6 replies to this topic

[i3670]

1275cc

Late 1988 model (owner of 3 years)

 

Been having an issue with my throttle sticking during longer journeys. Quite annoying when changing gear a redlights. I've had the issue before and thought it was just the pedal being a little rusty which it is so I just used some WD40 to lube it up which seemed to work. Yesterday, the sticking was worse than ever before so I checked the engine bay and saw what can be seen in the attached image. It almost looks like some previous owner has used an angle grinder on the exhaust manifold to make room for the throttle cable or that the throttle cabe has over time worn away on it.

 

What can I do to fix this? Just replacing the cable doesn't seem like it will solve it.

Attached Files

•  throttle.jpg   48.25K   10 downloads

[Lord Oversill]

Hi, looks like the spacer is missing between your carburettor and inlet manifold. Maybe it’s been removed due to a different air filter?

The spacer allows free movement of your throttle spindle amongst other things.

You may need different mounting studs, which I’m sure you’ll find on the Mini Spares website.

[whistler]

As mentioned it looks like the sapcer is missing and that is causing the cable plate to be nearer to the manifold. If a thin spacer plate is needed then Minispares do a 6.5mm one. That is what I use. https://www.minispar...vacuum-take-off

Edited by whistler, 08 August 2026 - 02:21 PM.

[i3670]

There shouldn't be an issue with the air filter. I have one of the K&N cone filters. I'll try to source the spacer plate from somewhere since the one on Minispares is out of stock. Would this be same kind of plate? https://www.minispor...-insulator.html

 

[Lord Oversill]

Looks good to me , as long as you are on a HIF 44. With a gasket either side of the spacer.

That will give you enough clearance for things to work properly.

 

I have always put some grease on the cable where it passes through the bulkhead, which seems to make things a bit smoother. WD40 is Ok but doesn’t last so long.

 

Good luck with Mini Sport.

Edited by Lord Oversill, Yesterday, 08:40 AM.

[sledgehammer]

+1 good luck with minisport ,

I changed a hs2 for a hif 38 , and had all sorts of problems with clearance ,
 

Esp with the throttle linkage , with the wider spacer ,

I moved the engine forward slightly with an adjustable top dog bone link on head ,

 

I also had to fit a different ally heat shield , due to the fuel started boiling when stationary ,

my inlet was non standard & stuck out more .

Hope yours is easier to cure .

 

[croc7]

I made the same modification to the intake manifold on my car and the throttle has full travel without interference from the cable-not an issue.  But to address the sticking throttle issue, fought by me for too long, maybe this might help you.  Tried both HIF cables for mini and metro, they would last a couple of months, then back to the same annoying problem.  I even bought various brackets and bicycle cables to try but I think that I may have finally found the solution.  The car was originally RHD but I changed it to LHD.  In doing so, I didn't realize that relocating the throttle pedal assembly position from the right side to the left was critical to smooth throttle operation and that I had installed it a bit inboard.  The result was the very top of the pedal assy, where the cable attaches, was cocked slightly to the left and offset a bit from the opening in the firewall causing the cable itself to ride hard against the brass tip of the cable sheath.  There were two things that I did to fix the problem of my sticking throttle, 1.)  Relocated the throttle pedal assy to better align with the cable opening in the firewall (an obvious fix) and 2.) Installed a MGB throttle cable, PN 331-476, available from Moss Motors.  This cable has a different tip, stainless steel maybe, and seems to be less susceptible to wear from the abrasiveness of the wound cable like the brass one is.  I've driven the car about 2000 miles with the new throttle cable with zero problems.  Hope this helps.

Edited by croc7, Yesterday, 11:26 PM.