Weber question

[nealf]

I broke down and took my car to a shop to diagnose a poor running problem. Amongst other things the water choke mechanisms were not functioning properly on my dual 32/36 webers so the mechanic recommended installing electric choke mechanisms.

Are these good? I only have experience with water and manual chokes. Thanks.

 

[decoupe]

It's very simple. Get the electric's.

 

[CookeD]

The water chokes are easy to rebuild, work fine once functional, and no retrofitting.

 

[velocewest]

Sounds like a good time to upgrade to Zeniths... 8)

 

[Arde]

What is a water choke? Don't tell me my car uses water based hydraulics.

 

[michael]

Neal,

I have electric ones in my coupe. Work fine with out any issues.

 

[jhjacobs]

Either way, water or electric, both are fine. From my experience, water chokes tend to take a bit longer to disengage than electric because the engine must reach a reasonable operating temperature; this determined by ambient temperature and engine load. With electric heaters the time is determined simply by ambient temperature. Which is best? Neither. The trade off is water leaks and corrosion vs. Bosch fuses and relays -- intesting odds.

What is a water choke? Don't tell me my car uses water based hydraulics.

The water choke simply uses engine coolant rather than an electric heater to heat up a bi-metalic coil spring which disengages the choke ... nope, no water based hydaulics. It is hard to imagine anything too serious that can go wrong with the water choke besides leaking; the coil spring breaking, or the adjustment being off. Of course with our E9's, we also get to synchronize them. The water part of the mechanism is really dirt simple - water goes in, water comes out. When the water is warm the coil is heated, it expands, and the choke is released. It would be interesting to find out exactly what Neal's mechanic said the problem was.

 

[dp]

Sounds like a good time to upgrade to Zeniths... 8)

It actually IS, provided:

1) you have good cores,
2) you can get complete rebuild kits, and
3) you've got a skilled person with Zenith/INAT-specific experience

when in proper order, these carbs are head and shoulders better than any retrofits...the "value" of webbers is if they wear out they are cheap to replace (well, compared to $ for new zeniths)