MTFCA Forum

Some years ago I bought one of Stan Howe's magnificent OFs for my '23 Runabout. For whatever reason, it just would not run correctly. Stan switched it out for another one but the issue remained. I took it off after it became a tow job on a local club tour and installed one of the NH repops that restored the car to its normal peppy self.

A pal with a '12 borrowed the carb for some weeks while his OF was off being worked on. On his car, it performed perfectly, no issues at all. The problem was not with the OF, it was with my "Problem Child" a car that has given me much trouble over the years.

Now I have a new "14 Touring that I am working up to be a tour car. Yesterday after coming back from a drive to flush the cooling system, the NH started pouring gas onto the garage floor. This NH has the short throttle arm which will not allow the throttle arm to go all the way to the top of the quadrant. I had intended to switch it out for another one with a longer arm anyway so possibly this would be a good time to do that.

Or I could give the OF another go . . .

Its been sitting on the shelf for several years and maybe it would get along better with the circa '19 motor in the touring car? Everything needed to install it is already on hand except the choke control. I can't remember exactly what I ended up using on the '23 but I do remember that it didn't look "period."

For you folks who are running an OF, what are you using that looks the part & works reliably?

Tim Morsher is repopping them. Norwalk Ohio

I used a choke cable with a knob that looked similar to the T choke/mixture control. I used the same dash hole as the stock set up.

Thanks Joe, what is Tim repoping? The part I need help with in inside on the dash. From what I remember, the original control was some sort of steering column affair. How do I get hold of Tim?

Thanks Tim, that is exactly what I was asking about. I want one & will contact you off-list.

This is the new, cheaper version of the Stromberg choke control. Less parts, less work, less money, better unit. I’ll put an ad in the parts for sale, thanks.

Tim - I do want one of your controls and sent you an email to start the process. I was not able to find your listing in the classified section.

Would anyone who has installed one of the Stromberg OF carbs and come up with a neat period looking installation for the choke knob/cable care to post some pictures? If you have an original or one of Tim's reproductions I would love to see pics showing how it looks & where you routed the cable. Any comments on doing this job?

On all the OF's I've done I hook a small spring (1/8" dia and 2" long) from the bottom of the carb to the upper choke arm so it holds the choke open. Now all you need is a wire connected from the original bell crank down to the lower choke arm and use the original rod. On the later T's just connect the wire from the slider on the choke rod. As the original choke rod is no longer needed for mixture control, it might as well still have a purpose.

I was contemplating Bruce's method when fitting an OF to my wide body roadster. However, at a clearing sale of model T parts, I bought a big box of T nuts and bolts, just to get a choke knob that was in the box. It had the diamond shaped steering column mount, so I presumed it was for a T. I fitted a solid wire cable with a spiral wire casing from another old car and was set to go. When the OF came back from Uncle Stan, he had included a reprint of a booklet on fitting/adjusting OF carbs, and lo and behold, there was a photo/drawing of the exact same choke control as I had found. It was a genuine Stromberg choke for the OF. Rather than a lever type as Tim reproduces, it is a simple nickel plated brass knob with stepped detents, that is pulled up to choke and pushed back in when not required. It is not as flash as Tim's, but my guess is it was cheaper to produce.
I have since found another one, but its mounting bracket is for a round column.

Allan from down under.

Here is a vintage column control I use for either an OF I have or the U&J I’m currently using. It comes in very handy when starting in cold weather. You can gradually back off on the choke as the engine warms up.

Here is a pic of one similar to what Allan mentions. Not sure who made it. A spring loaded ball holds it in place. Also, showing an ad for the type that Mark is using. These were made and offered by Schebler. Don’t know why , but I’m drawn to choke controls. Maybe because the originals are so hard to find. Shameless plug. We have them for Carter, Zenith, Stromberg and Schebler. The Schebler looks great polished up in brass , especially with it’s brass wire tube, on a brass T

I did the same thing with the '23 when I mounted the OF to it. The problem I found was that the choke wanted to stay open and not stay in the needed position. The carb was not on long enough to be able to find a solution to that issue.

Thanks for the pictures. Mark, your brass control looks functionally much like the one Tim is making now. How did you route the cable from the column to the carb?

Anyone else care to show the routing that works well for you?

My push-pull Stromberg alternative can be mounted under the steering column or on top. Underneath brings it close to the lever quadrant, so i mounted it on top. The wire wound cable housing is stiff enough to hold its shape. I routed it through the lower hole which is used to mount the bell crank on a standard choke mechanism. This is on a RHD car, making it dead simple. You would need a longer cable for a LHD car, and this may have to be anchored somewhere along its length for it to function properly.

Allan from down under.

Thanks Allan, its sounds like you found a good solution. I would like to find a route that is neat & tidy with only easy bends. Once I get the bits in hand the routing may become obvious.

The original Stromberg connector is a brass tube similar to standard brass tubing with a wire inside it. It works pretty well but only if it doesn't have any fairly sharp bends. The newer ones have a standard wire cable with a wire inside, just like the choke and throttle cables, heater controls etc, used on cars in the 40's and up. Some use a motorcycle type cable like a motorcycle clutch pull cable.

The coolest one, IMHO, tho, is the U & J control. Mike Lebsack and I reproduced those a few years ago. I'm out of them except for one I kept. I also have the only known NOS U & J carb which came with the original we used to repop them. On the ones we reproduced I changed the ball stop to make it easier to assemble with out a special tool. I need to get more made.

Is the U&J unit intended for the later cars that had a real dash or instrument panel? It doesn't look like it would wrk with the cars that just have a flat piece of wood.

It will work with pretty much all of them but probably better with the later steel body cars with a dash.