The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Fixing the old truck

BUSY BOLTERS
Are you one?

Where is it?? The Shop Area

continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
4 members (GMCJammer51, frogfarmer, Charles in CA, Hotrod Lincoln), 575 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics126,780
Posts1,039,295
Members48,100
Most Online2,175
Jul 21st, 2025
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
G
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
G Offline
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.


[Linked Image from i1188.photobucket.com]
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,877
G
.
.
G Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,877
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


1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
---All pictures---
"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 937
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 937
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: 937
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 937
Grigg beat me to it. smile

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
G
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
G Offline
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 150
Thanks guys, i think i better keep it for those cold St. Louis mornings.


[Linked Image from i1188.photobucket.com]
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,262
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,262

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
O
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
O Offline
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 506
Also needed on hot days if carb is flooded.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/51tom19.htm


-Tom

1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235

Moderated by  Phak1, Woogeroo 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0
(Release build 20240826)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 8.3.11 Page Time: 0.076s Queries: 14 (0.073s) Memory: 0.6165 MB (Peak: 0.6878 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2025-09-22 20:35:33 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS