Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Hi guys installing a new carb and was wondering what people think about the hand throttle linkage. Would it be ok to do away with it or is it a handy item to have. What have you guys done in the past ? Thanks

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I don't have mine hooked up. The knob is there for "display" only and the cable end pokes through the firewall, but that's where it ends.

GB

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I use mine occasionally, and wouldn't want to delete the convenience of having it there if/when needed.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I have just done about 7000 klms in our 33,most on back roads,it is so nice to be able to give the gas foot a rest every now and then with the hand throttle.
lawrie

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I use the hand throttle in starting out on from uphill stop.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Suspect that one of the main reasons for having one (other than providing higher RPM for un-attended warm up) was to be used in conjunction with the different power belt attachments that were driven off one rear wheel back in the day. (saws,water pumps etc.)

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I use mine all the time - especially to warm the engine up when it has sat for awhile.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Does the hand throttle stay open when you let go , or does it have a spring to return to idle when not holding the knob ?

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

On my 35 it'll return to idle once you release the knob.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Surely Henry would not have included it if it wasn't necessary. I can see more use for it back in the day.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Mine slips back in. I don't know how to apply more friction to it. It is convenient for fast idle during startup.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

By the mid to late '30's the hand throttle was pretty well a thing of the past, especially since the Ford type would not hold its position when hand was released.
I utilized the hole in the dash for a headlight switch when I eliminated the original steering wheel mounted rotary switch.
On a truck/utility vehicle the hand throttle could be handy if the vehicle had a PTO for a dump body, etc..
Fords design of the hand throttle left a lot to be desired, there was no provision in the EFV8 for a way to set and/or hold the hand throttle into a given position.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I'm having the same problem and was wondering if I did something wrong when restoring it. The only thing I can think to do is get another dash grommet with a tighter fitting hole.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

My hand throttle would hold up to a point. Then I made the mistake of cleaning and lubing it.

I have used hand throttle cables on different types of equipment that once pulled to desired RPM's, you twist to lock.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

The linkage at the carb was real loose & would slip past making the cable useless.. so I removed it.. used the hole there for an aftermarket/momentary ignition keyed switch...

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

I never saw one that would hold position once released. Now you got me thinking, I wonder if a sawtooth bottom edge could be made to hold it steady in the slot.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

You will be glad to have it if you ever have someone pull up close behind you when stopped on a hill. Especially if your flathead hesitates a little when you punch it off idle. I went to a lot of trouble rigging the progressive linkage on my 3 x 2 manifold to retain the hand throttle. Like putting the carbs on 2" risers so I could invert the linkage. Bonus: That also allows me to use banjo fittings at the fuel inputs instead of a fuel log and fuel lines all over the place.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

Its been a good many years since I've used the hand throttle on the 39 Ford, mainly because it has not been running. As I recall it was a handy thing to have and it worked well. Just pull it to set the high idle speed I wanted and it stayed there. Maybe an old rusty cable is a good thing for that purpose. I have a hand throttle on an IH truck that works well and holds position. The manual choke is supposed to have enough of a cam to keep the idle up for warm up but sometimes I wanted a little more rpm.

Re: Hand throttle is it needed?
 

We used to call them Oklahoma cruise controls.