Weird horseshoe clamp on my throttle cable?

[and4ew]

There's this horseshoe-shaped clamp on my throttle cable. Doesn't mount anywhere, is just around the cable. Wondering if its job is to put tension on the cable running inside the sheath. The throttle cable is stiff on my new-to-me yanmar 2gm20f. Could this clamp be the cause? Please see pic.

[Ferrity]

The tech who installed my Beta 43 said that the clamp controls tension on the throttle cable. In fact, one time on the way in for a 50 hour checkup, the throttle wouldn't hold engine RPM. Tech tightened the clamp a bit and all is good.

[AKA-None]

It doesn’t hold tension it increases friction and introduces a wear point

[BillKny]

Clamps like this are very commonly used to add friction ("tension") to a throttle cable. If your throttle is too stiff, loosen the clamp. I adjust the tension so that it is JUST enough to prevent the return spring from reducing the engine speed on its own. If the the trottle holds speed without the clamp, feel free to take it off.

Clamps like this of course add friction, that is exactly the point! I haven't seen any that are cranked so tight they damage the cable with excessive wear before the cable fails in other ways. If there is another way to add friction to your cable feel free to use it, but this is pretty standard.

[jimbunyard]

Yes, it could. The device Morse sells is a 'J' shaped strap. The cable clamp someone's installed serves the same purpose, and could possibly cause damage due to the way it applies pressure to the cable jacket, especially if overtightened. Or it might not.

Loosen the clamp, if the action frees up, good. If not, disconnect the cable at both ends to see where the 'tightness' originates.

[skipgundlach]

Instead of a cable clamp (what you have) ours is a standard throttle cable compressor.

Flat surfaces, relatively wide in area, and a wide turning platen.

Think of a very wide, very small, C-clamp...

[skipgundlach]

Like this:
https://www.amazon.com/SeaStar-Cable.../dp/B000N9VGAG

[skipgundlach]

The bolt attaches from the inside; you adjust pressure by turning the head tighter to the cable. Ours isn't as rounded at the edge of the "j", so I was mistaken about it being a plate; it's curved at the joint to keep it inside the clamp...

[mjsmjsb]

It's like you read my mind. I have spent the last week and a half rewiring my Hunter 31 due to previous owners sloppiness and Hunters. Working right over the engine with a lot of this, I kept staring at this u clamp on the throttle cable, didn't want to touch it but, did any way, loosened it up and nothing fell off anywhere. So I get home tonight and there is the question and the answers. This is great, now I get to go back and check the stiffest throttle cable I have ever used and reinstall if needed. Thank you or asking a great question that I never would have asked.

[oleman]

Throttle control tension should be set by a tension washer assembly.
A cable clamp can also be used in desperation, amazing how an emergency repair becomes permanent and accepted as normal.

[nelsmay]

I had the same experience as Ferrity. Installed a new throttle cable and the RPM kept falling off until the clamp was tightened.