So one of the first things I learned about my new-to-me speedster is that it doesn't have a choke knob. I dug a little further and discovered that the dual Dellorto DRLA carbs are equipped with chokes, but nothing is hooked up. It starts fine, but idles rich, according to my nose. I'm thinking I should lean out the idle until the mix is correct, but once I do, do I need to be thinking about hooking up the chokes?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
You could hook up the 'chokes', but you'll find that all it takes is a couple of minutes with your foot feathering the gas until it warms up and it runs on it's own. Be sure that any messing with carbs is done with the engine warmed up to proper operating temps. Al
I have no choke plates and a pair of Dell 40's.
I give it 4 a 5 good pumps before starting and then another 3 or 4 (or 5) to keep it going, and then it settles down in 30 seconds or so to a grumpy idle and runs well enough to back out into the street and take off. It remains grumpy for another 30 seconds or so til I'm well underway and that's it. Usually like that unless the outside temp is under 40F or so, and then I let it idle (grumpily) for a minute before taking off. Seems OK, or at least I'm used to it!
I have heard of some DRLA's with choke plates, just never seen one.
you could attach the choke cables to one of the levers next to the emergency brake, if you're not using them for the heaters.
The no choke thing also surprised me when I first got my Speedster, but almost all of our cars are like that and most of us do pretty much what Gordon says.
It's probably a pretty good idea to let it warm up at idle for a minute or three before driving off, anyway, especially in colder weather. That lets the oil get circulating a bit before the engine has any real work to do.
If you just want to fiddle with the carbs, there will probably be ample opportunity to do that eventually - chokes or no.
I had them hooked up originally, made a spiffy 2 into 1 cable adapter. They worked, but not really needed. A hand throttle is more effective, but really not necessary either. Warm it up for a couple minutes, then drive off.
Set warm(engine hot!) idle to 900 or 950 and it's a non issue
