A new wrinkle

[sailaway78]

When the boat was out and getting things repaired, replaced and redone, I wanted to do something with the throttle cable. It has always been what I thought was excessively stiff. So I lubed and cleaned and re routed. Now it is not stiff enough, and will not stay much above a fast idle without returning to said fast idle. It's certainly a joy to be easily pushed all the way up, but now I need some tension to keep it there. The return spring on the hi pressure pump is reasonably strong, but there is no way to do anything with it. Anyone have any bright ideas on how to add just a little tension. Right now the needed tension is being supplied by a small bungee cord. Which works but is somewhat awkward and a little unsightly.

 

[Dan Johnson]

N&E...

just go to your nearest hardware store and buy a small U-bolt cable clamp (just big enough to fit over the cable sheath). Clamp it onto the throttle cable at an easily accessible location and tighten it up to put friction on the cable movement inside the sheath. Common method used by many of us...

 

[Winkfish]

What part did you disassemble? The throttle handle? Just the cable? Did you remove the cable from the cable housing? Can you get it up to the higher speeds, but it just doesn't stay there, or does it not even get up to the higher speeds?

 

[Warren Milberg]

I made the same "mistake" of lubing my throttle cable some time ago -- and with the same result you now have. Not sure what kind of setup you have, but on my Merriman pedestal I can remove the binnacle compass and gain limited access to a small adjusting screw for the throttle on one side, and the gear shift on the other. Having adjusted the screw improved things a bit, but I still needed to install a cable clamp on the throttle cable as Dan mentioned

What I learned (again) is that no good deed goes unpunished....

 

[Steve Dion]

You need a Morse part # 44368 that is available from Diesel Direct for $14.65.

 

[Rick2413]

Yep!!! I'm assuming you have an Edson throttle lever(aft to forward speed). I drilled, tapped and installed a small threaded stud on the throttle lever(a tiny bit up the arm to allow for leverage) and another on my pedestal guard. I made a small flat bar with a hole on the lever side and drilled slot to allow for increased throttle on the pedestal guard side(similar to what you would use on a drop down cabinet door only I didn't need the arch in it as it only has to travel about an inch max). I bought a $10 unit that you use to prevent your main sail slugs from coming out of the track and took the knob and teflon washers for locking the throttle in position once set. So, push the throttle forward, tighten the knob on the bar stock holding the speed until released. All out of stainless and studs capped off with acorn nuts and (in my opinion) looks very presentable. I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it.

 

[Bob Mack]

If I remember the S 37 is an Edson pedistal. I did a similar tap on the fixed spindle inboard of the throttle handle similar to what Rick2413 recommended. Think I used a 1/4" machine screw. I simply tightened it directly into the white nylon bushing and was ably to adjust easily. This repair lasted and worked well for at least 10 years, with a minor occasional tightening.

Glad you are back into the water and dealing with slightly less challenging problems.

 

[Rick2413]

Poor Man's Cruise Control

Here's a picture(I hope) of the rig I spoke of. I used a tongue depresser as a template for the flat stock and the studs were obviously the same size as those on the sail stopper knob.Works great and doesn't slip. Took longer to polish the flat stock than to make the whole thing.LOL.....

 

[Roger Long]

 

[Bob Mack]

Nice :

The pictures reminded me that the tap I made and the screw installed were on the interior of the cast head of the Edson. Inboard of the pictures is the drilled support that the shaft sits in with a nylon bushing. This worked for me as my compass binnacle was easily removable.