never stranded... before (throttle link)

Adams911 · 10-16-2013, 09:59 AM

On the last really nice day of summer here I took my '73 Targa out for a drive. We were a mile off the main road on a one lane dirt lane when the gas pedal went slack and dropped to idle. The 911 has never let me down after 20 years so I was surprised by the stranding.

The short version of the story is that I was able to make a cord by cutting out the hem out of a shop rag and tie up the throttle linkage and hold rev to 4,000 so we could drive back to the main road. Thanks to Haggerty, I was loaded on a flat bed and home by dark.

I had never even seen the throttle link before because it is hidden in the tunnel and covered by a boot. My was rotted in half and now replaced, thanks to our host. The new version is cased in steel so, if and when it does break, it will still hold the linkage together. My car has a hand throttle so it was a little fussy to replace but persistence won in the end.

So here is yet another warning to all the older 911's out there, replace your throttle link before it strands you, mine only lasted 40 years...

Steve

steely · 10-16-2013, 11:19 AM

congrats to you and your perseverance. Can you tell us what is in the pic? Is that a tunnel throttle linkage bushing? Because it sounds like you replaced the hard linkage with a shop rag hem, so I was expecting to see some linkage. Is/was it a linkage connector of some sort? Thanks

Charles Freeborn · Charles Freeborn's Garage

Yep, that's a little "tick, tick, tick" part. I've got a replacement ready to go into my car next repair session. On my "74 it's located outside, up above the transmission cross brace, so it's a little more of a project than on yours.
It's called a throttle coupling. Don't recall the part # right off the top, but it's in the PET.
-C

Jack Stands · Jack Stands's Garage

Boy, that brings back some memories - had one let go on a 68 911L back in the late 70s! I'm surprised that any of these original ones are still around, but if you do have one, definitely replace it NOW.

The new piece comes with an outer metal cage that allows you to limp home if it does break.