Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Making my own hand throttle kit

TheYonderGod

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I bought a Jeep and joined the forums a few months ago and I saw a lot of recommendations to get a hand throttle so I bought the popular kit on Amazon. I was very disappointed in it, as they have changed the parts that they include (recently?). Now it comes with a different bicycle shifter(aka "hand throttle"). The biggest issue I have is that goes on the right side of the Jeep shifter instead of the left where your thumb and index finger is, and on top of that it's a cheap feeling Ali Express shifter instead of the decent name brand one that they show in the pictures and that I saw in most of the reviews. To make matters worse, I emailed them and after a week of back and forth before they even understood the issue, they blamed it on "the Amazon seller" for not updating the pictures, didn't even offer an apology, and made me go through Amazon to return it. AND THEN, they reported my honest review and had it removed from Amazon for reasons that don't even make sense. There's a few more things I could nitpick, but that's enough of my ranting.

So I started thinking about making my own kit, I will 3d print the throttle and will include all the necessary hardware and high quality instructions. I can also do custom colors and I could even modify the shape or how/where it mounts if you have any preferences.

Today I make my first prototype with a file for a bicycle shifter that somebody shared on Thinigiverse, but I will either be modifying it or designing a new one from scratch because it's the wrong side, just like the main problem I had with the Teraflex kit, and I need to make the mount smaller to fit my shifter. I was also thinking about other possibilities like maybe it could bolt to the side of the center console next to the transfer case shifter, or maybe up by the steering wheel, or anywhere else.

I will make a thread in the classified section when I am ready to sell them, this is just to get an idea if anyone is interested before I buy some bulk cables, housing, etc.
Please let me know if you have any ideas on how it could be better, i.e. more ergonomic or convenient to operate, etc. Longer lever? Bigger handle kind of like an airplane throttle? Mount it somewhere else?
What would you consider to be a fair price for this? I'm not trying to make a 10x profit so I'm sure I could do a lot less than $50 even considering that shipping will be more expensive for me. I would charge a little extra for special colors like glow in the dark or if you want custom modifications after I finalize my design.




Again these pictures are just my first proof of concept.
20250114_183832.jpg20250114_211736.jpg
 
The obvious place for the lever is high under the shift knob so you can work it with your finger while your palm is still on the shifter knob. I have an older Terraflex. Works great.

Thanks for your feedback, I haven't actually wheeled with it yet so I was wondering if it might be better to mount it somewhere solid instead.
 
If you're printing it... you can prototype different shapes easily. I've never used a hand throttle, but I would think (baseless opinion inbound) that having a place to index your hand/fingers other than the shift knob would be useful. I'm thinking sort of a t-handle for your fingers, where one finger operates the lever and the others just grip.

You could almost approach it as printing a whole shift knob, but with throttle functionality. Functional and aesthetic.

You should make some for the JL crowd that fits up to auto shifters. :ROFLMAO:

I really enjoy 3D design, but my printer crapped out a couple of years ago. I made a lot of original, very useful devices for my F150... rather than post them here, I just snapped some photos for the 3d printing thread.
 
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I’ve always thought the perfect one would be like a trigger that you can pull up as your hands on the gearshift knob.

They really do work off road.
 
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I’ve always thought the perfect one would be like a trigger that you can pull up as your hands on the gearshift knob.

They really do work off road.

Exactly! I had this Hurst shifter in a C3 Corvette. Reverse is up to the left on the M21 4-speed, and this lever was the lockout.

View attachment 586360

hmmm I could probably make something like that. Is it a momentary throttle just like a normal gas pedal? Not a set it and leave it (kinda works like a cruise control) like a bike shifter throttle?
 
I think with a hand throttle you want set & forget. For the shifter above, it would be pull up to increase revs, push down to lower revs.

In my shifter, it was a lockout to prevent accidentally shifting into reverse. Pulling up allowed the gate to R to open. A spring in the knob pushed the lever down when released… however, while I was changing the knob out one day, the spring shot out of the t-top and into low Earth orbit. Gravity was enough to return the lever after that.

I type all of this to say… you could probably friction-fit the lever to stay where you leave it. Or optionally, clearance the lever shaft more and add a spring for auto-return. You could do both with the same/similar designs.

EDIT: for added difficulty… you could include a twist-lock feature to prevent accidental throttle engagement. Push down and twist, and the lever stays as-is until you clock it back to the 3/9 position.
 
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Actually with a manual you’re going to want to be able to move the throttle Offroad- At least I did

Winching may be another story

This may get argued a little bit back-and-forth

I used a bicycle shifter- took the guts out

It was invaluable backing up a hill and in really slow traffic also
 
I think with a hand throttle you want set & forget. For the shifter above, it would be pull up to increase revs, push down to lower revs.

In my shifter, it was a lockout to prevent accidentally shifting into reverse. Pulling up allowed the gate to R to open. A spring in the knob pushed the lever down when released… however, while I was changing the knob out one day, the spring shot out of the t-top and into low Earth orbit. Gravity was enough to return the lever after that.

I type all of this to say… you could probably friction-fit the lever to stay where you leave it. Or optionally, clearance the lever shaft more and add a spring for auto-return. You could do both with the same/similar designs.

EDIT: for added difficulty… you could include a twist-lock feature to prevent accidental throttle engagement. Push down and twist, and the lever stays as-is until you clock it back to the 3/9 position.
I wonder if someone could use an old hand choke cable assembly?
 
Actually with a manual you’re going to want to be able to move the throttle Offroad- At least I did... Winching may be another story
So while we're dreaming... one hand throttle that does both. Maybe a lock collar or a 180 twist can give you cruise control.

...just don't tell the NHTSA.
 
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I wonder if someone could use an old hand choke cable assembly?

Its been done- basically you are making an old tractor throttle.

Extreme Terrain (I think) has sold a kit for years

I like less restriction - free moving and non fixed to avoid TPS codes
 
Its been done- basically you are making an old tractor throttle.

Extreme Terrain (I think) has sold a kit for years

I like less restriction - free moving and non fixed to avoid TPS codes
I like the push pull of a choke cable but I think they are all on or all off,I could be wrong.
 
The obvious place for the lever is high under the shift knob so you can work it with your finger while your palm is still on the shifter knob. I have an older Terraflex. Works great.

That’s where I would want mine. I’ll be interested in a hand throttle! I like the custom color ideas
 
I like the push pull of a choke cable but I think they are all on or all off,I could be wrong.

You’re going to be moving the throttle as much as you want to with one of those

Basically you’re creating an agricultural throttle

I’m not saying you can’t figure out a fixed position either way but I don’t know that you’d want to do that

Choke cable’s moved the choke assembly and not the accelerator linkage like these
 
Nobody is gonna be Jerry's advocate and just tell you to learn to modulate your foot better?

Fine, I will. That's what I did

Or not move your foot better which is really the key to keep from bouncing the throttle
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator