Throttle Cable Receiver Connection keeps "Popping Off" of the Injection Pump Arm

[OkieDieselMan]

I have a 1993 F250HD Extended Cab Truck that I bought new (with added Banks Sidewinder Turbocharger in 2026) and have had a lot of trouble the last few years. The Throttle Cable "Receiver" (The Female End with a Clip that Mates to the Ball Stud on the Injection Pump Arm) keeps "popping off" of the Ball Stud....and I then have no throttle/Foot Pedal Control. The Engine just goes to idle only, as the Cable is now basically, "dis-connected" from the Pump Arm.
This problem almost always happens, when I engage the Cruise Control and am driving for a bit. After a couple of miles or so, especially when I am "climbing" a bit of a Hill (i.e., and the Cruise Control "pulls back" suddenly on the Pump Arm, due to the "heavier" Engine load), the Cable End Female Receiver on the Cable "pops off" of the Pump Arm. I get out of the Truck and "push/click" the Receiver on the Cable back onto the Ball Stud and am back going again.....But.....Not using the Cruise control, so this doesn't happen again....

I've replaced the Cable 2 times, but still have the same problem. I would normally think....Maybe some "wear" on the Ball Stud??...causing a "loose" fit on the Receiver, but as the Ball Stud is not "removable" from the Pump Arm (not serviceable), that probably isn't an option...Plus, in the past and now, the New Cable Receiver End "clicks" onto the Ball Stud pretty well, so I'm thinking "another" Cable change or a different Ball Stud (even if it were possible) probably isn't he true "cause" of my problem.

I think the issue is mainly related to the "direction" that the Cruise Control Cable "Pulls" on the Ball Stud Receiver on the Pump Arm....
The Normal Throttle Cable pretty much pulls STRAIGHT back, while the Cruise Control Cable (when engaged) pulls at more of an ANGLE, as it is off to the side of the Normal Throttle Cable.....Could this be causing the "angled" force "Pulling off" on the Ball Stud Receiver, causing the "popping off" of the Receiver??

I also noticed that the Return Springs are setting RIGHT NEXT TO the Ball Stud, BETWEEN it and the Receiver. Is this the correct location for these Springs?? ....Could this be causing the Spring to "push off" the Receiver...just a thought.......... Not wanting to "over-think" this, but I'm hoping to put an end to this problem .....once and for all.

Any help or suggestions / "fixes" would be appreciated.

Harold

 

[noddaz]

No help here, because I am looking for an answer for this also.

 

[Black dawg]

Just looked at a couple of mine. Springs are all connected to the pump arm above the ball.

 

[Nero]

Your return spring location is in the correct spot. I wonder if the clip is expanded at all... Does it only fall off when using cruise, or normal throttle on hills as well, like wide open throttle?

 

[OkieDieselMan]

Your return spring location is in the correct spot. I wonder if the clip is expanded at all... Does it only fall off when using cruise, or normal throttle on hills as well, like wide open throttle?

It usually only happens when I'm in Cruise, hitting a Hill....probably due to the "shock" load on the Connector going to WOT..... It's been a while, but I 'think" it might?? have also have happened without the Cruise bring ON....Can't really remember, but IF Cruise in ON, it will happen. I'm a little nervous of trying it on WOT, as I don't want it to "break," while I'm on the road.... About a year ago, while I was towing in Cruise about 75mph and it happened (I would say probably at 75% -100% WOT). I got under the Hood and checked and noticed that the "cast?" End of the Cable (Cast Aluminum Receiver Body) had "broken off from the Cable, so I was stuck. I took some Zip Ties and strapped the cable end to the Pump Arm and limped it home. Not fun. I almost think I need to make some type of "strap" to keep the Receiver from "pulling out" of the Ball Stud....but will have to be very careful not to cause binding....I'm perplexed...

 

[OkieDieselMan]

Just looked at a couple of mine. Springs are all connected to the pump arm above the ball.

Just researched a little further online and it looks like that definitely is the "correct" location....I think the "angled" shock-type automatic pulling of the Cruise Control Cable (under heavy Engine load)is the culprit??

 

[Black dawg]

What happens when you manipulate the throttle holding that cable end, or removing it from the vacuum servo and pulling on that end?

My truck before I turned the power up, would disengage the cruise when the pedal got to or very near the floor, basically releasing the throttle very quickly. I do remember it popping off one time when that happened. Maybe it is doing that?

 

[scsmith42]

Sounds like an alignment issue with your cruise control linkage to me. Can you manipulate the brackets so that the cable has a straighter pull?

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Did you, by chance, use aftermarket throttle cables? It's possible that the receiver part may be a little bit too big and ight not hold onto the ball on the arm as well as it should.

 

[Olds64]

You could check Summit Racing and Jegs for cable ends and ball studs. Maybe you could remove the OE ball from the throttle arm and install an aftermarket one?

 

[gardog808]

don’t laugh…could a zip tie possibly solve this?

 

[OkieDieselMan]

Been trying to experiment with placement of a zip tie...... There don't seem to be any clear "answers" on the "why" about the Receiver popping off....Maybe comes down to a minimally "worn ball stud" that has as little as ~0.020" wear, or and aftermarket Cable Receiver that has a slightly oversized bore, or the Aftermarket Ball retaining Clip being "softer" than Ford's Original Clip (i.e., so it can more easily "spread").....??....Don't know if I'll find "the" actual answer, but at this point, something as simple as a well-placed Zip Tie might be the only fix??

 

[OkieDieselMan]

Did you, by chance, use aftermarket throttle cables? It's possible that the receiver part may be a little bit too big and ight not hold onto the ball on the arm as well as it should.

I'm leaning a little towards this idea.........Maybe comes down to a minimally "worn ball stud" that has as little as ~0.020" wear, or and aftermarket Cable Receiver that has a slightly oversized bore, or the Aftermarket Ball retaining Clip being "softer" than Ford's Original Clip (i.e., so it can more easily "spread").....??.....May have to try using a Ford OEM Cable in the End.....