Which brings me to the question of the choke servo, where I am running into the same dilemma with yet another Rx slot needed for that.

Matt has mentioned he is considering using a choke servo with his SAP 180, and I now have a servo I could use (HS-82MG) even though I am not totally wedded to the idea at this point.

Do you plan to use a servo or a choke rod? The way this choke plate is set up - with a spring, as opposed to the open/close butterfly with a detent - there will need to be some sort of catch on the choke rod to hold it closed when choking. This I have not yet figured out.
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Bob,

You hit on the one thing I don't like about the SAP 180. The choke rod at present must be held to close it , which, in an inverted installation, I have to literaly reach around to the bottom of the chin to pull the choke rod to closed position and hold it there while either rocking the prop or using the starter on it.

You are only supposed to do that until fuel is drawn to the carb and then flip the prop normally to start. Well, with the longish lines we need in a pattern set-up, it takes quite a bit of time to get the lines full on the first run and it is easier to use the starter for a couple seconds. Getting enough leverage to use the starter while holding the choke rod to closed is not trivial. You are bound to get some part of your clothing into the prop.

You are correct in thinking that some means of automatically holding the choke closed is a good idea. I also have been thinking of a simple way to do exactly what you describe that will not impede function in any way or hamper assembly-disassembly when removing the chin cowl

I currently use a nyrod. I'm wondering if we used a short length of beadchain attached to it and a cut a small vee on the outer nyrod, then we could bring the rod out to choke, and slip the beadchain into the vee to hold it closed. There's got to be an easier way

Matt