How to Replace the Throttle Cable Assembly on a Ryobi Trimmer

Throttle cable unstable? It's time to face the fix. Whether you are a legendary landscaper or a weekend weed whacker, eReplacementParts.com provides the parts, procedures and facts you need to fearlessly fix what fails you.

The throttle cable is the linkage between the throttle trigger and the carburetor. A common problem with the throttle cable is that the small connectors (on both ends) can become fatigued and break. It's also somewhat common for the cable itself to become kinked or otherwise damaged during use. Replacing the throttle cable is easy to do.

This article provides step-by-step instructions for removing and installing the throttle cable assembly on a Ryobi string trimmer.

Let's get started.

  REMOVING THE THROTTLE CABLE [top] 1. Disconnect the accessory.

Loosen the adjustment knob.

Depress the locking tabs on the accessory.

Slide the accessory out of the upper housing.

  2. Separate the two halves of the throttle housing.

Remove the (5) retaining screws from the throttle housing.

Remove the (1) anti-rotation screw from the throttle housing.

Separate the two halves of the throttle housing.

  3. Remove the throttle trigger.

Lift the throttle trigger assembly away from the lower housing.

Disconnect the throttle cable from the throttle trigger.

Remove the throttle cable from the lower housing.

  4. Remove the rear cover.

Remove the (4) screws from the rear cover.

Remove the rear cover from the engine.

  5. Remove the throttle cable.

Remove the (2) screws from the carburetor assembly.

Remove the choke plate and choke assembly from the carburetor.

Disconnect the throttle cable from the carburetor (this is accomplished using a lift-and-tilt motion).

Thread (push) the throttle linkage (on the carburetor-side of the trimmer) through the large opening on the carburetor mounting plate.

Pull the throttle cable (from the handle-side of the trimmer) through the engine housing and away from the engine.

    INSTALLING THE NEW THROTTLE CABLE [top] 6. Install the new throttle cable.

Pass the throttle cable through the openings in the engine housing.

Pass the throttle cable linkage (on the end) through the large hole in the carburetor mounting plate.

Note that there is a small slit along the bottom of the plastic tube on the carburetor mounting plate (just under the fuel tank). Tuck/slide the METAL portion of the throttle cable (not the cable housing) into this slit.

Push the cable housing into the plastic tube.

  REASSEMBLING THE UNIT [top] 7. Reattach the carburetor (and throttle cable).

Attach the new throttle cable to the throttle linkage on the carburetor.

Install the carburetor mounting screws onto the choke plate and lever.

Secure the carburetor (and choke plate) to the engine with the (2) screws. Note that the choke lever and the wavy washer must be properly aligned before tightening the upper screw.

  8. Reinstall the rear cover.

Reinstall the rear cover onto the engine.

Secure the rear cover with the (4) screws.

  9. Reinstall the trigger (and lower throttle cable).

Pass the new throttle cable through the opening on the lower half of the trigger housing.

Align the throttle cable with the groove inside the trigger housing.

Connect the throttle linkage to the throttle trigger. Proper orientation is important: The throttle linkage should sit on top of the trigger assembly when the two components are placed into the handle.

Install the trigger spring onto the throttle trigger. The hooked portion of the spring should wrap around the trigger (from the bottom); the coils of the spring should align with the trigger mounting hole.

Partially install the trigger and spring assembly onto the mounting post in the lower housing.

Use a screwdriver to pull the trigger spring into position behind the plastic tab in the throttle housing.

Press the trigger assembly fully into position within the housing.

  10. Reinstall the top half of the throttle housing.

Verify that the throttle trigger, spring and cable are neatly aligned within the housing.

Install the top half of the throttle housing.

Secure the top half of the throttle housing with the (5) screws.

  11. Reinstall the anti-rotation screw.

Install the anti-rotation screw. Note that there are two different mounting holes on the metal drive shaft housing. The anti-rotation screw should be installed into the hole that is closest to the trimmer's engine.

Secure the anti-rotation screw.

You don't have to leverage your savings to level your lawns. As you just learned, repairing your own equipment is easy when you follow our step-by-step guides. Not only did you restore trimmer functionality at a fraction of the cost of replacement; you have taken the edge off of future repairs, wherever you may find them.

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