Once upon a time, there was a badly damaged go-kart. The kart had been destroyed by a joyride out of control and the all-volunteer rescue team had gone mad trying to manage it. In the end, it all came down to me; I was the only one who noticed something was wrong with the kart. The throttle cable wasn’t properly installed.
Throttle cables on go-karts can wear out over time, causing your throttle to either stick or not work at all. It’s important to have this fixed as soon as possible, otherwise, you won’t be able to go fast enough to win races! Let’s have a look at the materials needed for the installation, and then we’ll move forward to the step-by-step installation of the throttle cable.
Tools and Materials Needed
| TOOLS AND MATERIAL | QUANTITY |
| Go Kart Throttle Cable Compatible with Yerf Dog Or Throttle Cable, Manco 71″ | 1 |
| Prime-Line 9059087 Hex Bolt, 5/16 inch-18 X 2 inch | 1 |
| Hillman 150006, 5/16 X 18-Inch Hex Nut | 1 |
Step By Step Installation
Follow these steps to learn how to replace your throttle cable and get back on track in no time at all.
- Unscrew one of the bolts present on the cable housing and put it through the gas tab’s 5/16-inch hole. Keep in mind that to do this, you have to remove the inside cable from its housing.
- Finally, thread the cable back into its housing and attach the eyelet to the throttle pedal through the top bolt hole.
- The above picture illustrates the finish that is applied to the cable housing, which is secured to the throttle plate of the engine. The cable is secured in place by a set screw after passing through the throttle stop to which it is attached.
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How To Install Adjustable Throttle Cable?
It’s possible that the housing for the throttle cable may eventually need to be adjusted since the cable has a propensity to stretch over time. This is one of the reasons why we recommend that you should consider checking on the throttle cable before you start riding. When fully pushing the throttle pedal does not immediately result in the engine reaching its maximum speed, the throttle cable housing may need to be adjusted to make sure that you don’t get embarrassed while you are competing with your friends. (Pun Intended)
- So, to ensure the safe installation, make sure that both of the jam nuts (1) and (2) are completely loosened before you attempt to install the throttle cable housing to the frame. Check to ensure that the gas pedal is at the same level as the rear pedal stop (3).
- When you feel resistance when dragging the throttle cable housing toward the rear of the kart, it means that you have found the proper position. It is quite dangerous to continue pulling on the throttle cable housing, so avoid doing that.
- As you tighten the front jam nut (2) against the frame, be careful not to disrupt the cable housing.
A word of caution: If you pull the throttle cable housing beyond the point of resistance, the engine will start revving even if the foot is in the idle position. The car can drive forward after the engine has been started.
- Turn the rear jam nut (1) so that it is snug against the frame.
- After that tighten the front jam nut (2).
- Check that the linkage for the engine’s throttle is in the idle position and that the rear stop on the throttle pedal is engaged.
- Start the engine and raise the back end of the kart so that it is not touching the ground. Stop the engine and start the process over again if the speed of the engine is not at the idle setting.
Caution is advised in the following situation: while the gas pedal is in the “rear” position, the engine should be operating at an idle speed. Depending on the specifics of the situation, improperly changing the throttle might result in personal injury as well as damage to the kart itself. You should seek the assistance of a professional if you are unable to adjust the throttle so that the kart operates properly. Make sure that the end of the cable that controls the throttle does not interfere with the mechanism that controls the throttle, and also make sure that the end of the cable does not come into contact with the ground connection on the engine.