Tachometer Cable Questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 145
Likes: 17
From: Centerton, AR
Tachometer Cable Questions
I've had my 65 convertible for about six months, and the tach seemed to work fine until yesterday.
When I was driving yesterday, I notice that the tach seemed sluggish, then dropped to between 0 and 500 rpms even though I was going about 70 and should have been over 3000 rpms.
I assumed that the cable broke.
So I disconnected it from the tach, and tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge. Then I disconnected it from the distributor side, and it pulled out easily.
There was a ferrule on the distributor side keeping me from pulling it through from the interior.
The tach side did not have the plastic piece that I've seen in other threads. Instead it was just squared off, like the distributor side, but without the ferrule.
The photos below are the distributor side and the tach side, respectively.
The cable wasn't broken. So a few questions come to mind.
1. Was the cable in backwards?
2. What would cause the tach to behave that way if the cable wasn't broken?
Thanks!
John
When I was driving yesterday, I notice that the tach seemed sluggish, then dropped to between 0 and 500 rpms even though I was going about 70 and should have been over 3000 rpms.
I assumed that the cable broke.
So I disconnected it from the tach, and tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge. Then I disconnected it from the distributor side, and it pulled out easily.
There was a ferrule on the distributor side keeping me from pulling it through from the interior.
The tach side did not have the plastic piece that I've seen in other threads. Instead it was just squared off, like the distributor side, but without the ferrule.
The photos below are the distributor side and the tach side, respectively.
The cable wasn't broken. So a few questions come to mind.
1. Was the cable in backwards?
2. What would cause the tach to behave that way if the cable wasn't broken?
Thanks!
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
On this topic I'll never forget my tach drive gear gave up and, rather maddeningly, sent shavings down the distributor and locked it up. Makes me think I should have a look at time. Sorry this doesn't help the OP directly, but it is a word of warning.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 145
Likes: 17
From: Centerton, AR
Thanks!
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 196
From: Wilton Ca.
Hate to say this but I'm betting on the gear drive going south which will ruin the shaft as well.. If so, I recommend sending it out to Lars (he's a forum member) for repair. He's extremely knowledgeable and unbelievably low cost. He can also spot other potential issues AND dial it in to work perfectly for your particular application. 
Gary
Gary
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 38,360
Likes: 2,085
From: California
Yes guys do forget to lube the gear drives, but
That tach side plastic side should be really square and not with rounded off edges that would or could slip giving you your symptoms. Usually when the gear goes, you just end up broken, slightly differing symptoms than you have related. My laptop screen is going out, so I can't get a good view of your pictures!
