Starting a cold engine can sometimes be real trouble, especially during the winter. That is why the choke is very important. It helps you start your motorcycle when the temperature is pretty low and warms up the engine faster.
That is why taking care and ensuring your choke functions correctly is vital for igniting your engine during winter. We will teach you how the choke works, some of its characteristics, and the most important one, how to fix the choke.
So how to fix a motorcycle choke? Take off body panels to replace the choke linkage. Remove the air filter and the carburetor if needed. Replace the cable, which needs to be the same length as the previous one was. Once the cable is replaced, put back all the parts you previously took off in the reverse order.
In this article, we will give you all the best tips for maintaining your choke and fixing it. Stay with us and learn a lot of helpful stuff.
Table of Contents
How to Repair a Motorcycle Choke?
The choke can not be changed as a single unit, and the reason is that it is mainly built-in the carburetor. Yes, it is possible to replace the choke, but in order to do that, you need to disassemble the carburetor.
Choke parts:
- The choke lever arm has some identical features to the cable linkage.
- The choke linkage is a cable and lever which allows the rider to regulate the choke.
Step 1: Remove Motorcycle Fairings and Take the Choke out
You will need to access the carburetor when replacing the choke linkage. Remove moto fairings so that you can access your carburetor and take it off your motorcycle.
Step 2: Remove Air Filter and Carburetor
Remove the air filter (if it disturbs you from accessing the choke). Some motorcycles require that the carburetor is also removed.
Step 3: Replace the Cable
Replacing the cable is usually an easy process. You will need to loosen a couple of threaded fittings on the choke. Make sure that the replacement cable is the same length as the previous one.
Step 4: Return Body Panels, Air Filter, and Carburetor
After replacing the cable, return all the pieces you previously took off.
Step 5: Test the Choke
Start the motorcycle and turn the choke on to see if it works normally.
Signs of a Faulty Choke
Hard ignition is one of the most common signs of a faulty choke. Once you start your engine, there is the possibility that more smoke comes from your exhaust pipe, which also signals that there is something wrong with the choke. Another thing to bear in mind is to check the fuel consumption since increased consumption indicates some kind of choke problem.
If you have a hard time starting the engine, although the choke is used, this means that there is some kind of a problem with it. It could mean two things: the fuel is stopped, or the choke doesn’t close enough. Check the choke and ensure it opens and closes and go from there.
Choke’s purpose is to make an enriched fuel-air mixture. If you leave the choke on, it will continue to make this enriched fuel-air mixture. Even a short period of time, like 15-25 minutes, drastically reduces fuel consumption. A broken choke causes increased fuel consumption. It can also affect the engine performance because of the restricted airflow.
Here is a great article about How Does a Motorcycle Carburetor Work, so click on this link if you want to learn more.
Increased fuel consumption will create extra smoke from the exhaust pipe, which is unburned fuel released into the atmosphere. After igniting the motorcycle, there may be extra smoke, but if this doesn’t disappear, this may indicate a problem. This can also lead to backfiring from the exhaust pipe.
Backfiring can also happen. If there is a backfire, it is probably because of a lean mixture. If the choke opens too early before the engine is warmed up, it can lead to the uneven burn of a lean condition which can then carry ignition back to the carburetor through the opening intake valve.
If your motorcycle has starting problems, you could think that the choke is malfunctioning. If you notice any indications as soon as you use the choke, it can create even more doubts for you to think about chokes functionality.
You don’t need to worry about the choke because the engine running with the choke turned on shows that everything is ok with the choke and that it works. This problem most likely happened because of restrictions stopping fuel from reaching the carburetor.
A malfunctioned choke can occur because of the linkage not being placed correctly. The threaded cable needs to be tuned up to open and close the choke. The cable can be stretched out, and because of that, the adjustment won’t function as it is supposed to.
Note: The cable can be pulled by springs, so even a cable in worse condition may slip out from the default position. There are even situations where the cable gets stuck, and because of it, it functions with difficulty.
How Does a Motorcycle Choke Function?
The choke sends an enriched air-fuel combination to the engine so it can start quickly. This enriched air-fuel mixture helps the engine start when it is cold outside, like during the winter season. There is a bigger chance of the engine starting if more fuel is delivered to the cylinder.
There are some choke variations, but all chokes have a similar working pattern that is the same for all of them.
Airflow is restricted from the throttle plate to the engine by a plate. It may look counterintuitive to limit the engine since it needs air to ignite; on the other hand, the air can get enriched with the fuel in the controlled restriction.
The choke creates more vacuum, which leads to drawing more cold fuel steam to the low air volume.
There is a small fuel container located next to the float bowl. An independent fuel container enables the choke to work independently without the need for throttle fuel.
Because of the closed throttle plate, more vacuum is made by the engine, and because of that more significant amount of fuel is taken.
After igniting the engine and as it gets hotter, the enriched combination of fuel-air becomes stable. The perfect fuel combination enables the engine to operate better; that’s why the choke is no longer needed, and you should lower it gradually as the engine gets hotter. After reaching the optimal temperature, the throttle and carburetor control the fuel-air combination.
Electricity can be used to heat the coil because it can be controlled a little bit precisely, and that’s why some chokes use it to heat the coil. The throttle application will open the plate because some choke designs are tied to the throttle control.
Automatic chokes can be found on some carburetors, and they ease as the engine gets warmer. Most of the time, they use a metal coil that is in control of the choke plate. The coil dilates with heat, opening and spinning the choke. Some designs warm the metal coil using the engine or exhaust warmth.
How to Increase the Choke Lifespan?
Try to use choke only in necessary situations because if the choke is being used too much (and in unnecessary situations), it can lead to premature malfunction.
The choke cable can shrink, although it is not used very much, which can lead to the choke being out of function.
WD-40 can correct a sticking cable or linkage. Take WD-40 and spray the cable and activate the choke so the lube can enter the joint. You have to access the spot where the cable connects to the choke plate to perform this. You need to lubricate these points from time to time to increase the choke’s lifespan.
Carburetors can get messy; that’s why you should look at the air filter and make sure it is clean.
Get spray cleaners that can help you clean the carburetor (if you are disassembling the carburetor). There are many types of cleaning sprays. Some can be used with the engine running, so the dirt gets burned and exhausted from the system, while some sprays demand cleaning the dirt before use.
Other than that, there isn’t much servicing around the choke. It can malfunction much faster if it is used a lot.
Note: Because the fuel is constantly flowing through the choke, it makes it clean all the time.
Tip: Drain all the fuel before winterizing your motorcycle.
Here is a great video that can help you with choke repair:
Conclusion
A cold engine has more difficulty starting than the warm one, which can be mostly seen during the winter period. That is where the choke’s purpose is seen the most. As soon as the engine and the motorcycle are warmed, the choke is no longer needed.
Take care of your choke and all the fuel system in general.