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| | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 150 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 150 | What exactly is the throttle knob used for on the dash? To be used in conjunction with the choke for warming engine up in cold weather? For use with a PTO? Mine was disconnected and haven't needed it yet, getting ready to redo interior and wondered if i should just do away with it, I'd like to know what it's original use was and if everyone keeps them. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | You've got it right, for use with a PTO and or warming it up in the morning.
I used mine for winter morning warmups, use the choke to start it and then back the choke off almost instantly while holding a slightly elevated idle speed with the hand throttle, come back out in a few minutes to a toasty warm cab.
Folks often confuse the hand throttle with "cruise control" which it most certainly is not. It does not react to load and therefore anything but a perfectly level road you'll be "cruising" at greatly varied speeds, not effective. Also if you press the clutch or brake the hand throttle won't disengage, not safe.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 | The way I understand it is that the choke is used for cold start and the throttle cable is for cold running. I believe the operators manual actually recommends doing it that way.
Also, not sure how accurate this is but I've heard that on the farm the throttle cable was used when one man was driving and grabbing hay bails. Put the truck in gear, set the speed to a slow crawl and steer from the running board while jumping off to toss bails in the bed.
Seems like a good way to wreck your truck tho. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 | Grigg beat me to it.  | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 150 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 150 | Thanks guys, i think i better keep it for those cold St. Louis mornings. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | GM's stated purpose is to increase idle speed during warmup. In addition to the above uses, I have found it helpful for starting on a steep hill (it provides a "third foot": a hand-throttle (replacing the accelerator-pedal-throttle) in addition to the other two feet on the clutch and brake pedals). | | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 |
-Tom
1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235
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