Holley Electric Choke

[greg82255]

Hello,

I just installed a holley 600 cfm carburetor (Model 4160) with electric choke on my 305. The engine runs fine on the trailer, but I am not sure that I wired the electric choke right. How can I tell if it is done correctly? It does not appear to move when I start the engine, or when it is running... What should I be looking for?

 

[Don S]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

On a cold engine, the choke should be closed. When you start the engine the choke should have power to it and slowly open. Usually take a few minutes to open fully.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

Thanks for the reply. This doesn't happen on mine, and the carb is brand new so I would assume there is a wiring problem.. is there a wiring diagram somewhere on this site? or do you know of where I could find one?

 

[Don S]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

What are we working on besides a carb? I know it's a 305, but Merc, OMC, Volvo? there are wiring diagrams in the service manuals. But you are doing something aftermarket and not covered by the manual.
You basically only need 2 wires, a 12V power wire that is powered only when the ign. switch is in the run position (Coil + terminal) and a ground.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

Its a 1982 mercruiser 898, I replaced the old rochester 2 bbl with a new intake and a holley 4bbl and a put in a new exhaust too, everything else is still stock. I see where I can connect a ground, but where can I connect the 12V positive wire so that it is only powered when the key is turned on?

 

[Don S]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

Hook power to the + terminal on the coil. How many terminals are on the choke housing.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

There are 2 terminals on the choke housing, + and -. So the + goes to the positive on the coil, and the other just connects to ground. I'll try this out and see if it works - Thank you.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Holley Electric Choke

Howdy,


There's only 2 connections on a typical holley. Plus (+), and ground (-)


As Don indicates the + goes to the coil Since it's powered anytime the key is on. - or ground goes to any good ground connection. If either of these connections is poor, the heating element will not heat up.

It's a bi-metallic heating element. When it gets hot it opens the choke. (when it's cold, there should be a slight "spring" pressure closing the choke "butterfly"

If someone has adjusted the choke to be open all the time, it will never close. (that's what I did with mine......I disconnected it and it NEVER closes .....I don't boat in cold weather.....or even cool weather... I have found that I do not need a "choke")

If you loosen the 3 screws that hold the black plastic cover, you'll notice that you can manually move the choke plate by turning the black plastic/bakelite housing.

When the element is cold, turn the "cover" to *just* close the plate. when it heats up, it will slowly open and stay open as long as there's 12v on the 2 lugs. Then tighten the 3 screws.

You can easily test it by applying 12v to it and observe it opening.

Turning the black housing counter clockwise will place "closing" pressure on the choke plate. Turning it clockwise will open the choke plate.

You will probably need to remove the 3 screws and housing gently tap the housing to break it free to be able to turn it either way.

The one you see in the picture below was rebuilt and installed on my previous OMC 460.

I still have it and will probably use it on my Ford 292 Y-block in my 55 F-600!



Cheers,


Rick


Incidentally, I tried measuring the resistance of the heating element inside the housing and I noticed that the rivets that hold the electrical connection "tabs" were a little loose. The resistance (measured with my Fluke 189) was about 13-14 ohms after I scraped the rivets to shiny metal . That would result in about 1A current flow. With those loose rivets though, I could not get a decent resistance "reading" (they should be soldered or spot-welded)

If you cannot get a good reading, you may have to replace the housing/spring/element.