wholdguy 73 #1 Posted July 27, 2014 Our Charger 12 with the Tecumseh engine is getting difficult to use as a mowing machine....... Seems the throttle control does not stay set in any locked position. It always moves to a quarter speed setting and I must hold it out to keep the engine speed up. With the hydrostatic drive, this keeps my right hand very busy with these controls. Is there any adjustment to be made with this control cable or do I just need to replace it? Can anyone help with this? G. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wfrpalm 218 #2 Posted July 27, 2014 I do not know how the friction set up on your tractor works but when the speed control lever on my 875 did not have any resistance I fixed it by cutting two small sections of bicycle inner tube ( like rubber bands ) and stretched them over the shoes that cause the resistance. If a charger works a similar way that should work for you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
varosd 1,185 #3 Posted July 27, 2014 If your throttle is like most, you can squeeze the big rivet on the throttle with some channel locks. sometimes you have to remove it from the dash in order to do this. others have hammered the rivet to create more friction. others have drilled out the rivet and used locknut/bolt combo. or re-rivet if you have big rivet tools! my 416's throttle was so bad, the PO cut a piece of metal and it would swivel into place locking the throttle into place. All I did was read Red Square and fixed it right!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #4 Posted July 27, 2014 If you have the push pull cable with twist to lock you will have to replace the cable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wholdguy 73 #5 Posted July 27, 2014 WH nut Yes, this one has the push pull and turn to lock throttle cable. I should have described it earlier. So I wonder if any of the previous ideas might work before I replace the cable? G. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #6 Posted July 27, 2014 You can try disconnecting the cable from the carb and pull out as far as you can get it rough up the shaft that goes into the lock. Vise grips or pliers to make little notches so it doesn't slip in the lock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #7 Posted July 28, 2014 WH Nut....that is something I have tried before but as was mentioned earlier, when those twist-lock push-pulls won't stay locked, you really need to replace the cable end to end. I went through this with my 867 after buying it a few years ago. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497 #8 Posted July 28, 2014 Just replace the cable. I bought one a few months back on ebay for the 854 I am redoing. by the time you hassel with trying to jimmie rig it, you will waste more time and probably end up replacing it. Glenn 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trouty56 565 #9 Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) I drilled a small hole through the plastic end and inner cable end. Ran a very small pin thriugh it. Now I can adjust the friction by twisting the end as was designed..... Edited July 28, 2014 by Trouty56 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,642 #10 Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) Two clothes pins work on my Electro 12. One clothes pin for fast idle two for mowing. A whole lot cheaper than a new cable. Cheap cruise control (I use the same setup on My M37's hand throttle to keep her at fast idle for warming up) Edited July 28, 2014 by pfrederi 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackhammer 546 #11 Posted July 28, 2014 Two clothes pins work on my Electro 12. One clothes pin for fast idle two for mowing. A whole lot cheaper than a new cable. Cheap cruise control (I use the same setup on My M37's hand throttle to keep her at fast idle for warming up) As long as your socks or other things aren't blowing in the wind I'd guess you'd be ok Rick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wholdguy 73 #12 Posted July 28, 2014 Paul and others: I think for now I like the one and two clothes pin idea. I think I will use them the next time I have it out mowing! G. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wheel-mule 46 #13 Posted July 29, 2014 I have the new cables.They sell for $18 plus shipping.I'm sure I can ship it for $5 or less. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremi3210 717 #14 Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) I've had some luck taking the cables out and putting some superglue on the shaft where cable would clamp. Again take the cable out or it may be permanently locked. Worked for me. Edited July 29, 2014 by jeremi3210 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,642 #15 Posted July 29, 2014 As long as your socks or other things aren't blowing in the wind I'd guess you'd be ok Rick Red Neck Cruise control one at fast idle one at mowing speed.