Choke lever removal

[AliK]

Guys, I need experienced advice please.

Trying to remove my centre console and chock lever is proving a challenge. I have these really long bolts with lock nuts but I can't see how the nut is supposed to get past the metal bracket in the photo. Any thoughts? Is this a hack job by the previous owner(s)?

Also my lever is extremely stiff, are they normally quite tough to pull? (Sean, I know what you're thinking already!!)

 

[MaximG]

The lever mechanism originally would have been attached to the console. These tended to break off with the stiffening up of the choke cable. It's not too easy to see where those bolts are going but I'm going to take a guess and say into the trans tunnel? I can only assume that the nut was held in place and the bolt done up from under neath. Do you have any pictures form slightly further away?

 

[MaximG]

On second look are those bolts going through the console?

 

[AliK]

Hey Mike, thanks for the response.

Yes they are coming down from the centre console and I suspect they were there for the reason you mentioned. I have a new console that I want to fit, but now I'm worried about breaking that one with a stiff cable.

Should I be replacing the cable or is there a way of freeing it off?

Apologies for the rubbish photo, rain stopped play sadly.

 

[status]

Cable should not be stiff,should move freely,put some oil down it if poss,if not I have one for sale,as for bolts can't remember how they go but they as said connected to the consul

 

[MaximG]

It might be possible to free up the cables as status suggests. They are of the same type as the control cables for the heater sliders. I freed mine by hanging them up and just dripping 2 in1 oil from the top until it came out the bottom, took a few days but worked a treat.

As for the choke mechanism it self I made up bracket to mount it to the transmission tunnel. It's held in place by a few self tappers. It's now rock solid and no danger of damaging the centre console. It is like most things out of the car at the moment so I could get some photos of the bracket.

 

[AliK]

Thanks fellas!

Status I may take you up on that, let me see how I get on.

MaximG, had similar ideas re the oil. Would love to see your bracket for trans tunnel as that is definitely the way forward!!

 

[MaximG]

Ok well hope these are helpful

 

[AliK]

This is truly awesome! Great job and thank you for sharing!

 

[AliK]

OK, found a PO hack job - actually, it's beautifully made and a good way to avoid buying a centre console.



Well, it's getting replaced

And this is how I got a great load of oil into the cable without taking it out. The good thing is, there is a little break in the sheath half way down where oil started to drip out, so it's going in!! The other end is also raised inside the car being filled with oil and already it's much smoother / easier to use.

 

[MaximG]

Well done! Shame about console.

 

[AliK]

Thanks for your help dude! Really appreciate the advice.

I suspected something was wrong with the console, so I have a new one that I just finished repatriating the parts from the old one onto.

Getting nearly 40 years of grime off the switches etc was quite a lot of work with a tooth brush and watchmakers screw drivers but strangely the ashtray cover went off black after soaking in warm water and fairy liquid.

Tried back to black to no avail. The solution? Olive oil!!!! Just a little olive oil on a piece of kitchen towel and a good rub on and rub off made it look like new!! strange lesson learned!!