Adjusting Idle Speed?

[Diesel]

How do you guys go about adjusting the idle speed down? I am guessing by changing the length on the throttle rod? And changing the length shouldn't hurt travel to full throttle, right?

[AHineman]

This is the low idle stop. Adjust it.

You may have to mess around with everything to be able to hit that stop and still get full throttle travel, but it's not too bad.

[1992gen1_fan]

I ran out of low idle screw so I ended up indexing the throttle shaft to compensate. 1 notch did it.

[Diesel]

I think I just have the wrong length on my throttle rod. Wouldn't adjusting that index the throttle to a lower rpm?

[Tacoclaw]

Yeah, in the same way that black-taping a brake light wire back together would work. It'll function, but it's not the right way.

[Diesel]

Taco, you just shamed me into doing it the right way!? Adjust the idle speed down with the screw doesn't require "tuning" anything else does it?

[Tacoclaw]

Not unless you've got a short patience, then you'll need to extend it greatly.

I said what I said but I also controlled my idle with the linkage for better than two years. Even after Hiney broke it.

If your timing is bumped or you don't have the perfect screwdriver and wrench then this is gonna suck. I bent a 10mm wrench 90* right at the box end from the front to bust the lock nut, and used a pair of needle nose pliers to turn the stud. I had to go in between the intake shelf and AFC, so it was small increments.

I'd just adjust the linkage.

[Diesel]

Lol. I will try my obstruction S-shape 10mm and a super long screw driver. I just checked and the the throttle is stopped on the screw so I know the screw needs to be pulled back. Why do I feel like this part is more tedious than the whole injection pump pulling and reinstallation!?

[cmann250]

I've used a prick punch and a hammer to loosen the nut and a long screw driver thread it out.

If you can, thread the screw all the way out and reinstall it backwards so the job is easier next time.

[AHineman]

It's really not that bad. Just make sure you get the lock nut tight or it'll end up backing out while you're driving and it'll be like cruise control you can't turn off. Don't ask me how I know.

[Diesel]

I used a flat face punch to gently tap the nut loose. Spun the screw back with a needle nose. Tightened back up with the punch. Didn't get it crazy tight but just tight. Now question is: I hear of people using small digital tachs on their VE engines? Tiny Tach? Any input on using that to get my final idle setting perfect.

[AHineman]

I've got an optical tach, but I think you can tell where it needs to be by ear just fine.

[Diesel]

Yeah sounds good to me. I'm done!

[Tacoclaw]

I bump it up until it's charging and I can see out of the mirrors. Right now it drops out of charge with the AC running but it's winter so who cares?

[lz69]

It's really not that bad. Just make sure you get the lock nut tight or it'll end up backing out while you're driving and it'll be like cruise control you can't turn off. Don't ask me how I know.

I had the opposite problem where the idle screw backed out on a test drive. I let off the gas to turn around at a rest stop and had the motor shutdown killing my power steering and brakes...

As for adjusting the idle screw I use one of these things. The hooked tip fits perfect into the little hole in the idle screw and back of the blade turns the slot. So much easier then a screwdriver when you have the auto and cruise control linkages in the way.

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Fretting/Saws_and_slots/Fret_Slot_Cleaning_Tool.html