Hand Activated Throttle Control

[krousdb]

I mentioned some time ago that I was looking for something like cruise control that would hold the throttle steady instead of increasing and descreasing the throttle position to maintain a certain speed.

Well I whipped something up today to give it a try. I used a hand brake lever and cable from an old bike that was laying around. I suspect that it would be easier to hold a constant throttle position with your hand than with your foot. Or at least you could switch between each hand and and your foot during a long highway drive.

The cable is about 12" too short to use comfortably, but if it works well, I will get a longer cable and post some pics. If it doesn't work well, then I am out 0$ and I will move on to my next idea.

[MetroMPG]

i have heard some old-timers talk about using manual chokes as crude cruise control devices (except from a FE perspective, that's doing it the wrong way - by changing the AFR instead of just the throttle position).

maybe a choke kit connected to the throttle cam would work. there's likely more resistance on the cam return spring than it's designed for, so it may not hold. just a thought.

[SVOboy]

I still need to think about using an automatic throttle wheel to accomplish this same thing, I have the wheel kicking around in my garage,

But I spose since that is pulled by the wheel rather than pulling it the best it could do it resist greater throttle, so mehbe it could be used to create a max throttle...

Good luck though.

[JanGeo]

I have been thinking about a knob connected to a threaded rod to make a gas pedal stop to support the pedal with a much stiffer spring at a position that you can finely adjust. That way when you need more throttle you just put your foot into it but you can make really fine adjustments to keep from hitting too much gas with your foot while shifting or on bumpy roads. Also you could have it set to a small opening so that you can control acceleration more precisely and you can still just take your foot off the pedal to release the gas at any time. This has been a problem with the cars I have been driving that the gas pedal takes very little effort to press down and I have to constantly hold my foot off the gas to maintain low speeds and keep from accelerating all the time. Makes driving with your left foot easy also - once you set the speed you just hold the pedal down with your left foot to give your right foot a rest. Of course the next thing would be a smart throttle control that allows you to shift and accelerate under computer control matching engine speed to the gear you are going into next and all you have to do is work the clutch - and even that could be controlled by a vacuum servo.

[philmcneal]

that would rock if i can pick where i want my MAP to be rather than just trying to "Feel it" with my right foot. My right leg is going to numb one day!

Man another list of mods i would WANT FOR

[hawkgt647]

Years ago the folks at InsightCentral came up with the same subject and this http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/fin...fm?itemid=7401 was one solution.

As usual, use at your own risk, it's not my fault if you install this and crash, over-rev your engine and leave expensive pieces on the road.

If my commute was longer, I would consider installing it.

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by hawkgt647

Years ago the folks at InsightCentral came up with the same subject and this http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/fin...fm?itemid=7401 was one solution.

As usual, use at your own risk, it's not my fault if you install this and crash, over-rev your engine and leave expensive pieces on the road.

If my commute was longer, I would consider installing it.

Interesting concept. I will keep it in mind.

Well I had a chance to try it and it worked OK. But I fell that I hav e better control with my foot. I will remove it now. If I have a reason to do lots of highway driving, I might check out that link again.

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by hawkgt647

Years ago the folks at InsightCentral came up with the same subject and this http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/fin...fm?itemid=7401 was one solution.

As usual, use at your own risk, it's not my fault if you install this and crash, over-rev your engine and leave expensive pieces on the road.

If my commute was longer, I would consider installing it.

One of these arrived a few days ago but I have been too b usy to install it.

[JanGeo]

I pulled the aftermarket cruise control from my Geo last week and was thinking that making it hold the throttle in a position by disconnecting the signals to the vacuum servo would work great and still release with the use of the brake and clutch pedals for safety. I could also manually activate the servo also. Be nice if a Scangauge could interface to it to operate the engine at selected LOD values for efficient acceleration etc.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

That is a great Idea! I was thinking of getting an extra throttle cable (or three) and a pickup truck ebrake handle/set thingy(?). Run cable through the firewall to the ebrake thingy at the appropriate length, and pull it out/let it in just like an ebrake for ghettofied cruise control.

[krousdb]

I looked at it last night and tried to install it. It is massive as it was made for a truck. Anyway, the resistance from the huge cable won't allow for proper operation of the accelerator pedal, the return spring would need to be much stronger. I will need to adapt a bicycle type brake cable to the head unit. This will take some time.....

[ZugyNA]

The solution is my new design...the throttle detent spring.

I'll send you instructions for $100. This is highly technical...designed with consultation from several NASA engineers. Patent Pending.

[Silveredwings]

If the throttle return spring (TRS) is too much, what if you removed the TRS from where it attaches to the throttle body? Then put a return spring on the gas pedal itself. If the gas pedal cable is stiff enough it should push the throttle closed when you release your foot.

Now rig your hand throttle cable with a chain as suggested above. The hand throttle friction/lock would not have to fight the TRS tension. It's simple and stupid but if it works, it may not be so stupid.

