Choke rod though the radiator I am T

[1928Pickuppain]

I am thinking of putting my old choke rod though my radiator and hooking it up to my carb so i can choke it while i crank it i currently have a coper line sticking though so i can operate it i haven't been able to adj my breaks in a long time so i have to lift my break petal so the tail lights turn off; sometimes i forget to and my battery dies. has any one done this? also what do i use to paint the radiator mine is looking faded and i have a big black spot were my front license plate once was. is there a special paint that wont affect heat transfer?

[Napa Skip]

Usually a piece of bailing wire (I know, modern bailers use twine, not wire...) is used, which is why the carburetor choke bell crank (usually) has a lower leg with a hole in it. Hook the wire to the choke bell crank lower leg and run the wire out to just in front of the radiator where (with a small loop in the wire) it can be grasped and used to choke the carb while hand cranking.

[1crosscut]

Leave the key off, retard your spark, pull down the the throttle a few clicks and close the choke. Give the engine about three or four upward pulls with the hand crank to charge the cylinders, turn the key on and give it a another pull with the hand crank ........should start.
Dave

[Lycoming-8]

That wire mentioned above was already on my business coupe when I bought it many years ago. Came in handy the last year of college when the battery was just a hard rubber case full of slightly acidic water. Lucky for me though, after setting the spark and throttle levers and turning on the key, only one quick pull on the crank while pulling out on the choke 'wire' had it running every time!!!

[Milton]

T bailing wire method was good enough for my grandfather so it was good enough for me.

[CarlG]

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The pre-cut wires they use for suspended ceilings makes a good front choke rod. It's a little thicker than "bailing" wire, but it doesn't tend to bend real easy after it's formed either.

[V4F]

why hand crank ? .......... steve

[Elcastor]

Why hand crank, why not adjust the brakes, and I use a light coat of flat black spray paint on the radiator.

[eagle]

Mac's sells a real nice brass wire with a loop on it, its only a couple bucks and looks and works great. Its in their T catalog.

[JBill]

Maybe you already have one and it needs tweaking, but if not, you can get a spring whatsis from any vendor to help retract the brake pedal.

[Kurt in NJ]

I would worry about the wire wearing through a radiator tube from vibration causing a leak ---perhaps a sleeve could be installed to prevent this--

My choke wire was found along the side of the road--in a time of need, I keep it under the seat.

I would think that in the time it takes to hand crank you could do some brake adjusting, i have taken the fronts up a click or 2 at a stop light

[Tom Wesenberg]

I also don't run a wire through the radiator for fear of wearing a hole in the tube.
I can lift the hood and hold the choke with my left hand while I crank with my right hand, but as Kurt mentioned I use a wire that can be easily removed when done.

A length of brass rod from the local welding shop makes a nice wire.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I also don't run a wire through the radiator for fear of wearing a hole in the tube.
I can lift the hood and hold the choke with my left hand while I crank with my right hand, but as Kurt mentioned I use a wire that can be easily removed when done.

A length of brass rod from the local welding shop makes a nice wire.

Chief used a heavy piece of twine with a stick on the end for a handle Bill W.

[Aerocraft]

I have used 1/16" steel copper coated welding wire with several layers of shrink wrap on the section that runs through the radiator. Now, I prefer to just reach the choke with my hand. Gar Williams

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by steve norcal

why hand crank ? .......... steve

Some folks rely on a cell phone and their AAA card. Some of us easily use the Model A back-up starter and drive home.

[1928Pickuppain]

Thanks for the advice I looked at my radiator andralized I didn't have the clearance between tubes to fit a choke rod guess my copper wire will have to do as for why I couldn't adjust my breaks I had a shattered hip and couldn't do it now I'm recovering from hip replacement surgery. Hopefully I'll be able to adjust them one day soon

[JD Miller]

This choke rod through the radiator has been in place for over 50 years. I made it and installed while still in high school. In no way has it caused any damage to radiator tubes. Quessing at potential damage to radiator tubes without any long term experience seems to serve no purpose.

We used choke rods through the radiator on all of our Model A Fords. Never a problem.