GS850 1979: Choke won't stay close

[maisf]

Hi there,

The choke on my GS850 won't stay out (closed) when I start the bike. It keeps on opening by itself.

It looks like theres not enough friction in the cable to keep it there... I need to jam a small visegrip to stop it from going back in!

Is there a sort of friction adjustment somewhere I'm missing?

Thanks!

Frank

[Rijko]

The top part of the choke cable is a knob with a pin attached.
On my old cables i have the same issue, what i do is pull the choke
out as far as possible and with pliers i make that pin a bit out-of-round
on the lowest visible part so it has friction with the pipe it slides through.
Just a tiny bit is enough.

[maisf]

Hi Rijko,

Thanks, I'll try this out!

[Grimly]

Can't recall if the original choke is pull and twist-to-lock, but the replacement choke cable from some car at the breakers, is. Twist-to-lock choke cables used to be common on cars, you'll find one easily. Even brand new they're cheap enough.
Failing that, a clothes peg around it would do the same job.

[robertbarr]

Owners of these (including me, when I bought mine in 1979) develop an approach like this: Pull the choke up with your right hand. Left hand pulls in the clutch. Twist your torso and press the start button with your right elbow. Off you go!

No, I'm not kidding -- I used that technique for about 7 years & 52,000 miles.

[Redman]

80 850g I had with pull choke in center, the base there in the center had as disc that could turn to tighten the tension to keep it in place.

[rphillips]

The little knurled ring tightens up on the cable shaft, tighter the ring, more friction on the cable right where it comes out of the steering stem.

[rphillips]

Yep, he was just quicker than me.

[Brendan W]

Have a look at what is happening at the bottom end.
The clutch cable has a habit of getting involved with anything that moves down there.

[maisf]

Owners of these (including me, when I bought mine in 1979) develop an approach like this: Pull the choke up with your right hand. Left hand pulls in the clutch. Twist your torso and press the start button with your right elbow. Off you go!

No, I'm not kidding -- I used that technique for about 7 years & 52,000 miles.

Hahaha... That's a good one!

[maisf]

The little knurled ring tightens up on the cable shaft, tighter the ring, more friction on the cable right where it comes out of the steering stem.

Yeah, I saw that, but tightening that wouldn't do any good. I guess someone lubed this somehow...

I may try some brake cleaner on this to dry-it out.

[rphillips]

The cables never worked real well, but that is the way they were designed to work. "IF IT AIN"T BROKE DON"T TRY TO FIX IT" Why in the sheeeeet didn't they just leave them alone, worked perfect for all those years when the choke was on the end of the carb. rack. If they had just left it alone, we would have never had this conversation.