85 ranger 2.0l help

Xander2188 · Oct 5, 2017

Hey all,

I just picked up and 85 ranger 2wd 2.0l 5spd. The issue I'm running into is that in the morning it has a lot of trouble staying running until it get warmed up. Even once it will stay running without me holding the gas,it idles really rough until it gets good and warmed up. I imagine the choke needs some adjustments but does it sound like something with the idle too? Going over it this evening with my chiltons manual it looks like I am currently missing the belt for the air pump. I know this is primarily for the emissions but would it affect my idle? I checked the he choke quickly and it looks like the gal when closed is within spec and I figure it's opening as the car warms up since the idle improves as i drive it. Just hoping someone could point out a likely culprit for the idle issues and let me know how critical that air pump is to engine performance?

Mark_88 · Oct 5, 2017

Howdy and welcome to TRS~!

The air pump is not an issue unless there is a vacuum line that is open on the control valves. You can just plug it up on the carb end to eliminate that as a potential issue.

It does sound choke related though and if it idles properly once it is warmed up I'd say it probably isn't working properly. You can try removing the breather lid and see where the butterfly is when you first start it up. If the butterfly is completely closed or barely open when this is happening then something within the choke mechanism is not setup properly.

the butterfly should open slightly after the engine starts and then once the engine temp is elevated it will fully open.

I guess the next thing to determine is what exactly the choke you have is and what triggers it. There were a few variations but I'm not exactly sure with that year what the options were. The carb will likely be something I've never even seen before but I can suggest checking the on-line manual for that year and compare the diagrams.

the manual can be found at the link below and the password and user ID are still valid...

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170166

tomw · Oct 6, 2017

When I have fiddled with chokes, I always check that the choke plate will move freely, and the linkage that moves it is functional. I also take a look at the stepped 'cam' that holds the throttle plate open when the choke is in the closed position. Most are moved by weight, and as the choke bi-metal heats up, it loses tension, and allows the linkage to fall back to 'normal'. As it falls, the stepped cam can move to allow the throttle to close more and more as it warms, lowering the effective idle speed.(rpm)
There should be some index marks on the stepped cam, and you open the throttle, move the cam to the 'caret' mark, start the engine and adjust the screw for a specific 'cold' idle speed on THAT step of the cam. Adjust the choke bi-metal tighter or looser by loosening the three screws and rotating. Newer ones are NOT adjustable. You may have an electric heater that warms up the choke spring quicker, allowing the choke to apply with full spring tension for starting, and then release quicker as it is not needed that much once the engine starts.
tom

85 ranger 2.0l help

Xander2188

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Mark_88

Well-Known Member

tomw

Well-Known Member

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