Sticky throttle cable fix

dyoung14

Is getting worn out
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Posts
6,128
Reaction score
3
Location
spencer,tn
The throttle cable is very easy to replace, also on a lot of these Fords ive had to trim the bottom of the pedal, it gets caught on the floor mat at WOT. Not very fun

mine use to do this! not fun when you mat it and it hangs ant 4500 rpm:eek: after i trimmed the pedal its been all good since then,
 

MIDNIGHT RIDER

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Posts
4,702
Reaction score
142
mine use to do this! not fun when you mat it and it hangs ant 4500 rpm:eek: after i trimmed the pedal its been all good since then,



In the over half-a-million miles that I have put on my 1985, I have never suspected the pedal of hanging on either the carpet or the mat.

What portion of the pedal is doing this hanging, and what part are you trimming off to cure it ??

Thanks. :)
 

dyoung14

Is getting worn out
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Posts
6,128
Reaction score
3
Location
spencer,tn
In the over half-a-million miles that I have put on my 1985, I have never suspected the pedal of hanging on either the carpet or the mat.

What portion of the pedal is doing this hanging, and what part are you trimming off to cure it ??

Thanks. :)

its the very bottom part of the pedal, it hangs against the carpet, i just trimmed a little off and all was good
 

Hyde

N GO SEEK
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Posts
623
Reaction score
4
Location
Idaho
Yup very bottom edge, its the only one you could picture coming in contact with the carpet. Not everyone wads on em as hard as me and Dyoung but it could be an issue. Ive also had one cable break and the linkage hung it wide open.
 

dyoung14

Is getting worn out
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Posts
6,128
Reaction score
3
Location
spencer,tn
Yup very bottom edge, its the only one you could picture coming in contact with the carpet. Not everyone wads on em as hard as me and Dyoung but it could be an issue. Ive also had one cable break and the linkage hung it wide open.

i think were the only ones, but i dont wind on mine no more i got to make mine last now its all i got and i got to be at work everyday so my foot stays below 2000 rpm now
 

MIDNIGHT RIDER

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Posts
4,702
Reaction score
142
I finally took time this evening to have a close examination of my pedal mechanism.

In all the years I have driven and modified this truck, I had not really ever taken a good serious look at the accelerator pedal mechanism.

I was surprised to actually see just how cheapie they are put together.

All it amounts to is a square-cornered U-bracket with what amounts to no more than a nail punched through two holes for a pivot.

No bushings; no bearings.

I was rather disappointed in the whole mess.

I really could see no reason for the jerky feel that I have been getting lately; but, after slicking up the pivot-points with some spray lithium grease, I could not get it to bind up again; so, I must have helped the situation.


After realizing just how cheapie the factory assembly is, I may just build a better one of my own design.


That, or take one from a big truck and retrofit it in. :)
 

Agnem

Using the Force!
Joined
Jan 10, 2005
Posts
17,067
Reaction score
385
Location
Delta, PA
Damon, one of the more common problems I've seen with pedals that "hang up" is the plastic sleeve on the IP end of the cable. These get brittle, and crack. Often times this is the area that is binding. Take a close look at it. The best solution is to cut the old plastic sleeve away, and try to come up with one of your own creation, that extends far enough to protect the exposed cable as the factory intended.
 

Dsl_Dog_Treat

I lost my face to the jaws of a poodle
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Posts
7,191
Reaction score
161
Location
Decatur,MI
Damon, one of the more common problems I've seen with pedals that "hang up" is the plastic sleeve on the IP end of the cable. These get brittle, and crack. Often times this is the area that is binding. Take a close look at it. The best solution is to cut the old plastic sleeve away, and try to come up with one of your own creation, that extends far enough to protect the exposed cable as the factory intended.

Found Goldie's issue yesterday along the side off the road.:mad:
The inner black plastic cable sleeve had degraded enough to retain the throttle cable to no more than idle status. Instead of being neandrathal and just mashing the go pedal after everytime the throttle returned to idle, I took out my complimentary D&L auto emergency tool kit and trimmed the black plastic sleeve with the wire cutters allowing full throttle status to get me home. ;Sweet

And to think replacing leaking return fuel line on a hot engine was ugly.:puke:
 

MIDNIGHT RIDER

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Posts
4,702
Reaction score
142
Damon, one of the more common problems I've seen with pedals that "hang up" is the plastic sleeve on the IP end of the cable. These get brittle, and crack. Often times this is the area that is binding. Take a close look at it. The best solution is to cut the old plastic sleeve away, and try to come up with one of your own creation, that extends far enough to protect the exposed cable as the factory intended.

I can't speak for everyone else's experiences with new replacement cables; but, when I did look into just getting a new replacement one for my 1985, NONE of the ones I found at any of the common sources were the same length as the original.

All that I found were some six-inches shorter or longer than the factory-original, which is probably why so many I see sort of sit at a cocked angle; and, so being, the plastic sleeve-thingie soon starts binding and snagging on itself.

The lack of an exact length replacement is what led me to rejuvenate the one I have.

Way back in about 1986, I was on my way home late one night, when I let off the fuel and it just kept on going.

No reason to panic or anything; I just put it in NEUTRAL and killed the engine when I found a place to land.

What I found that caused this scenario was a chunk of that plastic sleeve had caught in the spring and would not let the cable release.

A few minutes with a sharp knife and needle-nose pliers and we were back in business.

It stayed un-touched until after the Cummins swap, at which time I installed a Vernier locking throttle-cable.

Whenever I set the hand-throttle, that silly plastic sleeve would kink up, instead of sliding back into itself.

So, I set in on it again with the sharp knife and needle-nose; and, this time, I didn't quit until the entire plastic sleeve was completely gone.

Since the removal, my throttle has been much nicer. (except for the recent issue going on with the worn-out pedal assembly)


Knowing what I now know, were I starting over again in 1985, one of the very first things I would do would be to eliminate that sleeve; it serves no beneficial purpose that I can see. :)




We done been there and did all that. LOL
 

dyoung14

Is getting worn out
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Posts
6,128
Reaction score
3
Location
spencer,tn
guess i spoke to soon, i passed someon this evening and my pedal hung to the floor wasnt very fun to say the least:eek: but since my throttle cable is on its last leg it didnt tach very high before i finally got it un-hung, so time for more trimming:sly
 

Forum statistics

Threads
92,933
Posts
1,155,169
Members
26,436
Latest member
Studebaker62

Members online

Top