B2600 Choke not opening

My buddie has my old 86 b2600. It runs and everything, but only if you hold the choke open with a screwdriver or wrench. How are they opereated? electric? or vacuum?? i know how the 2.0 and 2.2 work, but im tryin to help him out over the phone and imnot sure what to tell him about the 2.6 as ive never had expereince with them.

Its operated by a bi-metal strip that expands when power is applied to it. Its in the little round can on the side of the carb. there is a single wire hookup to it.
That wire runs down to the alternator, and is only powered when the engine is running. Check to make sure he didnt pull that wire off, maybe he replaced his alternator recently and didnt hook it back up.

so its the same concept as the 2.0 and 2.2 carbs then eh russ?

not only that, its also a nikki carb.