allow engine to idle
feel the resistance offered by the choke valve when it is closed by hand
should be easy to close it until the gap remaining is of the order of 3mm - - further closing should be quiet difficult
if no resistance - pull down unit is defective - or there is a leak in the vacuum supply
well -
as it appens -
i let the engine warm up
the choke flap opened -
i pushed it all the way back
no resistance at all - just moved easily all the way back -

so - a spray round with wd 40 - to see if the engine speed rises - n might indicate a leak - produced nothing -
so am assuming time for a new pull down unit -

i've got one! - what i cant work out - is how to replace!?!
theres a small 'screw' for an allen key at one end? does that need to come out? - measure or mark how many turns it takes to come out before removing? how does the 'black disc' the vacuum hose goes into actually come off?
any answers or ideas be wondrous -
edoh
