9 replies to this topic

[Mini M]

Hi All,

 

Does anyone have any recommnedations for where to get a choke cable that works. I have a '74 Mini with a Metro engine and has a locking type of choke cable which never stays locked.

 

Today particularly in the icy weather, it was a right pain to keep the choke out by hand to warm the car up.

 

I've recently come back into Mini ownership after many years and wondered is there now an electronic solution for the choke?

 

Thanks,

M

[Shooter63]

Just use a clothes peg to hold it open, it's been standard equipment for years.

Shooter

[Tds76]

The cable lock can be repaired though it is a bit fiddly. 

 - Remove the cable from the car

 - Slide the spring (black ring) down the housing 

 - Take out the worn plastic lock key

 - Make a new key. I made one from a 1/4" bolt: hacksaw down the bolt held in a vice, then rotate and saw off a small piece. Might need a bit of filing to clean up and make fit in the hole in the housing. 

 - Replace the spring, then re-fit to car

 

See https://www.ausmini....=99842#p1057454 for photos

 

Cheers, Paul

Edited by Tds76, 17 January 2023 - 09:30 PM.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

I bought a new cable from Minispares and it works well.

[Chris1275gt]

Before attaching it to the carburettor lock the knob on and when attaching it to the carburettor twist the cable a little more then tighten the nut. By doing that it means the choke will not jump out of lock due to the twist of the cable as the twist you put on it is wanting to lock it and it doesn’t alter the operation of it except when you release the choke you have to push it in and keep it from locking on.

[Steam]

Just use a clothes peg to hold it open, it's been standard equipment for years.

Shooter

This is the answer KISS principle at its best.

[burchy35]

I think the peg is one of the most useful accessories to have in a mini.
Once it has finished been used to hold the choke open I clip it on the heater controls to stop them from vibrating. Win win.👍

[alpder]

Before attaching it to the carburettor lock the knob on and when attaching it to the carburettor twist the cable a little more then tighten the nut. By doing that it means the choke will not jump out of lock due to the twist of the cable as the twist you put on it is wanting to lock it and it doesn’t alter the operation of it except when you release the choke you have to push it in and keep it from locking on.

This answer should be pinned... it converted my dodgy clothes-peg-needing choke cable into a fully functional locking one, with 2 minutes work.

[Steve220]

I took the spring off.

[Ethel]

A Bowden cable is an option.

 

That's the solid wire type that can push as well as pull. Set it up with the right curve in the cable path and the friction will hold it without any locking