering to push in the knob, I suppose that might be a problem, but I drove a Jeep for 10 years with one, my riding lawn mower has one, my 1966 f600 Ford boom truck has one, and I do not have a problem remembering.

Plus, they were standard equipment on cars and trucks for close to 100 years, so it can't be too difficult.