Sticking throttle.

[MacK]

After being away for a week, working up in the Orkney Islands, I had to go for a drive on Saturday. After the usual formality of jump starting due to flat battery and removing carpets and an inch or so of water under the drivers seat, I went for a wee blast.

It was after a bit of hard acceleration and then changing up, I noticed the revs kept going, and the throttle was still on the floor engaging the higher gear, brought the pedal back and the revs down, all seemed well. At first I thought I must have been mistaken, or had unknowingly caught the pedal or mechanism or whatever. But noticed it happening again. I was then sure I could feel a 'catch' in the first inch of pedal travel, it just seemed a bit 'sticky'.

I stopped and had a look in the footwell and at the mechanism, all seemed well, a few revs when stationery and no return of the problem, so I carried on my way. Noticed it another couple of times, but nothing too serious. On returning home I had another good look at the pedal mechanism and the return spring, but all looks okay. Also checked the linkage at the throttle body, but all looks okay, and lubricated.

Yesterday was out and about, and had no return of the problem, but I was mostly in Edinburgh or 'commuting' so had no real foot down hard accelerating moments.

Could it be a throttle linkage kit is required as a Christmas present? Or is it something else?

[mac]

Are the two nuts that hold the outer cable in place at the throttle end nipped up tight?

Mine went a bit loose (oh er) and cause similar problems.


Mac (-k)

[MacK]

I'll check that, if I remember, tonight.

Thanks Colin.


John

[Burnetto]

Mac and MacK,

Had a few close calls with this myself. First time caught totally unaware and almost wiped out a petrol pump which would have been exciting and the second time and the rest almost in the back of peoples cars.

Seems to happen mostly just after damp weather. Have tried tightining the bolt around the pivot and spraying some WD40. This seems to work for a while and then you have another sticky moment a few weeks down the line.

I will try the 2 bolts at the throttle end later to see if that helps. Thanks for the pointer Mac.

cheers

Jamie

[CSK_423]

Had this before and just at the weekend after 2 weeks of heavy rain and no driving, I lubricated the cable at the throttle body which done the trick, could be something as simple as that.

[robin]

Mac and MacK,

Seems to happen mostly just after damp weather. Have tried tightining the bolt around the pivot and spraying some WD40. This seems to work for a while and then you have another sticky moment a few weeks down the line.

If WD40 works for a while then your problem is that WD40 isn't really a good oil to use for lubricating things. Try and get either some good old 3-in-1 or some fancy teflon or better yet dry slide (graphite suspension; liquid evaporates to leave behind just the graphite) into the same place as you are squirting WD40 and you should have trouble free operation for much longer.

Cheers,
Robin

[Rich H]

I'll take some pics of my bodged up fix that works a traet if I remember...

Involves a large spring in the engine bay and a bit of bike cable...

[MacK]

Just noticed McKean has posted a similar problem, but mine has re-surfaced over the weekend. But was non existant yesterday when I went for a wee run in East Lothian area.

When others have had this problem has it been consistent, or very intermittent, like mine?

Have double checked in the footwell that the throttle linkage is all okay, and it doesn't feel sticky or dry anywhere, and the linkage at the throttle is well lubricated and all nuts are tight

Could it be the internalls of the throttle body causeing the problem, It seems more obvious when cold...

[mckeann]

When you open the throttle, the cable moves in the direction shown. WHen you release it, it jams where its circled, which keeps the throttle a little bit open

[Tom]

After being away for a week, working up in the Orkney Islands, I had to go for a drive on Saturday. After the usual formality of jump starting due to flat battery and removing carpets and an inch or so of water under the drivers seat, I went for a wee blast.

along this flat batt theme, i went to get the car yesterday after a month of not using it. was certain batt would be flat, but unbelievably it started

i love S1s....

[mckeann]

OI, this is about sticky throttles, f off

[Tom]

OI, this is about sticky throttles, f off

oh. in that case my throttle's not sticking...








(yet)

[MacK]

When you open the throttle, the cable moves in the direction shown. WHen you release it, it jams where its circled, which keeps the throttle a little bit open

Mine doesnt seem to jam where you're showing it Neil, it will stick open, for example when accelrating and changing up. It does also seem to stick at part throttle sometimes too though..

[Rich H]

My nuts were too tight in the foot well (!) The linkage is pretty poorly designed around things pivoting around bolts which can be over tightened.

diagnosed mine by waiting for it to stick then pulling up on the pedal with my foot. The linkage in the footwell cannot push the cable back so if it is footwell related the throttle will close, if it's engine end it won't. You cannot test this from the engine end as the pedal gubbinz will not move.

HTH
Rich

[mckeann]

When you open the throttle, the cable moves in the direction shown. WHen you release it, it jams where its circled, which keeps the throttle a little bit open

Mine doesnt seem to jam where you're showing it Neil, it will stick open, for example when accelrating and changing up. It does also seem to stick at part throttle sometimes too though..

is that with the original linkage? or the upgraded eliseparts one??