Choke Coil - Cold start needs a hand

[davepl]

My choke coil seems to need some assistance at certain temps, like when it's a cold-start in the spring and summer, around 60 degrees. It's not pulling down (big block) on the choke rod hard enough to set the high idle cam and close the door.

If I get out, pull down on it, cycle the throttle, it starts and runs fine and backs off the choke at about the right rate, but it needs that initial assist.

This is only recent, however, and I don't want to "bend the rod" if I can avoid it, so am wondering what else I can or should do. I imagine its possible the coil has grown weak and I could just replace it.

It's still connected, so far as I can tell, because it does pull down, just not enough.

Any ideas I should try besides replacing the coil or bending the rod? Those could be the only two options, but if there's a 3rd or 4th, I should know before I start monkeying, so fill me in!

[hamjet]

make sure the choke shaft that goes through the carb and has the choke plate hasn't gummed up and is free of any stickiness or binding. it may have gummed up over time...