She's ALIVE! How to check electric choke?

[FishNinJay]

So I put my Edelbrock 1406 carb back on today during my lunch, 2 new glass inline fuel filters on either side of my fuel pump, few squirts of ether, and she roared to life!! Still runs rough, and died a few times while idling.

Few days ago, when I was taking the carb off, I noticed this red wire off the electric choke was barely in a crimp splice. (maybe not even making contact?)

I recrimped it today. Still idling rough, and I'm wondering.. how do I know the electric choke is working? Obviously, there is no manual knob to pull. Does the valve open/close while cranking starter? or pumping the gas pedal?

Also, how can I electrically test this red pos choke wire? I have a multi-tester, but I hate to admit, I'm not quite sure what to test? Put the black probe to ground, and the red probe on the red choke wire terminal plug? There should only be current while ignition is ON? or only ON while actually cranking starter? I don't think it is supposed to be direct to battery, right? And, what settings on the multi-tester?

As always, THANKS!!

My rig is alive.. because of the awesome folks here on ih8Mud .. (and google, and youtube)

 

[cmiller114]

Pull the red wire, test between the plug and the blade on the choke....set your meter on 20V/DC. You should have 12.5-13V with the ignition on.....0 with the ignition off. If not...check your ground. Check from red plug to ground to be sure you have power first.
Your photo shows the choke in it's cold or closed position. When you work the throttle the fast idle cam (other side of the carb) should rotate into the fast idle position. Turn the ignition on and wait a minute.....now work the throttle again. As the choke warms up (electrically) it will start to open the choke horn ( on top off carb) and rotate the fast idle cam as you work the throttle.
This choke is easily adjusted by loosening the three screws on the black plastic body and rotating the body.

 

[FishNinJay]

Pull the red wire, test between the plug and the blade on the choke....set your meter on 20V/DC. You should have 12.5-13V with the ignition on.....0 with the ignition off. If not...check your ground. Check from red plug to ground to be sure you have power first.
Your photo shows the choke in it's cold or closed position. When you work the throttle the fast idle cam (other side of the carb) should rotate into the fast idle position. Turn the ignition on and wait a minute.....now work the throttle again. As the choke warms up (electrically) it will start to open the choke horn ( on top off carb) and rotate the fast idle cam as you work the throttle.
This choke is easily adjusted by loosening the three screws on the black plastic body and rotating the body.

Just confirming your tips to make the steps idiot-proof for me..

Ignition ON, not cranking starter.

ok.. so check between the white terminal plug and the blade it fits on for V. Hmm.. I thought I was checking between the plug (red), and the frame (ground), but I don't think I registered any V or current? Can't recall.. I'll try your way.

After I turn the ignition ON, and while waiting a minute, the choke warms and will start to open? or opens only after I step on the gas pedal? I see the three screws.

Ok.. thanks! -J

 

[FishNinJay]

well, it starts, but doesn't sustain idle. The longest it ran was about 8 minutes, with a few stumbles where it sputtered as if it were about to die, but then roars back up to idle. Seems to start up, and idle better with air filter off. I replaced the air filter, and still have problems. I'm still suspicious of the electric choke.. but I was wondering.. even if the electric choke was disconnected, wouldn't the heat and gases from the engine heat up the spring and valve pretty quick? So, once warm, the choke would open up? What's wrong with my thinking here? I need to figure out how to use my multi-tester, and perhaps re-do the e-choke wiring completely to trouble-shoot this electric choke before I replace the carb. The only local place I can find, is Tops which has a new 1406 Edelbrock for $300!