What does this lever do?

[240znz]

First post on my Zed.

Attached is a photo of the two levers that are in the console in my 71 240Z. The left hand one is the choke (has typical butterfly symbol) but the lever on the right has got me stumped.

It is a symbol that I can best describe as a butterfly in a venturi with three what looks like squirts of some thing at the bottom of the venturi.

My Haynes manual turns up on Friday but its bugging me.

Cheers.

[Zedrally]

It's the hand throttle!

[240znz]

Say what?????? A hand throttle? What is that for? Are you soposed to adjust it for idle or something???

Still got me stumped?

[Zedrally]

You heard right, a hand throttle.

It was the 240z version of cruise control!

It only appeared in the early models, such as your's.

Probably of no use in NZ, but no-doubtably popular on the freeways in Japan and the US.

By the way, congratualtions on a fine pickup.

[240znz]

Thanks Zedrally...yes I am happy as hell to have it...at last. Not without some work mind you but that was realised once I had had a good look at it, so I kno wwhat I'm in for.

As for the hand throttle.....what a classic. Yes we have enough straight roads in New Zealand to use it. I tried using it when I drove it home but it didn't do anything. I'll add it to the list (ever expanding) of things to do/sort/fit/swear at.

Cheers.

[sjcurtis]

If the hand throttle is not working, it may be disconnected at the attach point, check in the cabin next to the steering column it attaches to the normal throttle set upat the top, you should be able to see it clearly with a torch when you actuate the throttle lever.

Cheer

Steve :classic:

[Gav240z]

Originally posted by 240znz

Thanks Zedrally...yes I am happy as hell to have it...at last. Not without some work mind you but that was realised once I had had a good look at it, so I kno wwhat I'm in for.

As for the hand throttle.....what a classic. Yes we have enough straight roads in New Zealand to use it. I tried using it when I drove it home but it didn't do anything. I'll add it to the list (ever expanding) of things to do/sort/fit/swear at.

Cheers.

Bastard early Z owners you guys get all the special goods .

Nah that's why I want an early 240z series 1 as they are refered to, just because they have all the little things the later ones don't and of course there more valuble , you look after her now won't you.

[texasz]

Hmmmm....Mine does not have this and it was made 8/70 which is titled as a '71. Was this not a goodie that was on the US market cars?

[EScanlon]

Few American cars had this to begin with, and even fewer survived the Dealer "prep" on this item (they removed them).

Sadly, American's were not easily accustomed to a hand throttle and more problems and liabilities arose from it than it was worth.

Although several folks refer to it as a "Crude Early 240Z Cruise Control", I've heard that it actually was supposed to be used in warming the engine up in cold climates.

I just checked my owner's manual (U.S.) and no mention, nor illustration of it could be found.

Maybe someone like Alan can help elucidate on this.

2¢

[PrOxLaMuS©]

a hand throttle? now that's cool...

.. anyone know anywhere where I can snatch one? Hell if you can find it in a junkyard.. i'll pay $$$

[mdbrandy]

My 11/69 US production car has the hand throttle...although the PO removed the cable from it (he said that he thought it was dangerous ). Looks like I should be able to fabricate a cable to get it to work again since the lever is still there. I don't know what the connection looks like on the throttle linkage end yet - hopefully he didn't remove something there as well that I'll have to find and replace...

[EScanlon]

If I recall, you CAN get the complete Choke & Throttle Cable and lever linkage from MSA. Not sure about VB. I got mine from a boneyard.

As far as how it connects, this is tricky as it is important to remember that the throttle is connected directly to the accelerator pedal. It connects to the TOP of the linkage so that when you PULL on the lever it also pulls on the lever that your foot PUSHES on. The mechanism is such that if you should push on the pedal you will not bind nor have the cable disconnect.

The cable has the regular sheathing and end ball of lead. The cable goes through a nylon cable holder that clips onto the top of the acc. pedal. The cable holder keeps the cable attached to the pedal while you use the pedal normally. Then when you pull on the lever for the throttle the lead ball is too big to go through the hole in the holder, hence you pull on the lever. Just like if you were holding your foot on the pedal.

If you should wish to accelerate more than the hand throttle is set for, that's no problem as the cable will just slip through the holder.

FWIW

Enrique

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by EScanlon

As far as how it connects, this is tricky as it is important to remember that the throttle is connected directly to the accelerator pedal. It connects to the TOP of the linkage so that when you PULL on the lever it also pulls on the lever that your foot PUSHES on. The mechanism is such that if you should push on the pedal you will not bind nor have the cable disconnect.

