Any A4 diehards with a spare choke plate??

[Ericsonian]

So I start my A4 for the season and have to squirt it with start fluid but it continued to start and die. Looked at the carb intake and saw that the pivoting choke blade or plate was bent for some reason which prevents it from closing - problem almost solved I think and remove the late style carb, take it home and dismantle it & remove the blade to straighten it after I got back from vacation. It has the spring loaded relief flap in the blade so I took pictures (see mug shot attached) of the blade before disassembling the little flap, put blade and flap etc in a small labelled zip lock bag and tucked it away where it wouldn't be misplaced to retrieve and straighten when back in 2 weeks.
Some of you of a certain age already know where this is going - I have the whole carb but have looked high and low for the damned blade for a week and while I have its picture it has escaped me! Even Ebay is empty!
Anyone willing to take pity on aged mechanics??? And yes I'll pay for my sins

[Dave Neptune]

Did you try MMI? They may have an un-rebuildable carb you could purchase and salvage the choke butterfly from it.

This carb is also used on the small Ford tractors, so you may try their site.

More than once I have lost something in the same manner and when I finally got a replacement I put it right next to the one I could not find with many expletive's following immediately there after.

That is a common choke on many Zenith carbs. Perhaps a rebuilder may have one.

Dave Neptune

[ndutton]

Please keep us posted on how this goes. I may have something develop this weekend.

[ndutton]

Ericsonian, I just sent you an email through the forum contact system.

[capnward]

"Tucked it away where I could find it." Yeah, right.

My sympathies. I totally understand. I'm 70, and sometimes the hardest thing to do is remember where I put something. If I made a note to remind myself where I put it, I would lose the note. They say short term memory is the first thing to go.
I know that it is possible to bend that choke plate by pulling too hard on the choke cable. At some point I changed the adjustment at the choke lever, and the choke cable didn't need to be pulled out as far. Then I closed the choke, but the cable didn't pull out as far, so I pulled it out to where it could go before and bent the choke plate. Engine was hard to start because of inadequate choke. I removed it, bent it back flat and reinstalled it. Hope you find it soon. If not, someone somewhere will have one, given all the old Zenith carbs lying in storage. Wouldn't be surprised if Neil has found one for you. Someday you will have two of them. Then the problem is to remember where the spare is. Good Luck!

[Ericsonian]

Thanks to all of you who have commiserated, made suggestions and most of all arranged to send me a replacement plate!
Nice to be part of a bunch who think like and know that we even span the country.
I hope to return this favor!
Ron