Choke stays closed

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Jun 30, 2024
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Hey guys. Im new to outboards so im going to give you all the details

i have a 1978 70hp 3 cyl evinrude model number 70873C. It has a electric choke with the second butterfly valve. The choke solenoid only has 2 wires, the purple-white and black wire. When i bought the motor the choke didnt work but somehow the last guy got it to start cold but when i got it home, it would only cold start on spray but after that it starts easily. I realized the choke solenoid wire was connected to the wrong place on the bar of screws when i would touch the solenoid and its HOT. so i moved the wire to the correct spot on the bar and now the choke butterflies actually close when i turn the key and when i crank it, i see gas spilling from the carbs, and when i turn the key to the off position the valves open again. Previously when the solenoid was connected incorrectly, non of that ever happened.
My issue is, the motor will start briefly sometimes when the choke is closed and then die. I removed the spring that connects the solenoid to the links of the butterfly valves so the choke valves dont close, it starts( this is not a cold start though as i have not tried this on a cold start) BUT I can see the choke solenoid is still engaged even when ive had it running for a couple minutes.
Shouldnt the choke valve open even alittle bit as soon as the motor starts? shouldnt the motor be able to run with the choke completely clsoed? Could my choke solenoid be fried? how should the choke behave, should it stay closed or open as soon as the motor starts?
 
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racerone

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Dec 28, 2013
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Choke solenoid should only work when you command it to be closed.-----Your wiring is incorrect.----Do something about before damage occurs.
 

cyclops222

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Electric chokes have 2 separate types of adjustment to them.
The first adjustment is for how much / TIGHTLY the Choke Butterfly valve should close when cold. Some chokes have a plate on the side with several steps to reduce the amount of choking as the engine warms up. Some carburetors have a heating spring inside of a round black plastic box. The heating coil in it can be moved by a electric heater element that then moves the Choke Butterfly valve as needed. The cam plate with the cut out steps, has a adjusting screw on it. That is adjusted to give a time delaying opening of the Butterfly valve. Obviously all the choke adjustments are wrong.
 

tphoyt

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Not sure what kind of controls you have but the choke should only work when you push the key in or if you have some sortof momentary switch.
It should close for cold start only and be wide open for normal run. You have it wired wrong at the moment.
 

cyclops222

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THe choke valve should open about 1/4' to 1/2" as soon as the engine spins. The engine vacuum sucks the valve open enough for a steady speed. That and the screw on a cam step determines how fast a cold start will be. Then the electric solenoid will pull against the choke closing spring and slowly open the Butterfly valve completely. There are.... several different ways....that this choking can be accomplished. Lots of oddities. Would need picture of choke on the carburetor to walk you thru all the steps / adjustments.
Obviously the best correct time to adjust choke is on the coldest day. BUUTT it can be done on a warm day also.
 

cyclops222

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I searched the web and found your year carb & choke being discussed. Will copy how you can get to the web pages with several pictures on it and discussion. Be patient
It is a REAL ODD BALL choke system. A real dinosaur setup. Try not to use the motor until I post up the site for you.

It looks like the choke is ...ONLY ....to be energized enough to warm up the engine. NOT a any type of automatic type. We will do it right. (y)(y)
Do you know how to adjust the idle speed mixture screw to be richer and a little bit faster ? Not a lot is needed in the summer. Some people WRONGLY adjust IDLE speed and mixture to be the cheapskate lowest to save a dime all summer.
Time for breakfast.
 
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racerone

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???-----This motor just has a simple choke set up-----Closed or open only.-----No fancy adjustments of any kind !!----These carburetors do not have idle mixture screws either !
 

cyclops222

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Well after reading lots of web postings about this engine.
It turns out that over the decades it could be changed from original setup.
Without a picture of the solenoid and what type of key switch. Or a separate switch for turning the choke on or off. We really can not
help. I found a site with several pictures of the solenoid plunger and spring.
The plunger is DEFINATELY keyed into the solenoid to PREVENT rotation. WHY ? Obviously the plunger has threads cut into it. To allow screwing the spring in or out. To adjust the choke position when the choke coil is turned on.
Do you have a separate simple switch just for the choke solenoid to be energized ? Not connected to the key switch in any way ? If a separate switch ? Simple adjustment of twisting the spring around the threads of the plunger end. Might be more adjustment possible To limit maximum closing of the choke valve. Few pictures I saw were not showing all of the choke linkages possible.
 

flyingscott

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Well after reading lots of web postings about this engine.
It turns out that over the decades it could be changed from original setup.
Without a picture of the solenoid and what type of key switch. Or a separate switch for turning the choke on or off. We really can not
help. I found a site with several pictures of the solenoid plunger and spring.
The plunger is DEFINATELY keyed into the solenoid to PREVENT rotation. WHY ? Obviously the plunger has threads cut into it. To allow screwing the spring in or out. To adjust the choke position when the choke coil is turned on.
Do you have a separate simple switch just for the choke solenoid to be energized ? Not connected to the key switch in any way ? If a separate switch ? Simple adjustment of twisting the spring around the threads of the plunger end. Might be more adjustment possible To limit maximum closing of the choke valve. Few pictures I saw were not showing all of the choke linkages possible.
None of that makes any sense.
 

cyclops222

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Found a post on this forum with pictures and a long discussion.
Search...... 74 70hp evinrude choke solenoid problem
evinrude is spelled with a lower case e.
 

flyingscott

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simple solenoid on your motor. Choke should only work with the key in the on position and pressed in. Simple adjustment move the solenoid body until it works correctly, And redo your wiring.
 

jimmbo

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May 24, 2004
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If you have a 78 motor, why are you Googling info about a 74? There are Many Differences between the Engines of those 2 Model years
 
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Jun 30, 2024
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the way it was wired when i got it is linked above and thats when the solenoid would get super hot and wouldnt do anything. I corrected it to follow the sticker but when i do, the choke stays on permanently. dont think its the controls because i tried using 2 different controls and same results
 

jimmbo

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May 24, 2004
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So when you got it, the Purple and White was on the Wrong Terminal(#6), and the Solenoid was super Hot? Yet when you moved the Purple/White down One Screw(#7), the Choke was always on? So was it Super Hot then?
 
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