Sticky Throttle Problem

[SC74]

This problem all started when I unhooked my throttle cable from the throttle lever so that I could remove the cable bracket. I had to remove the bracket so that I could fab another bracket to mount to the same 2 bolts that the throttle bracket does.

I hooked the cable back up to it's "snap" on the lever and it has a very stiff spot in it at idle. If you punch it to get past it, it is smooth, but won't return all the way back to idle - stays up around 1,200 RPM and it idles around 600-700ish. I can manually get it back down to idle by pushing the lever under the hood with my hand, but it won't return under its own power.

I snapped the cable off and it is smooth. When I used my hand to adjust the throttle (which also opens the air butterfly) it was very sticky in the closed (or idle) position. I worked it back and forth a few times and it may be a LITTLE better, but not much - still won't return to idle.

I never did anything to effect this part. All I did was remove the bracket that sits completely separate from the butterfly lever.

Any ideas? It didn't do this before so I have obviously effected something but don't know how.