As I thought about all the members of the manual shut-down club, the question came to mind, wonder if anyone has rigged a manual throttle to act as a cruise control? Obviously, for safety reasons, you'd want it to release when the brake is pressed and a fixed throttle position wouldn't produce as constant a speed as a regular cruise control but it would still save the leg on those longs trips.

Anyone?

 

you can just put a handle throttle on.. that is the same concept..

us rock crawlers do it all the time..

we us a bicycle shifter arm off a mountain bike works well..
then just run a cable threw cab into engine bay and hook it up ..
that way you can just move shifter and get more throttle without foot on fuel pedal

 

Here's mine

 

ditto...

"us" rock crawlers enjoy it...

you can buy a "kit" for ~$30, or just head to your local bicycle shop...




other end just attaches to the throttle bracket:




you can use a bike lever, or a "choke" style lever...

granted, it doesn't cut off with the brake...but you can set it up to either hold tight when you let go, or just use it instead of a pedal...

Greg

 

I think its a bad idea. Stuff happens so fast on the highway, your just begging for a disaster. You can buy a generic cruise fairly inexpensive.

 

I think these are grate idea......some of them even vary funny

but i agree with mopar2ya. In a panic situation you won't have time to think...Your instinces will be all that is reaction! the manual throttle will be the last thing you try to do. Our govener type throttle will keep adding fuel to push you thru the object that you'r trying to avoid!

If you had......like say a step up motor off one of the earler fuel inj, gas vehicle and tied it to a relay that sent the power to revers side of the step up motor,when you hit the brake, to bring it back to idle that might work!

My favorite is still the brick

 

I agree 100%, I had an older Ford diesel with a hand throttle, as you screwed it out, it revved the engine. It worked great to warm the truck up.

HOWEVER, on the highway I had a deer jump out, I slammed the brakes and the throttle was still down, it wasnt a fun situation.

Also, as your climbing a grade you automatically press down farther. My Ford would slow as much as 10 mph on some grades where you need more throttle. I know my Cummins wouldnt care as much, but it still does to some extent. Watch the pedal on a Cummins with cruise, the pedal moves a decent amount.

 

Automatic may be a different story, but in a 5-speed panic situation isn't it instinct to his CLUTCH and brake? i you do this the motor would still be revved but not pushing the truck. i've thought about this for my truck. i know it would take a little more thottle on the hills but some relief on the long flat stretches would be very nice.

 

My thought exactly. I'd definitely want to rig a brake release but on a 5-speed, I don't see as much of a safety problem as with an automatic.

 

Hey Mopar2ya, how about a link to that inexpensive generic cruise you mentioned?