The 'E' Type Forum

I believe a little spring fits in the side of the plastic choke knob to provide some rigidity to its connection with the metal lever - does this make sense? and if so any idea where I can purchase one?

Hi Richard. According to my 1961 spares catalogue the knob is secured to the lever using a "set screw". I suspect it is a grub screw.
The part no given is UCS.311/2H

I would guess a small brass grub screw. If I get a moment I will peer at mine and see if I can see how mine is fixed on.

Richard

SNGB sell the knob complete with grub screw. I had to replace mine a while back when the knob broke off. Even when tightened up there is still some movement when you move the choke lever.

Cheers

Alan

If you can find a screw that will thread into the lever it is a ten minute job to saw off the screw head with a junior hack saw and then saw a slot in the end of the threaded part...voila....a grub screw. Probably a BA screw I would guess.

I do have the screw, but even when tightened the knob waggles around and someone mentioned they had a spring fitted but where I cannot figure and does not show this on any parts catalogues so probably a bit of a red herring.

I will take it apart and compare the internal section, what is probably the original (but broken) came with some spares when I purchased the car and I now suspect that it is the replacement which is just a poor copy...

Hello Richard
No Spring on mine which I believe to be original, just a small grub screw and a little movement when tightened
Perhaps a tiny dab of araldite or JB weld in the end of the knob, push into the lever, tighten the screw and leave to set. The screw will prevent it coming off and the araldite would take up the slack ?
Regards
Jonathan

Jonathan

Thanks for the suggestion, must say I don't like the idea of glueing as a permanent solution even though it would do the job, it might be possible to fill the knob with glue and then remove it to set, in the hope that it would take up the slack once refitted with a new internal profile.

Just an odd question for you noticing that you come from Surrey. Do you by any chance have an opalescent green metallic FHC and turned up at a Jaguar meet at Brooklands a few years back maybe 2011?

Hi Richard

If it's an early 3.8 with red leather it's registration might be 555 XYB, as I took pictures of it in 2012....but sadly not mine...if you can wait around 2 years I will be at Brooklands in my own...but it will be black...

As for the gluing...what about smearing a little Vaseline on the lever..or even a wrap of cling film....it would be best to leave the knob in place until the JB goes off....heat from a hair drier would help it...then it will be a tight fit

Regards
Jonathan

Richard

Don't get hung up on the choke knob having some play. Both my original one-before it broke- and the replacement move on the operating rod and neither had a spring. I suspect that's how it's supposed to be.
Rather than faffle about making a grub screw, buy a complete replacement. It's not expensive and you can just use the grub screw and retain the original knob. Job done.

Alan

Mine moves but only a teensy bit....teensy is a technical term!!!