The cable has the regular sheathing and end ball of lead. The cable goes through a nylon cable holder that clips onto the top of the acc. pedal. The cable holder keeps the cable attached to the pedal while you use the pedal normally. Then when you pull on the lever for the throttle the lead ball is too big to go through the hole in the holder, hence you pull on the lever. Just like if you were holding your foot on the pedal.

Oh! So it attaches in the drivers compartment directly to the accelerator pedal? I saw nothing like this when I took the car apart, so the PO must have removed it all :disappoin . No nylon cable holder or anything. So far, there are no Z's in any junk yards around here, so I'll have to find something remote if I am able to rehabilitate it. MSA lists the choke cable with hand throttle as [A] (no longer available). Thanks for the info. If you have any pictures around, I'd appreciate it.

[Alfadog]

Originally posted by EScanlon

Although several folks refer to it as a "Crude Early 240Z Cruise Control", I've heard that it actually was supposed to be used in warming the engine up in cold climates.

That's what I used mine for, revving at 1500 warmed up a fair bit quicker than at around 500!

[biker]

You may be able to adapt a hand throttle cable from the 70's Nissan Patrol 4WD who had them as well.

There main purpose was to set idle when using accessories such as winches, etc.

Use them with caution. They have to be pushed back in to turn them off, none of this you beaut touch the brakes to disengage.

Biker

[mdbrandy]

Thanks! I just went through all the "240Z" items on e-bay this morning, and either missed this, or it's new. I'm not an experienced e-bayer yet.

[EScanlon]

Check your own gas pedal first. In my experience, most of the early (read to 73) Z's ALL had the same gas pedal with the EXCEPTION of the Automatic ones.

If you look at the picture on e-Bay, look in the upper right, and you'll notice like a hole with a slot in a piece of metal. That's where the cable hooks up. The larger nylon washer I mentioned clips onto the metal and the cable runs freely inside the washer.

FWIW

Enrique

[mdbrandy]

Originally posted by EScanlon

Check your own gas pedal first.

Well, I had looked at mine, but I didn't recognize what I was seeing. I hadn't realized that the connection was at the very top. And there it was. So, if the e-bay pedal goes very cheap, I may end up with a second pedal (I bid very low since I didn't care too much). Maybe I can make a Z-sculpture out of spare parts....

Thanks for the info!

[zed240au]

early motoring reports that i have read suggested that the hand throttle was there for rallying cant say i can see any great advantage in the idea but thats what i read

my car is a july 70 and it either has had a later console fitted or it did not come with the hand throttle

Mick

[H4LIGHTS]

Only very early US delivery cars even have the pinch bracket necessary to hold the cable in place above the accelerator pedal but most later 240Z accelerator pedals have the 'slot' for the swaged end of the inner cable. You need to fab a bracket or find an early donor car with it.

I worked for a guy who used to check every early car with a flashlight and remove this redundant bracket, (pop the spot weld), then include it in a 'kit' for later 240 owners with the combo cables.

My '70 has this combo but was added by me many years ago.

Just take the slack out of the cable and it gives a constant rpm suitable for 'bootleg' cruise.

[mdbrandy]

I just got a reply from the PO, and he says that, according to what he remembers, there was a bracket in the engine compartment (on the intake manifold) that the cable attached to, and that bracket is in one of the boxes of "stuff" he gave me. I'll be looking through that "stuff" when I get the chance.

Anybody out there have a picture of an intact very early hand throttle connection to the accelerator, the manifold linkage, or any place else?

Or, I just looked through my picture files, and is the attached picture the pinch bracket that you're talking about?

Thanks!

[mdbrandy]

I think I'm finally getting the idea. In the attached picture, you can see that bracket that I asked about in the last picture, as it lines up with the little bracket on the top of the accerator that I now know is for the cable end. I gather that the cable goes through the pinch bracket, through the little plastic grommet on the top of the accelerator, and there's a lead ball on the end of the wire to keep it from coming back through. Thus, if you pull on the throttle, it pulls the top of the accelerator forward, which is like pushing on the pedal. If the hand throttle is not pulled, then pushing on the pedal just has the top of the bracket slide along the wire. Do I have it now? Looks like all I need is a cable...

[H4LIGHTS]

that is the bracket and your interpretation is correct.

[EScanlon]

The bracket in your photo is to grip the cable sheath. Adjust it so that you aren't IMMEDIATELY pulling on the cable, i.e. you need to take up a bit of slack, so that there won't be any conflict with the normal operation of the accelerator pedal.

Enrique