Hand throttle

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The hand throttle has the same function as a gas pedal , but is operated by hand. Hand throttle levers are sometimes used on sports boats, but mostly on tractors . The hand- operated speed controls on the handlebars of motorized two-wheeled vehicles , quads and four-wheeled vehicles for adapting vehicles for the physically handicapped, as well as the speed control on electric scooters or electric vehicles , are also referred to as " hand throttle " .

Hand throttle on tractors

Some older tractors only have a hand throttle. The main advantage of the hand throttle is that, unlike the gas pedal, it can be fixed in a certain position. That is with tractors z. B. important when the tractor is used as a stationary power source, for example as a drive for an irrigation pump that is driven by the PTO shaft and no driver is sitting on the tractor.

The hand throttle is also used when the tractor is working in the field or on difficult terrain, such as bumpy dirt roads. If the tractor begins to rock due to uneven ground or as a result of the tensile load, this movement would be transmitted to the driver and via his leg to the accelerator pedal, so that the engine speed and thus also the driving speed and the speed of the PTO shaft would constantly change because the pedal would be depressed sometimes more, sometimes less. When working in the field, however, it is important that both a constant speed and a constant PTO shaft speed are maintained, for example to ensure that fertilizer is spread evenly. This is achieved by the driver taking his foot off the accelerator and moving the hand throttle to the desired position; the lever remains fixed in the selected position regardless of the driver's posture.

The hand throttle can be connected to the engine mechanically, via a throttle cable ( Bowden cable ) or a linkage, but also via a potentiometer . In modern tractors, the hand throttle and accelerator pedal are usually coupled, that is, the accelerator pedal changes its position to the extent that the hand throttle is also moved. The hand throttle is usually automatically unlocked on such tractors as soon as the accelerator pedal is pressed so that the speed can be determined again with the foot. In addition, such tractors are often equipped with an additional (electronic) speed controller , which enables the engine speed and the driving speed to be precisely adjusted.

On the road, tractors are commonly driven with the accelerator pedal.