Throttle kicker

[jfh]

I am installing my new Edelbrock carb (electric choke) on my 1963 hawk and have assembled it all on the engine.The throttle kicker that was used with my Carter carb is there but I am wondering if it is still neccessary. None of the Edelbrock install info mentions it and it is not present on the install video. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
And by the way what does the throttle kicker do?
Thanks
Joe Heaney
Waldoboro, Maine

[Rerun]

The throttle kicker was used to prevent stalling at idle. If the engine rpm dropped too low, the loss of vacuum would cause the kicker to extend and open the throttle plate a bit. When the engine recovered, the vacuum would cause the kicker to retract, and the engine would return to the normal idle stop position.

My Edelbrock has no kicker, and has no problem even when the A/C kicks on. I would try it without the kicker. If there are issues, the kicker probably could be adapted to the Edelbrock linkage.

Jim Bradley
Lewistown PA
'64 Daytona HT "Rerun"

[wagone]

Thanks Jim. This is the first explanation of the workings of the throttle kicker I've ever seen. The throttle kicker on my Avanti is shot, but the engine has only ever died on me once and the kicker has been off the engine for about three years. Course dying at idle may be more of a problem on the automatic equipped cars than on the manuals.

wagone

[Rerun]

Wagone,

Yes, it's probably more of an issue with the automatics. My R1 Avanti w/auto would tend to have idle problems with the AFB when the engine was hot. A properly adjusted kicker can save a lot of aggravation.

Jim Bradley
Lewistown PA
'64 Daytona HT "Rerun"

[chocolate turkey]

I've never put the kicker back on with an Edlebrock carb. Not yet had a problem, 'cept when I put a tank on ethanol in 'er.....

Brian K. Curtis,
1925 Duplex-Phaeton ER
1949 1/2 ton pickup
1963 GT Hawk custom
1966 Daytona 2dr

[wagone]

Are the throttle kickers available as a cross reference from some make more common? That is another model of car using the same part number of Stude and still available.

wagone

[bige]

Stude vendors sell them. I can't think of a non Stude that used them. Many think they are the same as the idle drop solenoids used on the 70's cars, they aren't. They are also not like dashpots that were used to slow the throttle linkage as it reached the end of its travel closing the throttle plates.

Using the Edelbrock carb would probably eliminate the need because the Edelbrock doesn't have the hot idle compensator that the AFB did. I think that device caused more problems than it solved and would contribute to an erratic idle when things got hot.

If you wanted to go for an original look you could probably adapt the kicker to work with the E Carb.

If you have a hot idle problem I STRONGLY suggest getting a pair of intake gaskets from one of the vendors that would block the crossovers and eliminate or fix the heat riser so it is open all the time.

ErnieR