How to Adjust the Automatic Choke on an Aircooled Volkswagen (VW) Beetle

Adjusting the automatic choke on an aircooled Volkswagen Beetle is an important part of maintaining the engine's performance. The automatic choke helps the engine start smoothly and warm up quickly, so it's important to ensure it's adjusted correctly. Here's how you can adjust the automatic choke on a VW Beetle:

1. Locate the automatic choke: On an aircooled VW Beetle, the automatic choke is located on the carburetor. It's a small metal box with a spring-loaded plunger inside.

2. Start the engine: Before adjusting the automatic choke, start the engine and let it warm up for a few minutes. This will ensure that the choke is fully closed and engaged.

3. Remove the air cleaner: To access the automatic choke, you'll need to remove the air cleaner from the top of the carburetor. This is usually held in place with a couple of screws or wing nuts.

4. Inspect the choke plate: With the air cleaner removed, you should be able to see the choke plate on the carburetor. This is a small metal flap that blocks off the air supply to the engine when the choke is engaged. Make sure that the choke plate is fully closed and that there are no obstructions preventing it from closing.

5. Check the plunger position: The plunger on the automatic choke should be fully extended when the engine is cold, and fully retracted when the engine is warm. If the plunger is not fully extended when the engine is cold, you may need to adjust the choke.

6. Adjust the plunger position: To adjust the plunger position, locate the adjusting screw on the side of the choke housing. Turning the screw clockwise will advance the plunger, while turning it counterclockwise will retract the plunger. Adjust the screw until the plunger is fully extended when the engine is cold, and fully retracted when the engine is warm.

7. Reinstall the air cleaner: Once you've adjusted the automatic choke, reinstall the air cleaner and secure it with the screws or wing nuts.

8. Test the engine: With the automatic choke adjusted, start the engine and let it warm up. The engine should start smoothly and idle smoothly once it's warmed up. If the engine is still having trouble starting or idling, you may need to make further adjustments to the carburetor or ignition system.

Overall, adjusting the automatic choke on an aircooled Volkswagen Beetle is a simple process that can help ensure that the engine starts and runs smoothly. If you're not comfortable performing this task yourself, it's always best to consult a professional mechanic.