520 throttle creeps down

[Tgalo 118]

So my 520 throttle creeps down from full when mowing. I took the cable out and it looks fine. Is there a way to tighten it up? Just started a week ago.... Thanks

[Tuneup 1,433]

The spring on the governor is under serious tension. My 516 was creeping the same. It took a good squeeze with the vise grips to tighten it up and it's been good for the past year. Give it a shot.

[Lee1977 6,917]

I clamped my tight with vice grips. It's been holding for a year or so. Some have replaced the rivet with a bolt. I have not need to do that as yet.

 

 

 

 

[lynnmor 7,472]

I use a tiny, high quality bolt with a locking nut thru the rivet to squash it.

[Handy Don 13,054]

2 hours ago, lynnmor said:

I use a tiny, high quality bolt with a locking nut thru the rivet to squash it.

At @lynnmor's suggestion, I did the same and I'm happy to be able to adjust the tension to only enough to keep the lever where I put it.

Words of warning:

1. I wish I'd masking taped the whole thing together before I drilled out the old rivet--there are metal and fiber washers sandwiched in there and the order matters. This part is NOT exploded in the parts manuals because it is supposed to be replaced as a unit. I had to look at another one to figure out how it went back together!

2. It'll make your life easier if you can get at both ends of the bolt to make adjustments after the lever is mounted back in the dash

3. Try to use a shoulder bolt (or a piece of bushing) so bolt threads are not rubbing against a moving part that would wallow out over time

[tom2p 2,394]

on one tractor I was able to use Vice Grips to squeeze the assembly and increase friction  ... not exactly pretty but it worked 

 

on another tractor this did not work - eventually damaged / ruined the fiber washers and it eventually got worse ... had a new cable (only $60 lol) - but instead kept the cable in inventory and drilled the old one and used a bolt and nut(s)

 

Edited July 8, 2021 by tom2p

[doc724 925]

I have not taken one apart, but I have had the problem.  The vice grip squeeze does work, for a while.  I pulled the throttle out and squeezed it in a vise.  If you over squeeze it will not move at all.  If you want to do it right, drill the rivet out, taking note of the order of the parts as one poster suggested.  The trick is to get a Belleville washer, which is really a high force, low deflection spring.  Think of a regular washer where the center has been formed to look like a very shallow cone shape.  Some belleville washers have a saddle shape.  You can buy these at any good hardware store.  Put the Belleville washer into the stack and reassemble everything with a screw and a nylok nut.  The more you tighten the nut, the more force the belleville will generate and you can dial it in.  The friction washers may or may not be needed if you use lat washers in there place.

[Tgalo 118]

Well I wish I had read this a bit sooner.. I took it to work and used the arbor press, locked it solid..lol. I guess I’m going the bolt route. Thanks for the reply’s…

T

[Handy Don 13,054]

1 hour ago, doc724 said:

Some belleville washers have a saddle shape

Those are the rascals that fell on the bench when I pulled out the drill bit. "So which way to this little guys go when I reassemble?"

[Tuneup 1,433]

OK, I need something to do tomorrow and the clamp method is starting to lose its appeal as the 516 will only stick at about 3K. No 3600 anymore unless I remind it now and then. I'll plunge and will bolt it up. Should be interesting. I have to drill two exhaust bolts on the 520 and start the paint on the 48" deck as well so maybe it will be a really fun Saturday...

[Tuneup 1,433]

So, work is a little slow. I hit the garage and removed the lever. You want the order of washers? I can't believe it should be this way:

 

Rivet head - metal washer (2) - lever - fiber washer(2). I removed them very carefully and expect this rivet was not tampered with previously.

 

Expected: Rivet head - metal washer - fiber washer - lever - fiber washer - metal washer.

[Handy Don 13,054]

22 minutes ago, Tuneup said:

So, work is a little slow. I hit the garage and removed the lever. You want the order of washers? I can't believe it should be this way:

 

Rivet head - metal washer (2) - lever - fiber washer(2). I removed them very carefully and expect this rivet was not tampered with previously.

 

Expected: Rivet head - metal washer - fiber washer - lever - fiber washer - metal washer.

Yes, not as I expected either when I had a handful of loose parts! 

I came to realize that the Bellville washer (the "inner", bent metal one) was deliberately placed inside the flat washer and against the lever. Why? Beats me. But I reassembled as it was originally only using the bolt and it does work just fine.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Handy Don

[Tgalo 118]

30 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Rivet head - metal washer (2) - lever - fiber washer(2).

Just drilled out mine. This is exactly like mine was. I got a flanged bolt and lock nut. Now its adjustable tension.....

[Tuneup 1,433]

L moved the fibers against the lever - both sides. Super smooth - much better than once was. If the weather dries out, I can test it!