Gas pedal question

[Quick]

Under the "Cheap Thrills" post they talked about the cables connected to the gas pedal and how one has a lot of slack.

Well mine does. The one on the right has alot of slack. They mentioned how if you cut it to match the other one and get a stopper on it, it will improve your truck.

I want to do this but if the truck is made with that slack on the cable then I don't. If anyone has any insight, that would be great.

 

[JDraper]

There shouldn't be any slack there. You just need to make sure that you don't go too far when you take the slack out. I'd adjust it so that the cable is 'almost' out of slack, i.e. don't tighten it so far that you open the butterfly valve. (I'm having trouble coming up with the right words. )

 

[kps36]

I think I said in the other post that this is an old Ranger trick. I tried finding the very good write up I had (couldn't).
Yours apparantly has 2 cables, one of which is the the throttle, the other is the kick-down for your auto tranny. My Ranger had one. What worked for me was wrapping solid copper thick wire around the cable, before the factory tip. Do not cut the tip off.Do not remove the spring, if you have one (Ranger-NO, Explorer-yes). Most guys are using simple tie-wraps (I don't see how). What this does is simply open the throttle quicker, improving acceleration. At first it is noticeable, but it is an illusion, because your pressing like before. Once you get used to the pressure, it becomes less noticeable.
If you have 2 cables you must do the same process with the same amount of wire. Or your tranny will hunt-and-peck all day.
I have done it to my son's Ranger.
IMHO, it is not worth the bother. Just try to get up to the top of the gas-pedal and work with some wire.

 

[jimbo74]

how do you replace that big thing with the cable on the fenderwall? i hd an accident and it was broken...throttle works fine but trany seems to hunt when in OD on freeway

 

[Rhett]

cheap and easy tricks

eheh. This should go on the "cheap and easy tricks" thread..

This was the cheapest performance mod I made to my truck. I took two plastic tie wraps, and secured them around the throttle cable that's attached to the gas pedal. There will be a little bit of extra cable "in front" of where the pedal attaches to the cable. I put the spacers around there. I did this to remove the "play" or "slack", if you will, in the pedal/cable. Before I could grab the gas pedal and move it around about 1/4" before it would start pulling the cable. That's just wrong. I also put the spacer there so that I would not hit my huskyliner when I was flooring it.

The result

My truck immediately had better pep--i.e. as soon as I touch the pedal, it goes. Before I would have to push down about 1/4" before it actually pulled the cable. It opened up the top-end as well, when I floor it. I think before the pedal was actually bottoming out on the liner or floor, the cable was so loose. Effectively raised my top speed from 86 mph to faster than I need to go in an Explorer (100 mph+). I like a firm gas pedal, and this did it for about $0.10.

 

[gt_stang88]

which cable

which cable do I put the spacer on?

 

[Rhett]

You can only do it if you have "play" or looseness in the gas pedal. If your truck's gas pedal is tight and firm to begin with there won't be any room for a spacer. I don't know if all Explorers have the loose gas pedal but mine did, and it's not the feel I like in a pedal.

You can put the spacer on the end of the cable by the pedal. Look under there, and move the pedal a little, and you'll see how it works. The tie wraps (or whatever you want to use as a spacer) can go around the cable there.

 

[Blake D]

so if ther is a LOT of play in the gas but not so much in the other cable, do you still put spacers on both cables? How much is too much?? Do I just need to watch the butteerfly and if it opens at all w/o pressing the peddle then take a spacer off? How do i judge the space for the "drop down gear cable"?
Thanks Blake

 

[Blake D]

Replies?

 

[Jarrett088]

I used a # 3 split-shot (for fishing) on mine. It fit perfectly. I put 1 on each, in front of the lead stop that was on the end of the cable. They both had slack in them. I placed it over the cable and pinched them closed with needle nose pliers. You can use a smaller size depending on the amount of slack. Less than $ .50 at the bait shop.

Tim

 

[mosinman]

Just like Rhett Browning said. This is an easy and great mod. If your cable has extra play in it, this mod will remove the play and give you better,more accurate throttle response. Get down there and look where the cable comes out of the gas pedal and is topped with a metal stud. If you can pull on this a quarter inch or more before feeling tension ( or press the gas pedal), that is too much. Slip a heavy duty cable tie( the kind where you slip one end in the square end and pull to tighten) around your throttle cable at the very end just before the terminating cable stud, but do not completely tighten. Check to make sure there is still a small amount of looseness. The cable tie should not put tension on your throttle cable, just take the place of the slack. If all is well, tighten the baby down and cut off excess tie. ties about 1/4 inch wide worked perfect for me. If you manage to screw up, cut the tie off and try again. If you have lots of play in your thottle cable, you will notice an immediate improvement in throttle response. Takes 5-10 minutes.

 

[Blake D]

Do it over both throttle cable and gear down cable right?

 

[mosinman]

Sorry BlakeD. I have a 99 which only has one cable for the throttle and I don't have my manuals with me. Maybe someone with a 94 can chime in?

 

[Jarrett088]

Yes. I removed the slack from both cables.

Tim