Choke lever

Woody850 · May 12, 2018

Having fitted the air slides in my new premiers for better cold starting the lever gives me bother in that the screw always slackens off. Fortunatly a coin just does the job to retighten. The friction spring is in place but does not help, either I have a too tight or too loose lever.
Any ideas? I have considered loctighting the screw but that can't be right.

Triton Thrasher · May 12, 2018

A chronic problem with their stupid design.

I remember people tying the lever in the open position with a rubber cut from an inner tube.

The other cure is to remove the air slides, of course.

kommando · May 12, 2018

Take the spring out and bend it so its stronger and applies more force but the clearances are not used up, well in the short term anyway until the spring weakens.

Woody850 · May 12, 2018

Thanks I'll try that and see if loctight helps.

Fast Eddie · May 12, 2018

The standard ones were rather crap.

Unfortunately new pattern ones have taken this to another level... they’re much crapper !

Stephen Hill · May 12, 2018

Never had a problem on any of my Commandos. Mind you, I tightened the nut up and never use it. I just tickle the carbs.
Maybe I am missing something. Anybody else use their choke instead of the ticklers?
Sometimes when the bike is hot, it can be cranky starting. Maybe that is the moment to use a choke?

Stephen Hill

Mr. Rick · May 12, 2018

I use both if cold. Mine warms up a little quicker with half-choke left on for about 20 seconds. Never need it when hot...

Woody850 · May 13, 2018

Mr. Rick said:
both

Thats my reason for having them fitted it always starts first kick and me having a wonky right knee start with the left leg on the main stand, works a treat.

Fast Eddie · May 13, 2018

Mr. Rick said:
I use both if cold. Mine warms up a little quicker with half-choke left on for about 20 seconds. Never need it when hot...

I suspsect your findings are a placebo here Mr Rick.

My understanding is that the choke only works as a choke when it’s fully deployed.

Half choke is therefore no choke.

The only effect of half choke would be to severely inhibit performance above half throttle (as that’s the only time the choke slide would not be hidden by the throttle slide.

Unless I Issunderstand the principles of how the choke works?

Mr. Rick · May 13, 2018

You may be right about the placebo effect. I shd have said that what I actually do is give it full choke to get it started, and then almost immediately back off to half, while using the throttle friction screw to keep it just off the throttle stops. While it's warming up, I can get my jacket, helmet, and gloves on without holding the twistgrip.
Someday this summer I'll get out my new Harmonizer® carb synch tool, and see if the dance can be simplified somewhat...

Torontonian · May 17, 2018

Yes keep it tight using a large coin. Congratulations you bought a Norton.

Woody850 · Jun 17, 2018

I think I have found the solution for all who may be plauged. It has been on test for a while to eliminate false conclusions.
Here goes, I took two pairs of long-nosed pliars and crimped the flat spring which is under the lever in more than one place just enough to allow you to get the screw in again. It might have looked brutal but it now gave a lot of friction, then I fitted the screw with loctight and left it overnight.
That is now going on for a month and it holds the choke cable in tension. I am very pleased with the result.
John