diy "cruise" control (cable actuated throttle lock)
 

Ok, maybe more of a throttle control, but anyway, it's easy cheesey :) This location is easy for the right hand, and a push with the palm shuts it down. Can always use the thumb kill switch to shut down engine or clutch to disengage (and it's only a 3cyl metro here) so not too worried about runaway.

It could be lined up left-right a little better on the chain side (needs a zip tie), but it works pretty good as is, and I only had to remove the center console to install it.

http://opengauge.org/misc/cruise1.JPG

http://opengauge.org/misc/cruise2.JPG


http://opengauge.org/misc/cruise3.JPG

Looks like a great setup, could you give us more detail on what/where your got the control?

It is a vernier control, like might be in a utility vehicle or a gen-av airplane. I forget where I got it, think I shopped around and found it for like $35.

similiar units:
Horton Truck - Parts Detail
eBay Motors: LOCKABLE VERNIER THROTTLE CABLE ASSEMBLY (item 130132963664 end time Mar-30-09 11:36:45 PDT)


The twist fine tune function is nice, hopefully I can dial in best mpg on the flats with it.

That looks nice. Constant small adjustments for DWL over long distances can be a pain (literally) to the foot/calf.

(Of course jomelmaldonado's load-sensitive cruise control hack would solve that...)

Looking forward to a report once you've had some time to use it.

dcb -

I like it. Maybe this isn't logical, but I like adding knobs and controls to the inside of the car (especially if they do something!). Your implementation is butch. When I talk to people, I sometimes compare how I drive to flying a plane, because I am always monitor more dials and doohickeys than otherwise (but that's the fun part!).

Also waiting for the status report.

CarloSW2

will that pass inspection

Yes, but I don't live in boston :) I'm sure there's plenty here that wouldn't pass a boston, or baltimore, type inspection (non-oem air freshener?).

re: report, well the mrs took it up to traverse city, said it was nice to have on the hiway. It isn't super sensitive with this setup. It helps if you hold the throttle with your foot and pull the knob out till it hits the stiff resistance. For fine tuning you have to help the pedal with your foot (really light taps or lifts) while turning the knob.

Not exactly sure how to test it, what to compare it to and where?

Does the chain pull the gas pedal down? I couldn't quite see on the picture.

The chain pulls on the gas pedal lever near where the lever pulls on the cable that goes to the throttle body. This moves the pedal towards the floor via the pivot (the rust colored bracket on the lower left of the last pic).

Could lubricating the pedal pivot point with silicone lube assist you in your minor adjustments?

I am very interested in how it works.

Sweet! never even knew this kind of thing existed. i used to use a tractor throttle on my old truck, but it was to bump my idle up for different reasons.

i'm going to look into this for the old truck when i get it running again, but i will hook it straight to the linkage at the carb.

I am interested in doing something like this, can you explain how you did the chain (I can not see it in the pic)?

I found two small cable clamps at the ace hardware.

I installed the cable so it pretty much pointed at the part of the gas pedal lever I wanted to pull on (the straighter the path, the better).

then figured out how long to make the chain by holding it up to the gap

then used the clamps to attach it to the pedal rod on one side of the chain and to the cable end on the other.

I could slide it a little bit on the cable end to fine tune it by loosening the clamp and repositioning it.

The key here is that the gas pedal actually pulls on the throttle cable via a lever, so I am clamped to that lever near where it connects to the throttle cable.

The chain just attaches to a clamp bolt at the ends, the pedal clamp goes around the pedal lever, the cable clamp goes around the cable. I think I may have flattened and even spot welded the chain ends to be captured by a clamp bolt, but not a requirement I'm sure.

Another way to do this:

Jeep Rubicon Express Hand Throttle Installation

The hand throttle kit goes for ~$30:

RE1000 - HAND THROTTLE - Rubicon Express

Parts might be cheaper at your local bike shop.

the one I installed had vernier control, so that ideally you could fine tune the throttle setting with ease by twisting the knob or make gross adjustments by holding the button in and moving it in our out.

I had a bit of fudge in my install though, so it took some finagling to make fine adjustments.

this looks very doable. I have had a hard time figuring how to do mine as it is an electronic throttle.
Did this help you?

Didn't really test it out, mostly an in-town driver and P&G everywhere. Was nice to have on the hiway though the few times I was on the hiway :)

would it be possible for you to take another pic of how the chain is set up?

Nope, it has moved on, wasn't very tricky, look at last pic closely.

They are located nearby me, cool people.

in my country a cruise control system must deativate when the brake is pressed or its illegal

ive been thinking of attaching a magnetic clutch to the side of the throttle arm
which locks when powered
they are like $20 on ebay

add an on off switch to activate it and a cut switch on a relay under the brake
seems simple enough

ill give it a shot and take photos if it works

Has anyone heard of electronic throttle lock? I've read about it, but cannot find it anywhere. I'm getting parts ready to retrofit cruise control, but was wondering about throttle lock as well.

No, you just do it the same as dcb, and don't refer to it as cruise control at MOT/inspection time. Its a throttle lock for your exhaust gas generator, which needs to run at higher than idle for extended periods...