late model choke conversion

crumppa · Full Member Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 32

I've got an 83 with BS34 carbs. The choke control is on the handlebars and I'd like to get rid of the cable and covert the choke to the older fashioned pull type (pull handle on the left side of the carbs).

What do I need to do to convert it? I can make a new choke rod but I can't figure out how to keep the choke on once the rod is pulled. What holds the choke open against the return springs on the choke plungers?

I've looked at the exploded view for the carbs on 81 models but can't make out what the difference is.

drifter · Posted: May 10, 2008, 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

Just get aq short cable, (a Harley one might work), and devise a mount for it. make sure the cable either has, or can be fitted with a knob and fits the choke lever on the carbs. Then just remove the bar mounted one (the choke control unscrews completely from the switch pod), and attach the short on to the carbs and bracket. I've converted many choke cables to other styles and locations in my 37 years of riding. It's really very easy.

Dave

drifter · Posted: May 10, 2008, 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

Just get aq short cable, (a Harley one might work), and devise a mount for it. make sure the cable either has, or can be fitted with a knob and fits the choke lever on the carbs. Then just remove the bar mounted one (the choke control unscrews completely from the switch pod), and attach the short on to the carbs and bracket. I've converted many choke cables to other styles and locations in my 37 years of riding. It's really very easy.

Dave

weekendrider · Posted: May 11, 2008, 8:26 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

It's (80-81) are held out by a ball bearing and spring.
I'm thinking about doing the same but haven't taken the carbs off to see if the same molding is on the 82-83 carbs. Maybe today, more likely I can let you know by tomorrow pm.

Were you going to replace the left side controls also?

xsjohn · Posted: May 11, 2008, 10:14 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

Here is a pic of my spare carbs ........on the back side of the rod there is indents on the rod that ride on the ball and spring to give preslected choke positions (full mid and off).......Back there I also added intermediate indents to the rod that lets it have more preset choke positions......stock it has half choke and full choke and off indents........now mine has full choke and one position between full and half......and another position between falf and off.....gives me more choices and reduces fast idol to where I want it at the moment.........I'ts hard to get it positioned in between the indents......so I added more choices.....

xsjohn

crumppa · Full Member Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 32

Thanks, again, xsjohn. I've got the visual now. The 83 year BS34 carbs have the same holes for the spings and BBs so the conversion should be pretty easy once I find some little springs.

For the record, I would like to replace the left handlbar controls. I've been on a quest to rid the bike of all the needless crap...less=better. While I love my 02 VFR, what I like most about my XS is its simple, minimulist form.

blahcap · Posted: May 28, 2008, 12:26 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

do you guyz put the carbs on 1 at a time? or both on together i have an 83 with bs34's also. i took em off together but im thinking one at a time to get em back on.partly because my Fuel supply T pipe that fits between carbs has some small hair line cracks and i don't want that to start leaking :0

weekendrider · Posted: May 28, 2008, 12:39 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

two at a time 34's or 38's. It easier if you take off the cam chain adjuster cap and can get the breather hose out first.

I remove both sizes in pairs.

blahcap · Posted: May 28, 2008, 1:21 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

blahcap · Posted: May 28, 2008, 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

but keep the carb manifolds on?

weekendrider · Posted: May 28, 2008, 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

Yes on the head. Some like to remove the butterfly shaped brace in the middle, But that is a pain cause of the extra bracketing for the cable choke. So I leave it on. Pull the air boxes, vaccum line, gas line from the petcock, pull them back out of the intake manifold. Drop the them down (this is where having the cap off the cam chain adjuster helps) and out to the left.

Joseph · Full Member Joined: May 22, 2007 Posts: 767 Location: NY

crumppa let us knoe how you make out with this. I unknowingly took the carbs apart and couldnt get the choke rod in the left carb(one with ball). I broke the cast that holds the ball because the spring on the other side i think was cast into the carb. I dont see room to do it any other way. But if you get it done i gues i could achive the same efect by puting detents and ball on right side.

weekendrider · Posted: May 29, 2008, 8:47 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

Joseph you could swap the carbs. Left to right, right to left.
On the one set I've looked at, the ball and spring are only in the left carb.

Joseph · Full Member Joined: May 22, 2007 Posts: 767 Location: NY

good idea i still have a place for the rod to go through on the right one just no place to put ball. so that may work thanks. Still have to find out how to get the ball and spring in

weekendrider · Posted: May 29, 2008, 9:15 am Post subject: Re: late model choke conversion

Here are 2 sets of carbs. The one in the front are '83. The back 80's.
I set the choke rod from the 83's on the 80's and marked the indents with yellow so you can see the difference in placement. Also note the choke plungers are different. The most notable is the nylon bushing used on the 83 which will change the travel. So if useing the 83's your on your own trying to figure where indents need to be placed. After a cursory pass just picking the most obvious differences I decided if I wanted side pull chokes instead of cable pull it would be easier to just purchase the older set. If money is the main consideration the 83's could be cleaned and sold to off set costs. Maybe even make a dollar.

Joesph if your going to swap you'll have to change the throttle shafts(springs,bushings,etc.). I'd recommend replaceing the throttle shaft seals while your there. To get the spring in I took the small drill bit and put in the hole then slide the spring over it. That way it was a straight shot. The ball was tricker but 2 trys it dropped right onto the spring. Starting the choke rod I took the drill bit and pushed the ball down while sliding the rod in.

Edited to add photo. Still haven't firgured out the sites attachment thing

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