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Choke won't stay set.

  • Thread starter Thread starter spaytons
  • Start date Start date
S

spaytons

Guest
I did a search and didn't see anything about this, so if you know a thread that deals with this.
The choke on my 81 850 will not stay set when I start it. I pull it out all the way but before I can start it, the choke will go back in maybe .5 of a inch by itself which makes it hard to start if you don't have a 3rd hand.
Any thoughts?
 
Eventually you'll wind up buying a new cable, but there's an old method that was independently developed by probably every 850 owner at some point in time:

Left hand pulls in the clutch,
Right hand pulls up the choke control,
Right elbow hits the starter button.

That's how I started my original '79 850 for most of the 7 years I owned it.

In theory, you can tighten the threaded rubber boot / nut that's at the base of the control, and that will add some friction, but that only works when the cable is halfway new.
 
I keep a pieces of rubber hose about inch long with a slit in it to keep the choke up.Put it on your mirror stem when not in use.
 
robertbarr said:
Eventually you'll wind up buying a new cable, but there's an old method that was independently developed by probably every 850 owner at some point in time:

Left hand pulls in the clutch,
Right hand pulls up the choke control,
Right elbow hits the starter button.

That's how I started my original '79 850 for most of the 7 years I owned it.

In theory, you can tighten the threaded rubber boot / nut that's at the base of the control, and that will add some friction, but that only works when the cable is halfway new.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a yoga routine. :D I do practice the Tao.:D
 
or a clothes peg round the stem...
Hook it into your beard or on the end ov ya nose, when not in use...

Xxx
 
hampshirehog said:
Try giving it a twist.
Click to expand...

spaytons said:
Is that a norm?:?:
Click to expand...
Not sure if it's documented in the Owner's Manual (I have never seen one), but, yeah, they are meant to lock with a slight twist.



robertbarr said:
Eventually you'll wind up buying a new cable, but there's an old method that was independently developed by probably every 850 owner at some point in time:

Left hand pulls in the clutch,
Right hand pulls up the choke control,
Right elbow hits the starter button.
Click to expand...
An alternative to this is to bypass the clutch switch so the procedure is changed to this:

Verify bike is in neutral
Left hand pulls on the "choke" knob
Right thumb pushes on the starter button.

Much easier. :D

.
 
Steve said:
.





Verify bike is in neutral
Left hand pulls on the "choke" knob
Right thumb pushes on the starter button.

Much easier......

.
Click to expand...

Unless its accidently still in gear, then you Bronco up the road lookin quite mad!!!

Xxx
 
Steve said:
Not sure if it's documented in the Owner's Manual (I have never seen one), but, yeah, they are meant to lock with a slight twist.




An alternative to this is to bypass the clutch switch so the procedure is changed to this:

Verify bike is in neutral
Left hand pulls on the "choke" knob
Right thumb pushes on the starter button.

Much easier. :D

.
Click to expand...

Yup, bypass the clutch switch. Easy...

Seana23 said:
Unless its accidently still in gear, then you Bronco up the road lookin quite mad!!!

Xxx
Click to expand...

If one's not smart enough to have a bike in neutral before hitting the start switch he prolly shouldnt be riding at all.:eek:
 
Octain said:
Yup, bypass the clutch switch. Easy...



If one's not smart enough to have a bike in neutral before hitting the start switch he prolly shouldnt be riding at all.:eek:
Click to expand...
Not certain I agree. I always park my bike in neutral. On a North Carolina rally one year my roommate thought it would be fun to put my bike in gear while it was parked. I started the bike (clutch lever in as the switch was still there) and after it started I let out the clutch, with the corresponding "Oh crud!". He found it amusing. I did not.
 
Remove the 4 small screws holding the rubber pad on top of the handlebar mounts, and remove the rubber pad.

Pull the choke knob out and lift the thin rubber cap to expose a knurled plastic knob underneath.

Turning the knurled plastic knob clockwise causes more friction against the choke, preventing it from slipping downwards by itself.

By trial and error you will find how far to turn the knurled knob to get the correct setting.
 
koolaid_kid said:
Not certain I agree. I always park my bike in neutral. On a North Carolina rally one year my roommate thought it would be fun to put my bike in gear while it was parked. I started the bike (clutch lever in as the switch was still there) and after it started I let out the clutch, with the corresponding "Oh crud!". He found it amusing. I did not.
Click to expand...
I rather not fiddle with the bypass. When I was younger I had a bike stand up on me and got a fat lip.:eek:
 
This is a great thread! All this time I thought my bike just had a cruddy choke! Glad it's not just me who has to resort to the twisty method.
 
koolaid_kid said:
Not certain I agree. I always park my bike in neutral. On a North Carolina rally one year my roommate thought it would be fun to put my bike in gear while it was parked. I started the bike (clutch lever in as the switch was still there) and after it started I let out the clutch, with the corresponding "Oh crud!". He found it amusing. I did not.
Click to expand...

Always? Even on a hill? This would lead to a certain minor disaster.
One should never assume the bike is in neutral, even if the light indicates as so.;)
 
Glad to see there are other '81 GS850 owners with the same problem. I've been using a piece of electrical tape all this time...

Going to try to tighten up the knurled nut, then the twist, then the yoga method suggested. If none of this works I'll go buy some clothes pegs. Cheers!
 
Bass Man said:
Going to try to tighten up the knurled nut, then the twist, then the yoga method suggested. If none of this works I'll go buy some clothes pegs. Cheers!
Click to expand...
A new cable that works properly is easier and looks so much nicer than clothes pegs. :D

.
 
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