Blacksburg Hokie

on my '61. I bought a new cable in September. A month or so after that, my tach stopped working. Just got around to getting it repaired. After reinstalling the tach, it's not working. I know the generator is turning the cable. I looked at the end of the cable that goes to the tach, and I see that it is torn up. So I am assuming the tach won't work because the fraid cable can't fit in the back of the tach properly. (I can get some movement in the tach if I turn the back magnet housing behind the tach with my hand).

The end of the cable should be smooth, shouldn't it?

Subfixer

You are correct. That cable is shot.

Plasticman

And maybe the tach input as well.

Blacksburg Hokie

I just had the tach repaired and installed it today so I think the input is ok. But what would cause the tip of the cable to get so badly chewed up, especially since it is relatively new?

Pilot Dan

Yes, that cable indicates a binding condition. One thing I came accross a while ago with a new tach cable I purchased for my 64 was that I could barely turn it by hand (new right out of the bag). So, I took it apart and had to widen (slightly) the ends of the casing to get it to turn smoothly. I wonder if you just got a bad cable from the get go. Pilot Dan

rongold

Both ends of the tach cable should be square, not smooth. You said that you "reinstalled the tach". Why was it removed ??? Was it seized, and you had it repaired ??? The only thing that would usually rip up the cable as shown. is a seized tachometer. Are you sure the cable was OK when you reinstalled the tach ???

Blacksburg Hokie

I had the tach repaired as it stopped working. Apparently the spring inside broke. I have no idea if the cable was good or bad before I reconnected it today.

Frankie the Fink

I've never seen that before. Are you positive that it was fully
seated in the tach and tightened down well ?
Clearly the generator was cranking turns to the cable but the far (tach) end
got hung up somehow.

I would get a new cable and hook up the generator end to a variable speed drill
and slowly begin revving it up while observing the tach operation and 'feeling' if
anything is binding or kinked. If the end gets chewed up again I'd be calling
my tach restorer...

Blacksburg Hokie

I was able to file and cut away the strands of the cable that were fraid. It took some doing but I was able to get it to work. From the generator end of the cable, I had to push the cable in so that it would connect to the tach. It worked. I only hope it doesn't chew it up.

Do you think the tip of this cable is too thin now that I cut away some strands of cable?

Frankie the Fink

If the tach spins up you are probably OK but I'd watch it for a while. A new cable from Zip is $22 and I'd hate to see you tear up your tach or get metal strands in the gauge because of the frayed existing cable...

toms silver 60

Make sure drill is turning in the correct direction, believe I read somewhere that it is CCW, double check it.

Sure is a PITA to get up in there. Good luck.