My throttle no longer stays where I set it, reverts quickly on its own to idle. Unless there is something in the pedestal, I don't see any adjutment for cable tension. Does anyone have a simple and cheap fix for this problem?
Dave Young
Bay Cat
30U #402
Via iPhone
Dave, on my boat, there is a small u bolt clamp on the throttle cable just before the engine. If you have one, try to tighten that first. It squeezes the cable just enough.
John F. Iscaro / Chief Engineer
Greenwich Country Club
http://www.greenwichcountryclub.org/
203.869.1000 W
203.286.1909 F
203-627-2864 C
Dave,
I’ve read on the list that there is a friction adjustment, but I’ve been using a simple velcro strap to hold the throttle lever where I want it. It’s worked well for several years. I’ve replaced the cable at least once and never seen the friction adjuster.
Allan DeWall
Cat Rageous, NS30U #232
Newport News, VA
As John says, the high-tech "friction adjustment" is nothing more than a
knuckle-buster or cable clamp that is placed on the throttle cable and
tightened enough to crush the casing or cable cover against the cable itself
to create friction. Eventually, this will degrade the cable so that it has
to be replaced, particularly if there is any salt water incursion. The one
on my 26 lasted about 17 years. I used various bungy cords and Velcro on
the throttle handle/pedestal guard on my 30, but was about to resort to the
knuckle buster on that too.
Yes, I too was surprised that Edson had not come up with a better solution.
Allen Ames
The newer Edson pedestals have a friction adjustment screw under the compass. It is a 1/4-20 bolt tapped into the aluminum that adds friction to shaft of the throttle lever. If you have the compass off, it is easily duplicated by pulling the throttle lever out, drilling and tapping the aluminum, and installing the bolt. In mine, there was a dimple in the casting at that location, like they were thinking of doing it but hadn't gotten around to it yet.
Jon Fitch
'Anomaly'
Me too,
My throttle on the M35 used to wander back to 80% so I used use a velcro strap to lash it if motoring/passage.
Used to be the same on my old Sabre
John F grainger
Hi
There is an adjustment inside the pedestal for throttle friction.
Open up, removing compass. Look at the throttle shaft.
On the top of the throttle axle is what looks like a set screw.
Take it out, make small discs from a leather belt and stuff them down
the open hole. Reinsert the screw and tighten down. Voila !
By the way, do the same thing on hatch hardware.
Mine was so bad, I had to reverse the control bar to get a smooth
surface to work with.
I hate the thought of the cable clamp. The basic principle of operation
runs counter to all logical thinking. Crush the outer housing !!! Bad !!!
Al
I agree with Allen. Under no circumstances would I intentionally distort something that is supposed to be round and smooth.
Joe Valinoti
IL GATTO NS30U #221
Oriental, NC
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (_ ~ (_ ~ (_~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (_ ~ (_ ~ (_~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Joe Valinoti wrote:
*Under no circumstances would I intentionally distort something that is supposed to be round and smooth.*
Unless you're the natural gas company 
I was surprised last week to see them use a tool to shut off gas service for repair with clamp that was applied to the plastic gas line and squished it flat to shut off the gas. Once the repair was complete they removed the clamp and restored service. The clamp did have a big ground strap and stake. Makes one ponder how they learned they needed that
Just another useless factoid I collect and only on topic by the wildest stretch...
Doug Hall
There is a friction adjustment in the pedestal. Just pop off the compass and and right on the the throttle mount there should be a bronze screw that you can adjust to set the tension on the throttle. It takes at most 10 minutes to take it all apart and put it back together.
NS 26C Tabby Gerard van Boven