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What does this actuator do?

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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 03:27 PM
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Question What does this actuator do?

I've seen this on a couple fords. its located on the driver side of the carb and looks like it pushes the throttle or something. as a young guy, none of my buddys know what it does. its not cruise control, im 99% sure of that. if anyone could give me an explanation of what it is and if its okay to leave deleted, that would be awesome thanks. ill attach a photo of what im talking about.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 03:38 PM
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It's called a throttle positioner and is used to compensate for auxiliary draws on the motor at idle like AC etc.
Here's a more sophisticated version with a solenoid and an explanation how it works.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 03:38 PM
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That looks like a dashpot solenoid. What it probably does is activate when your AC compressor is running, bumping up the idle so the engine won't stall.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 03:48 PM
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it depends on what you're working on. It could be a simple dashpot to keep the throttle plate from fully closing during deceleration. I think I see a wire on yours, indicating a solenoid that either opens the throttle a little more when the A/C is engaged or it could be an anti-diesel solenoid with fully closes the throttle plates when the ignition is turned off. If your's is working it will either come on with the ignition or when the AC is turned on (assuming everything is working correctly)...
 
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 04:08 PM
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that totally makes sense guys, thanks! the truck is a 79 f250 ranger 400ci, has a/c. makes sense that it would adjust idle for when the a/c kicks on. that power wire coming off of it goes to nothing, ill look around the a/c compressor for the other end of the pigtail and try get it to work.
 

Last edited by ConnorR; Oct 11, 2021 at 04:11 PM.
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 04:09 PM
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thanks for including that redroad, helps alot!
 
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 04:26 PM
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Likely idle solenoid, let’s the throttle close completely to stop the run on 400s are fond of at shutdown. Wire should go to the right side of firewall.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/848525-throtle-stop-solenoid.html
 
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Old Oct 12, 2021 | 01:01 PM
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Had one on my original non-A/C F100, some are used to make sure the throttle plates are only open when key is on, to prevent dieseling.

it props the plates open just enough to idle and they slam shut when the key is off, making sure the engine doesn’t run on.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2021 | 05:12 PM
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It looks to be some type of double duty solenoid. One part electric and other part vacuum. 2 adjustments on it. One at the solenoid and and other slides the whole base. It would take a set of shop manuals to figure it out exactly If I had to guess I would say it maybe a form of slowing throttle closing to prevent backfires.
 
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