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497 #16 Posted July 30, 2014 Paint the clothespins red and put a horse head insignia on them. "Special factory option" non wheel horse folk won't know. Glenn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mappingpilot 0 #17 Posted July 30, 2015 I have the same problem with a recently acquired 416-8. I made a retainer out of some scrap aluminum on my scroll saw (see attached pics). Not pretty, but it works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronhatch 406 #18 Posted July 30, 2015 (edited) Retainer, clothespins? Maybe a little unsafe too?? Come on guys. My 857 wouldn't hold either, so I replaced it with a regular lever style for under $10.00. I like it a lot better than the old push pull set up. That's OK for the choke, but not the throttle. Edited July 30, 2015 by ronhatch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,642 #19 Posted July 30, 2015 Retainer, clothespins? Maybe a little unsafe too?? Come on guys. My 857 wouldn't hold either, so I replaced it with a regular lever style for under $10.00. I like it a lot better than the old push pull set up. That's OK for the choke, but not the throttle. Unsafe how...it is easier and quicker to pull a clothes pin off than to twist the correct locking throttle to the unlocked position and push it in.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelsey 91 #20 Posted July 31, 2015 (edited) The past week or so, I was working on my son's 310-8 and he showed me that histhe WH throttle's handle would vibrate down while the engine was running. It looked likethe flat spring was in place. I used a E-clip and tapped in between the flat spring and thethrottle handle with a small flathead screw driver and hammer. The throttle stays in positionwithout slipping downward. Edited July 31, 2015 by Kelsey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #21 Posted July 31, 2015 Retainer, clothespins? Maybe a little unsafe too?? Come on guys. My 857 wouldn't hold either, so I replaced it with a regular lever style for under $10.00. I like it a lot better than the old push pull set up. That's OK for the choke, but not the throttle. I disagree. The throttle has no bearing on safety if your key switch and clutch work correctly... I cant see any situation where the throttle would be a safety issue. The past week or so, I was working on my son's 310-8 and he showed me that histhe WH throttle's handle would vibrate down while the engine was running. It looked likethe flat spring was in place. I used a E-clip and tapped in between the flat spring and thethrottle handle with a small flathead screw driver and hammer. The throttle stays in positionwithout slipping downward. That's a pretty slick idea, looks a heck of a lot easier than drilling out and replacing with a bolt and lock nut. Does it slip at all? Like, do you foresee it falling out at some point? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kudzu3 323 #22 Posted July 31, 2015 Retainer, clothespins? Maybe a little unsafe too?? Come on guys. My 857 wouldn't hold either, so I replaced it with a regular lever style for under $10.00. I like it a lot better than the old push pull set up. That's OK for the choke, but not the throttle. I'd like to replace mine as you have done, could you give a little detail as to how you did this? I sure can't find one for under 10.00. Sorry, don't mean to hi jac the thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelsey 91 #23 Posted July 31, 2015 Retainer, clothespins? Maybe a little unsafe too?? Come on guys. My 857 wouldn't hold either, so I replaced it with a regular lever style for under $10.00. I like it a lot better than the old push pull set up. That's OK for the choke, but not the throttle. I disagree. The throttle has no bearing on safety if your key switch and clutch work correctly... I cant see any situation where the throttle would be a safety issue. The past week or so, I was working on my son's 310-8 and he showed me that histhe WH throttle's handle would vibrate down while the engine was running. It looked likethe flat spring was in place. I used a E-clip and tapped in between the flat spring and thethrottle handle with a small flathead screw driver and hammer. The throttle stays in positionwithout slipping downward. That's a pretty slick idea, looks a heck of a lot easier than drilling out and replacing with a bolt and lock nut. Does it slip at all? Like, do you foresee it falling out at some point? The E-clip fits fairly tight against the flat spring and the throttle handle doesn't driftdownward as it did without the clip. I don't think the clip will fall out but time will tell.The E-clip came from the WH 310 hood's pivot shaft that was replaced with bushings and shoulderbolts with nylock nuts. The clip just happened to be handy at the time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites