Hot Chokes...? How hot should they get?

[Jonny Rock]

Hi all,
just done my spring clean on my engine, plugs, leads, balance carbs and timing etc, etc....you get the picture.
All set-up and running sweet as. Went for a very nice drive. All great. Went home.
But... Just happened to be fiddling around by the back of the carb and noticed how hot the chokes are. Both are red hot.
Is this normal?

CU engine all original, ignition, distributor.
Carbs are Empi 44's as these are all I have to use at the mo.
Ported the manifold of one carb for the vac advance from dizzy.

But boy are the chokes HOT....

Anyone got any thougths about hot chokes?

Many thanks in advance, Jon

[Evsi]

Sounds like normal heat transfer to me dude. I take it the engine pulls ok, no hesitations or issues? Can you get some cold air ducting up to carbs at all?

[Jonny Rock]

Hi Evsi,
yeah pulls well, no issues.
Never really taken any notice of how hot or not the choke units themselves get.
Just started to worry about something new and wanted to get reasured that they get hot and stay hot with no ill effects....
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers, Jon

[Evsi]

Yeah it doesn't sound like an issue, but i'm also not that familiar with your engine. I'm sure someone will correct me if they know different

[Footprint]

Do the Empis have electrical chokes? If yes then it's quite normal. The electrical supply to the choke powers a heating element that causes a coiled bimetal strip to expand and contract, operating the choke mechanism as it does so.

[Jonny Rock]

Hi footprint.
Yep electrical chokes. Glad it normal. I knew thats they got warm to operate, but was quite alarmed at how hot they actually were when my arm brushed past them.
Nothing to worry about then.
Cheers fellas, happy motoring.
Jon