To choke or not to choke?

[plaster93]

Choke servo or no choke servo that is the question!
What do you guys prefer. Is it worth a little more weight or just setup a choke wire?

[sweetpea]

Only if I can't get a finger hold on the choke

[E-MO]

This set up looks too simple
*pic is from TBM web site*

[Biff]

I never use the things. Not really a weight issue, just don't see the need. You can always get a pushrod on it you can pull/push.

[plaster93]

Probably easier on the 3w 106 to use the wire on the choke....Hummmmm

[3ddd]

on my 106 i have a ball link on it and a piece of allthread running out the bottom with a loop bent in the end

[plaster93]

Thanks for the ideas

[Pale Rider]

no servo

[JeeUm]

I've usually done manual chokes in the past, but had to add a servo to my ZDZ50 so I could start it easier. Glad I did, today had a problem and couldn't idle down. I was able to kill the engine with the choke.

[flatfuse]

Yes, use a small mini servo. Works great, adds very little weight and of course you get the benefit of having a way to quickly kill the engine from the transmitter without buying an optical kill switch. Using the trim or throttle cut is really not a good idea. I witnessed a giant warbird go through a crowd of people when his throttle servo or linkage failed and he had no way to kill the engine and no prop blast to turn the plane against the wind away from the people.

[Flyinhigh]

	Quote: Originally Posted by flatfuse
	Yes, use a small mini servo. Works great, adds very little weight and of course you get the benefit of having a way to quickly kill the engine from the transmitter without buying an optical kill switch. Using the trim or throttle cut is really not a good idea. I witnessed a giant warbird go through a crowd of people when his throttle servo or linkage failed and he had no way to kill the engine and no prop blast to turn the plane against the wind away from the people.

I'll have to agree here. If I can give myself more radio 'control' than I do. I like the convenience of the quick choke control from the receiver, as well as the option to fly/stall the engine with it in the air. I have mine set to three positions. I also have the optical kill as an added insurance a big engine won't go down running - at least not anything over idle. Just a personal preference though, not a religion.

[plane]

The choke servo can be handy at times. You can half choke by setting up your radio and this setting might possibly get you home in some circumstances. It also allows you to kill the motor remotely if your throttle servo linkage jams or the servo dies.

On real cold days I use the half choke once the motor fires up and this alleviates the waiting for the motor to warm up to take throttle.

Seems like a very small weight penalty for some cool features...and no WET FINGER either.