Inexpensive Throttle by Nick Scholtes

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="043785a3.jpg"> <div> <B>                                                                  </B><B>Inexpensive Throttle  by Nick Scholtes </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                                                                                                                                 </B></FONT><B> </B><B>by Nick Scholtes</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Nick Scholtes</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="270b1960.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#444444" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>                            </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                                                           </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Nickothrottle</B></FONT><B>  </B></div> <div> <B>                               </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>My hand doesn't work very well with most PPG throttles available today. Most throttles have the pivot point down below the hand, and because of that you need to use your 4th and 5th fingers to squeeze the throttle. I don't find this to be very comfortable. I flew a DK for 5 years, and the DK uses a throttle that is more like a "trigger", and it uses your index and middle finger to squeeze it. I found it to be MUCH more comfortable than the throttle on my current machine. However, to purchase a throttle like that is quite expensive, in the neighborhood of $125. </B></div> <div> <B>I set out to build my own throttle. The goals were simple: It had to have a "trigger" actuator, it had to be comfortable (for my hand anyway!), it had to be rugged, easy to build, lightweight, made from cheap and easy-to-find materials, it had to have an integral kill switch and PTT, and the kill switch had to be positioned so that it wouldn't be easy to push during launch. Lastly, it had to be easy to repair and duplicate in case it got stepped on or somehow destroyed. I believe my design actually meets all of these criteria! </B></div> <div> <B>The result is pictured below. I estimate the cost of the throttle to be less than $10 (labor not included). </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                                                                                                       <IMG SRC="271cc590.jpg" border=0 width="460" height="345" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The major components can be obtained at Home Depot. They are 3/4" PVC pipe and fittings. I paid $0.16 for the end caps, $0.25 for the "tee". I had a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe laying around, and I also had a piece of 1/2" PVC, so I didn't pay for those, but a 10' piece is about $2. I also had a piece of 1/8" aluminum flat laying around, but you can buy a piece of that for about $2.50 to form the trigger itself. The expensive part is the switches, both from Radio Shack and both for about $1.50 each. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                                                                                                                               <IMG SRC="2723eef0.jpg" border=0 width="318" height="239" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>                                                                                                                          <IMG SRC="274c4540.jpg" border=0 width="452" height="340" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                                                                                                           <IMG SRC="275c1510.jpg" border=0 width="449" height="337" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                The most difficult part is forming the throttle trigger from the aluminum. I simply cut it out using my band saw, and then I shaped it with a little drum sander on the Dremel tool.</B></div> <div> <B>                                 I used a nylon clevis from an R/C airplane to connect to the inner part of the throttle trigger.  An R/C pushrod that uses a cable on the inside is used to connect to the carburetor.  </B></div> <div> <B>                                                                                                                         <IMG SRC="276cb580.jpg" border=0 width="459" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                             As a protective outer sheath that encloses the throttle pushrod and all the wires, I used red fuel tubing that I purchased at a Sear's Hardware store.</B></div> <div> <B>                                                                                                                                                   I chose red because it matches my machine.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                                                                                                       <IMG SRC="277ca580.jpg" border=0 width="458" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                                            </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B>Back to Inventions</B></U></A><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B> </B></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                                                                       </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>