The Ghia Shoppe

So here's the problem. I have in mind a throttle linkage for Kadron carbs that is simple, very lightweight, immune to the effects of engine expansion and has as few moving parts as possible. I think an all-cable system can do it.

These cables will essentially be bicycle hand-brake style cables. I've collected some parts to start. From a local bike shop we have a pair of 18" sheaths, some ends and two adjustors.

The idea is to have the single stock cable actuate separate cables running to each carb. The carbs will each require a return spring, a bracket to hold the sheath and a custom throttle arm to attach the cable end to. The return spring will also solve an issue I have with Kadrons in general in that any portion of the thottle linkage not under tension can rattle (move) if any play at all develops. Stock Kadrons do not have a return spring. This system will not have that problem. Take a look at this Berg linkage. The spring is on the center arm and everything from there to the carbs is free to rattle.

For stability, the throttle cable tube must not be allowed to slide in and out of the shroud. My solution is to fit a short length of fuel-line over the tube. I used 1/4" line and bored out the inside a little so that it was both a tight fit over the tube and also into the shroud. The washer keeps everything from going completely inside the shroud. Of course the return springs will also maintain some tension on the cable and a small amount of forward pressure on the throttle tube.

What I'm having trouble with is designing some sort of mechanism to pull the two carb cables with the single stock cable. I have a vague idea of some sort of slider that attaches to the stock throttle tube. The OD of this brass pipe was slightly larger than the ID of the throttle tube. So I cut a grove lengthwise in one end which allowed the brass pipe to compress enought to fit into the throttle tube.

What I need then is some sort of mechanism connecting the single stock cable to the two carburetor cables and that will also accept the sheath ends. Any ideas?

Wednesday:  I posted this page to the STF and to Ramva yesterday. Turns out lots of people have ideas! One of the most interesting observations is that several makes of motorcycles (Ducati, BMW opposed twins, the Mutoguzzi V twins) have 1-into-2 cable arrangements whose hardward might be directly applicable to this linkage. I need to look into that.

In the meantime, I have puttered around a bit more with the material (scrap) at hand. I am using a total throttle cable travel of 1-1/4 inches. The brass tube I'm playing with is an obvious weak link. I think I could bend it just by thinking about Yuri Geller.