79 GS850 choke knob

[Guest]

The knob on my bike will not stay in the out position when I am trying to do a cold start. Very awkward as I have to hold the the clutch in with my left hand while pressing the starter button. When I turn the choke knob to the right is briefly holds but retracts before I can start the bike. Seems like the "friction" or whatever required to keep the choke engaged is not working properly. Sounds like an easy fix but my addled old brain can't get it sorted out. Anybody with a quick fix?
Jonesz

[Nessism]

This question comes up regularly. Answer is, the bezel at the base of the knob can be tightened to affect the friction holding the knob out.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Gotta hold it with your teeth.

Isn't there a knurled ring you can tighten at the base of the pull-out stick where it enters the steering head/ center of the top triple? My bike has it on the left control, so no direct experience. Ah, maybe I'm not thinking of yours correctly, but that's how I thought they worked.

[rphillips]

A problem that was never there when the choke was on the carbs...Then they fixed the problem that we never had and this is what we get... Go figure.

[Grimly]

Put a clothes peg under the head of the knob.

[Guest]

Just got back on site as I was tied up yesterday. After fiddling around I discovered that I was not pulling the knob out far enough before trying to lock it into position. There is a bit of a detent when it is pulled past the point which I had been using and it will now catch and hold as it was designed. Will also check the ring at the base of the knob and throw a clothes pin into the kit as a back up. Thanks for the help all. It appears you can "teach an old dog new tricks"!!

[oldGSfan]

Put a clothes peg under the head of the knob.

Haha that's similar to what I did on a 66 Vespa. Actually I used a wheel weight off my Norton. Worked but then I fixed it properly.

[WonderPlum]

My 81 GS850GT had the same problem of the choke knob having insufficient friction and just sliding back down on it's own. If you pull the choke out fully you will find a small rubber boot over the knurled adjuster ring which, if turned clockwise, should increase friction on the stem. This adjuster is plastic, as are all the other associated parts, so extreme care is required not to bust something! After 40 years of service the parts were worn to a level where not enough friction could be obtained with the adjustment ring tightened as far as it would go without stripping the thread.
I solved the problem by making a small cone made out of .010" aluminum shim. This shim I placed over the cone under the adjustment ring. It helps to remove the handlebar pad (Fig 52 Ref No 27 in parts catalogue) to do this work. Works like a charm now with lots of friction on the choke stem.