choke/idle adjust/whatever it is...

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:59 pm

to the left of the steering wheel there is a knob.. (well in most vehicles there is a knob) that is a choke/idle adjust/something or other...

how important is it? when do you use it? and for what?

the reason I ask, is mine is missing the knob, and as a result the only way I can operate it is with pliers, I tried messing around with it, but it doesn't seem to have any effect on anything... so maybe if I know how it's SUPPOSED to behave I could figure out whether it works or not... and decide it it's worth rigging a knob on to it somehow...

39Ronin · Post by **39Ronin** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:23 pm

It is actually a hand throttle that can be set. It is for warming up your diesel engine. Turn your vehicle on and apply some pressure to the gas pedal, when you hear it rev up to about 1500 RPM, pull the knob out and turn it into the lock postion. I found the knobs don't really work unless you apply a little to the gas to the pedal first.

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:13 am

i cant get mine to lock at all, it always slides back in and sort of spins freely. it would be nice if I could get it to work properly. Any suggestions?

Breadman · Post by **Breadman** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:15 am

i use mine everyday in the cold while i load the bread. it works the same as the gas pedal. it is as mentioned easier to push with your foot but you can just pull on the handle and it will work exactly the same just a little harder to pull than push with your foot. turn it to the right to lock and bingo. i let mine idle at around a 1000 rpm for 3 or 4 minutes and then release it and drive off. great little help on cold mornings.
paul

mitch · Post by **mitch** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:21 am

This is probably not a good idea, but when Im way out no-where on the highway I use that thing as a cruise control as well... Like I say you better be quick on the draw if plan on useing it that way.

As far as fixing it, mine had fallen of and found a small threaded rod out of the back of a bicycle cog set that threaded right in and now works fine.

I'll throw a few in for the 07 meet!

Mitch

niekt · Post by **niekt** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:36 pm

It can also be used when driving offroad , much easier to keep your rpm's constant than with your foot on the pedal on bumpy terrain.
Unfortunately the L300's in Holland came without it.

collector · Post by **collector** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:44 pm

It's a choke, like for an older gas engine (or lawnmower for that matter :P ) The older armored trucks at my work have the old "pull out" style; our new ones have the controls built into the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel.(ahhhhh progress 8) )
It's bad to put a diesel under load without warming it up first; that's why it's there...

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:44 pm

A choke enriches the mixture of fuel to air as I understand. This is just a hand throttle, it increase air and fuel.

When you pull out the 'choke' as you call it, the accelerator pedal goes down, it does not enrich the fuel mixture.

Choke reduces air flow so there is more fuel and less air

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choke_valve

There is also an idle adjust screw with a locking nut, if you push on your accelerator with the hood up you'll see where the throttle cable is, and the screw stops it at a certain point, you can choose where that point is.

collector · Post by **collector** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:22 pm

Well if you want to be technical, I suppose,but isn't it the same idea in principal? :P

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:33 pm

yes, it can be used to warm the engine, so it serves teh same purpose. But I believe the reason small gasoline engines have a choke is because increasing fuel and air may cause it to stall, or some other reason, but I'm sure there is a reason someone decided to not just have a throttle lock, its much less complicated.

I don't know it all, but I just wanted to clarify because unlike a choke, this is not harmful to use as a throttle lock while driving, I was told doing this with a choke was not very good for my motorcycle engine.

terrain · Post by **terrain** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:16 pm

its a bit of an old fashioned 4x4 thing - if you get stuck, put it in gear set the (accelator) knob and push ...... bit risky

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:13 pm

point it at a tree so it doesn't run away?

Risky or downright crazy?

I guess if its the only option its the only option

josh · Post by **josh** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:07 am

Adrock wrote:point it at a tree so it doesn't run away?

Or to avoid a scrape on the bull bars from the nasty tree tie a rope from the steering wheel to your waste.... so when it gets free and drives off you can drag yourself up the rope back into the vehicle.
Heck if you are real good you might be able to steer at the same time with the rope, as you are crawling up it... wait thats going a bit to far!

Now that wouldn't be so bad would it

:P

Josh

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:11 am

I think I just had a dream about my van, i was in a costco parking lot, picking up my 5th tire, but it was snowy and icy, and I ran up to say hi to another deli, but mine was still just following me with no one driving... it was running away. it was crazy.

Is it wrong to have delica dreams? This thread has messed with my head.

josh · Post by **josh** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:44 pm

Adrock wrote:Is it wrong to have delica dreams? This thread has messed with my head.

As long as they aren't nightmares, I am sure it is just fine.

Josh