sticky electric choke plate/butterfly

[JBC118]

Hello, I've got an 88 Marlin, 4.3 alpha 1 with a 2 barrel Mercarb..I adjusted the electric choke last year and have had no issues up until now. The last couple times out the choke will set properly when I pump the throttle. On start up it will start fine but becomes too rich quick. The butterfly plate will not rotate to a vertical position on its own. This requires me to pop the flame arrestor off and manually move the plate to the vertical position. This immediately resolves the issue.

Any thought as to why this might hang up? I plan to take a closer look in the next couple days but was looking for some likely causes from you all.

Thanks..

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... My WAGuess is the element in the electric coil is smoked,...

 

[Rick Stephens]

Other thing could be corrosion where the rod goes through the carb body. Check to see the plate rotates freely. Most likely is the choke element is toasty, like Bondo said - they burn out over time and need replacing. I don't believe they are a marine only item, so you can walk into an auto parts store and get a replacement.

 

[biggjimm]

Probably the choke coil element as mentioned but also could possibly be the choke plate or linkage is binding up.

 

[JBC118]

After a bit of examination I'm fairly sure it's the choke element. I'm not an electrician, but I do have a voltmeter. I know I have 12v to the element. Is there a way to check resistance to verify that the element is bad?
thanks in advance...

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Just take the 3 screws out, pull the element, 'n Look at it,....

I'm guessin' it'll be obviously burnt,....

 

[JBC118]

Update...so I don't think it's the choke element. I pulled the top side of the carb off and was able to remove the small rod that's attached to the choke plate. It appeared that it was bent at some point and hanging up at one of the pivot points. This is probably not the recommended solution but I bored out both of the holes slightly which allows a lot better movement of that choke plate.
We shall see..