Ideas on Throttle Lever for Engine Run Stand?

Need some ideas for a throttle lever control for an engine run stand. Satisfied with everything I've put together but that aspect. Having to reach under the air cleaner gets a little old. Would like to have somewhat of a boat style throttle lever, but not willing to really shell out the dough. Would like to have a way to lock it down, but then I want the "spring loaded return" action too. Any ideas? pics?

thanks...

 

Just rig up an old gas pedal or use a choke cable with a return spring rigged to it.

 

How about a simple lever with a cable, you could always look into something like a lawn mower type throttle. Don't make it harder then it needs to be, simple is good.

 

Get one from an old 50's tractor. Ford, Farmall, Case etc. They all had hand throttles and some are very neatly made.

 

Aircraft Spruce and Specialties......google them.
ALL kinds of very applicable hand operated, ala aircraft, throttle controls.

 

use an old motorcycle throttle modify the carb end to fit your needs.

 

lawnmower throttle

 

A peice of string and a spring will work. Worked for my O/T truck til I got tired of it.

 

Try a brake handle from a bicycle, or the cable from a push lawn mower. You can find a manual choke kit at most autoparts stores for 10 bucks, and it has a solid cable. You could always make a handle and add a set screw to it to lock the throttle down at a certain rpm.

 

Thanks fellas for all those ideas. Looks like I am going to purchase something and modify it slightly. Was thinking about that lawnmower idea. Maybe I could use that lever type control... especially that kind that have slots for different increments. That way I could hold the rpm at a certain level easily for cam break in, adjustments, etc. Will have to check fleabay.

 

Here's an idea.. This knob locks with a twist & turn deal...McMaster-Carr comes thru again

Check this link Scroll down to Lever & Knob Control ***emblies

http://www.mcmaster.com/#throttle-cable/=i1lu4y

 

Find a old boat, they have a nice throttle lever control. JC

 

How about an old b*** drum pedal that was meant to sit on the floor.....

 

Your favorite beer tap handle. Mounted with a cable and a big return spring

 

Had a friend who's throttle linkage broke. We tied shoelaces together and ran them through the hood and in through the window.

 

Motor cycle throttle would work like a champ. If you could lay your hands on one an old slide throttle from a harley dresser would be real slick, it was a pull and push type of a throttle. I.E. you twist it one way for open and the other way for close.

 

Before you cheap out too much, consider the fact that one good accidental wide open blast might cause a lot more $$$ injury than spending 100 bucks on a good throttle, especially if the engine isn't loaded against anything.

I would be interested to see what you are building as I have been considering doing the same!

 

Being from irrigated alfalfa country, how about an irrigation engine locking push pull cable and T-handle. Lippy

 

Old style lawn mower throttle lever will hold where ever you put it.
It won't allow a free snap of the throttle.
If you want both, a motorcycle or mini bike twist throttle with a hold thumb screw provision would do both.

 

A simple piece of flatbar mounted to a plate with cable to the carb will work fine. Just mount it with a bolt and a wingnut so you can tighten the wingnut to hold it at steady RPM's when needed, and loosen it for adjusting RPM.

 

you gotta have a lawn mower shop near you. what about some bicycle shifters, there is the twist type and the thumb type that hold position and pull a cable.

 

Boat throttle. Morse controlls

 

Lets see some pics of it.

 

I have a different carb sitting on there now, but this will give you some idea of what it looks like. Let me see if I can find another photo from the rear angle...

 

Not quite what I thought I had, but here is another. I have a lot on photobucket if you search Y block on there...

 

Here is a photo of how it looks right now...

 

Very cool. I think I need to build one of these!!

 

The next time I remove this engine and the run stand is empty, I will have to take some measurements and more photos for you....

 

Is this a 352 C.I.? My step dad had several 58 and later Fords with Interceptors I seem to remember all were 352 BUT there was Interceptor and Police Interceptor (Possibly Hi Way Interceptor) We had 2 ex police cruisers with Interceptors and those covers were not chrome and had the different marking but I don't remember if it was "Police" or "Hi Way" dad liked Fords 352 390 and 406 cars

 

Leon,
the photo is of a 292 ci Y block that I had put together with Ford's blower cam and obviously a Paxton McCulloch VS57 supercharger setup that they sold over the counter. (hard to locate all of the parts to fit a Y block) The engine had a few other updates, but I have no idea how much horsepower it makes. One guy bought the engine, and another bought the Y block specific blower setup.

IIRC, Ford put those decals on their 57-59 Ford engines that were used for Police and Govt. cars and vehicles. Most probably this particular decal would have been on a 312 because of that Y8 insignia. The chrome covers are something I did.

I am working on putting together a 312 right now. Need a good set of rods, and the engine will about come together on its own. I have everything else refreshed, cleaned, bored, etc, to put the engine together.