If you want high-tech, put a clutch from an A/C compressor directly on the throttle pulley-like thing:
- Clutch-engaged = throttle lock system set.
- Clutch-disengaged = system works normally.
- Add solid-state or relay logic to latch the clutch with a push button and disengage it with switches (on gas pedal, brake, clutch pedal, hand brake, etc.). Maybe. Or not.

[skewbe]

Originally Posted by theclencher

Putting the return spring on the far end of the control is a safety consideration. Allowing the controlled device to potentially stick open leaving the operator with no control is a liability that engineers won't accept.

Welp, it was SOO cold yesterday that my throttle stuck open . With the cable only pulling there was nothing for it except to pulse the injector kill switch till I could pull over and get under the hood and work it free. Must be some moisture in that cable or something...

[s2man]

Gee, guys. How about using a throttle control cable? It's a push/pull cable with a knob on the end. You pull the knob to open the throttle, then twist it to lock it in position. I put one on a Pinto back around 1980 during the first 'gas crunch'. (I took that baby from 15mpg all the way up to 25mpg!) I've always suspected a throttle control will give better mileage than a cruise control, but it was kind of a nuisance slowing down so much when going up the hills. And, of course, there is no automatic release when you hit the brakes.

I would sure love an adjustable second spring on the throttle. Then I could just push the pedal down to my chosen position, and hold it steady without any thought. I could always open it further if desired, but it would take a conscious effort. I'll have to look into that again...

[friz]

Originally Posted by s2man

Gee, guys. How about using a throttle control cable? It's a push/pull cable with a knob on the end. You pull the knob to open the throttle, then twist it to lock it in position. I put one on a Pinto back around 1980 during the first 'gas crunch'. (I took that baby from 15mpg all the way up to 25mpg!) I've always suspected a throttle control will give better mileage than a cruise control, but it was kind of a nuisance slowing down so much when going up the hills. And, of course, there is no automatic release when you hit the brakes.

I would sure love an adjustable second spring on the throttle. Then I could just push the pedal down to my chosen position, and hold it steady without any thought. I could always open it further if desired, but it would take a conscious effort. I'll have to look into that again...

We should get one of the electronic gurus to come up with a simple signal generator to wire to the cruise through a switch to the vss wire. As long as the signal stays the same the throttle should be held in the same position by the cruise and you can still deactivate it by tapping the brake.

[Project84]

I have the remedy for this and it comes in form of a 12 volt push/pull type solenoid, controlled by a switch.

I work with hydraulically lifting box trucks that cater air craft, these trucks use this solenoid to advance the throttle to a designated RPM to speed up the hydraulic system operation. It is secured to the engine on the throttle side of the carb and cable operated. You hit the switch, it pulls the arm in, pulling the cable which is looped around the throttle mechanism on the carb and sets the RPM to 1900.

I see no reason why you couldn't wire one of these up to an on/off switch instead of a momentary. Hell, even w/ a momentary switch, if you mounted it on the steering wheel it would be very safe to operate.

I'll check the brand name on the solenoid this week and get info.

[cheapybob]

find a Fiat 850 Spyder and take the one out of it

[bockwho]

I am going to try the bike cable thing with my hx I cant find any honda's in my pap yard.

It would be great to trick out the stock Cruize control to have it cutoff ect when you hit the brakes.

i do have a old Cruize control on the shelf my grandfather gave me I will have to look at it.

[LarryClapp]

Originally Posted by s2man

Gee, guys. How about using a throttle control cable? It's a push/pull cable with a knob on the end. You pull the knob to open the throttle, then twist it to lock it in position. I put one on a Pinto back around 1980 during the first 'gas crunch'. (I took that baby from 15mpg all the way up to 25mpg!) I've always suspected a throttle control will give better mileage than a cruise control, but it was kind of a nuisance slowing down so much when going up the hills. And, of course, there is no automatic release when you hit the brakes.

Where can I find one of those?

[DracoFelis]

FWIW: This thread, on the hand throttle I put into my CRX, might be somewhat relevant to the current discussion:

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=4876

[lowbridescape]

Allow me to be the contrary voice.

I like cruise control, but I want a vernier control of the speed so I can gradually adjust the speed up or down to adjust to the guy in front of me without having to disengage the cruise. The accelerate button on the cruise is a waste. It just floors the thing. Anybody know how to do that for a '97 Grand Caravan?

[LarryClapp]

Originally Posted by DracoFelis

FWIW: This thread, on the hand throttle I put into my CRX, might be somewhat relevant to the current discussion:

http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=4876

Going to look into one for my Accord. Like you argued in that thread, I will NOT use it in Bumper2Bumper traffic, or somewhere that a stop is to likely to be necessary. Only a FOOOOOL would use one in the city!!! Nothing wrong with Interstates though. And you should NOT be driving PERIOD if you are feeling tired...Thanks 4 the Info.