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Choke knob

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[ QUOTE ]
Hey John! your knob looks nice--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Keoke,

Thanks! I would not recommend spray painting bakelite unless it is unrestorable (i.e. glued back together) because the paint is going to fill in details, you lose the original luster of polished bakelite and the paint will not hold up as well over time (for things like knobs). Just ask the old radio restorers if painting over bakelite will decrease the value! Anyway, just my opinion /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
No problem here John, Been on there for over Ten years and still looks great.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Dave,
I installed the moss assembly in my BJ8. It does hold open if twisted in either direction. Don't know if it's a different part for your model ? I replaced the whole thing, inside and out. Smooth as a baby's ....
 
Hi Ed,
At the time I got the #734-100 choke cable from Moss in 2002, it did not have any locking feature. Does yours have the serrated/notched shaft behind the knob & spring loaded detent with 1/4 turn to lock, as original? Or does it just bind a bit when turned? OTOH, the factory may have changed the design between early & late models, or who knows. Good to know that you got something that works. See attached pic.
D
 

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  • 252286-ChokeKnob.jpg
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Hi Dave, I did not comment on your earlier post because I was not sure what you had. I have never seen that type choke assembly used in the Healeys.If the correct one for your car looks like John's picture, I would just order a new one and install.---Keoke
 
Hi Keoke,
As far as I know, the 1/4 turn to lock was original. I had a BN2 in 1959 that had the same thing. In any event it works very well & the knob is close to correct. I have no desire to install a "new" one. Even if it by chance is not original, I like it.
D
 
FWIW British Car Specialist have a choke knob and cable with a "C" on it. What did the pre 62 Healeys run for Choke knobs?

DT
 
I am certain that the BN2 had the word "CHOKE" spelled out in white letters & was mounted under the dash. The "book" says that on the BN4, BN6, BN7, BT7 earlier cars the choke knob had a small "C". MK11's had a larger letter "C". The BJ7 dash was carried over from the earlier cars. The BJ8 appears to have the word "CHOKE" spelled out in full.

Who knows if this is correct. You won't lose may points in a concours no matter what is on the knob.
D
 
Hi Dave,
I put my car on a trailer today and took it to the body shop for the last time,( I hope ), so I can't take a look right now. If I remember, the new one didn't appear to have the grooves like the original. But after I installed it, I tried turning it in both directions and it held the choke until I turned and released it. I don't know how they accomplished this without the grooves but it works like a champ.
 
My 64BJ8 has a knob exactly like John's picture. There is a grove that runs the length of the shaft on the bottom side. It seems to be a simple pull or is it suppose to twist to set?
 
Yes TH, when the choke knob is pulled out and twisted a small ball bearing that rides in the slot rises up and puts pressure on the outside diameter of the shaft. This pressure is established and maintained by a circlip type spring which holds the ball bearing tightly against the shaft, locking it in the pulled position, When the choke knob , if installed correctly horizontally reads "Choke" left to right, the ball bearing resides in the slot removing the locking pressure and the choke return springs located on the carburetors pull the knob back in.--Fwiw--Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
Hi TH,
My original BN2 knob/shaft assembly has a series of teeth along the shank. When the knob is turned a full 1/4 turn, the teeth engage a detent which locks the shaft at the desired position ANYWHERE along it's travel. The shaft is connected to the cable wire by a pivot so that the shaft can turn independently of the choke pull wire itself. It is very handy to be able to pull the knob just a couple of notches for a faster idle during warm up. The BN2 model works very slick & easy. See pic above.

The replacement Moss choke wire & knob that I got in 1992 had a groove in the shank but the spring loaded ball detent never did hold anything. I think the C spring that holds the ball was likely too tight. Maybe corrected on later products. There was no cable to shaft pivot so the cable had to be twisted to turn the knob. IMO really inferior to the earlier design. I recently adapted the Moss knob to my original 1/4 turn to lock cable assembly.

I can't say how well later choke wire/knobs locked or didn't lock. I have read of folks using a clothspin to secure some of the choke knobs at fast idle.

Just don't know about all of the possible original designs or what may have been done on replacement parts. I guess what ever suits the individual is the way to go. Ed K. seems to have something that works for him. It probably works as Keoke describes. The whole thing is probably a minor item in the overall picture.
D
 
"The BN2 model works so slick and easy". Yeah Dave, but they so ugly with them dinosaur teeth marks showing /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. The later so called "Automatic" type like I just described for TH will perform all those same locking functions. Plus they are completely rebuild able.--Keoke
 
And probably the number one advantage, the later one is cheaper to make. You are fortunate that you "have never seen" the older version which doesn't have the cost cutting "improvements" of the later ones. Plus they don't need rebuilding unless the knob happens to be missing. The whole subject is hardly worth discussion. I will say no more. Such carrying on about trivia!

Headed for the "Battle of Britain day at Warhawk Air Museum" & Brit car show. Lot of neat old airplanes. Catch ya later,
D
 
Whats the matter Dave, you got a Grouch on today?,---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Naw - Not really. Spent the day with a lot of rebuilt old pre WW2 fighter planes, all types of aircraft engines including early jets. The museum gives the Brit cars honored display status for the day. The old Brit cars looked right at home amongst the collection.
D
 
Oh that is great!. I love seeing those old airplanes. We have a similar affair here called "Wheels and Wings" held at Santa monica Airport. I have not see a date for it this year though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif---Keoke
 
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