Throttle Linkage Joint
This is the junction point where the end of the cable attaches to the throttle lever and which allows rotation. Play here swallows part of the command, while binding here causes the actuator to waste force. A significant share of repeatability problems in speed control is solved at this single point.
Two opposite defects are looked for in the joint. The first is play: wear between the pin and the hole causes the lever not to follow immediately when the actuator changes direction. This turns directly into hysteresis. The second is binding: rust, dryness or a fastener fitted at the wrong angle makes the joint stiff; the actuator draws more current, and on the GS740-3P this can approach the current limit threshold.
The correct checking method is simple. Detach the cable and move the throttle lever with your finger from idle to fully open and back. The lever must move easily with one hand without catching, and must return to idle under its spring when released. Mechanics that fail this test are not fixed by any electronic adjustment.
When making the connection, the angle at which the cable meets the lever should not change too much over the working range. A connection at a large angle changes the effective lever arm as the lever rotates and takes the relation between potentiometer and speed away from linearity.
Context in which this term is used: Electronic speed and throttle control on a diesel engine