Tach - just went out..

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Feb 23, 2011 | 11:23 AM

ultimix

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 449

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From: Greensboro, nc usa NC

Tach - just went out..

Driving my 71 convertible in work today... when I looked down - the tach went out.

Any ideas on the first place to look??

thanks
MArk

Feb 23, 2011 | 11:40 AM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultimix

...Any ideas on the first place to look?...

Drive cable.

Feb 23, 2011 | 11:45 AM

71 Green 454

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 6,400

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From: Tampa Florida

Gears.....I just replaced my distributor shaft and gear.

Feb 23, 2011 | 11:59 AM

gq82

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 1999

Posts: 4,930

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From: AnyTown NJ

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Mike

Drive cable.

Lost mine a number of years ago and it turned out to be the cable. Check that you don't have a 90 degree bend off the dist.

Feb 23, 2011 | 01:29 PM

joewill

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 4,458

Likes: 331

From: Indy Indiana

1. distributor gear
2. tach cable itself
3. cable came loose and is disconnected
4. Tach itself went out.

1,2 and 3 are easy... if 4, then dash has to come out.. yuk...

Feb 23, 2011 | 01:42 PM

71 Green 454

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 6,400

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From: Tampa Florida

If you disconnect the cable at the distributor and turn it with your fingers you should see the tach operate. If it does, then it's probably worn gears at the input, main shaft, or in my case, both.

Feb 23, 2011 | 05:00 PM

Alan 71

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From: Westminster Maryland

Hi 71G454,
Do you turn it clock-wise or counter; and can you spin it fast enough with your fingers to get the needle to move?
Regards,
Alan

Feb 23, 2011 | 06:29 PM

71 Green 454

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 6,400

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From: Tampa Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan 71

Hi 71G454,
Do you turn it clock-wise or counter; and can you spin it fast enough with your fingers to get the needle to move?
Regards,
Alan

Hi Alan, I don't remember which direction, but it doesn't take that much to see the needle move. I can lean over while turning the cable and see the needle move.
In my case, both gears were worn so I had to replace the shaft and connector gear.

Dave

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Feb 23, 2011 | 07:21 PM

Alan 71

Team Owner

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From: Westminster Maryland

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the info update!
Regards,
Alan

Feb 23, 2011 | 08:32 PM

#10

...Roger...

Race Director

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 16,528

Likes: 53

From: Dayton, Ohio

Sometimes the cable is slightly short and after a period of time the square end rounds off and the tach stops.
Another if your a lucky person idea, is the brass wears and the 2 gears get away from each other and the tach stops.

Feb 23, 2011 | 09:45 PM

#11

my 76 ray

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 2,520

Likes: 11

From: Hinckley OH

I attached a reversable drill to my cable to test it on my '74. Run the drill in reverse.

Feb 23, 2011 | 10:56 PM

#12

ultimix

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 449

Likes: 0

From: Greensboro, nc usa NC

thanks - will check these out

Mark

Feb 23, 2011 | 11:41 PM

#13

madeintheusa

Intermediate

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 44

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From: ansonia ohio

The 74 i just got the wife had a bad tach drive cable 20 bucks and its back to life.

Feb 24, 2011 | 12:17 AM

#14

azza2u

Racer

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 310

Likes: 25

From: Brisbane Australia

If it is the cable make sure you get a good solid replacement one. The PO of my car had thrown in one with a nylon end where it goes in the dissy and it sheared off after about a month.

Feb 26, 2011 | 02:27 PM

#15

ultimix

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 449

Likes: 0

From: Greensboro, nc usa NC

Looks to be the cable - when I took it off from the distributor the end was all uncoiled and looked to be spun out.. the part that spins in the cable was not together.

Here is the question - which cable do I get with my Mallory distributor?

this one?

http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductDetails/ProductDetails.aspx?pid={76061DF4-4906-44D0-9E5C-D03EE4351448}&gid={27172F36-D05C-4C67-91AA-D7AD47169E34}&pname=69-74+Tachometer+%26+77-82+Upper+Speedometer+Cable&Referer=&Alia s=&ptct=SGR-SR&CTitle=&

Feb 27, 2011 | 07:25 PM

#16

ultimix

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 449

Likes: 0

From: Greensboro, nc usa NC

Anyone??

Feb 27, 2011 | 08:24 PM

#17

Paul L

Team Owner

Joined: Aug 1999

Posts: 30,995

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From: Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by ...Roger...

Roger,
Been there, seen that (cable on top). Ever wonder why GM put a ferrule at the tach end so you just can't pull that inner cable out and replace it from the distrib end?

Feb 27, 2011 | 08:27 PM

#18

ultimix

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 449

Likes: 0

From: Greensboro, nc usa NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul 74

Roger,
Been there, seen that (cable on top). Ever wonder why GM put a ferrule at the tach end so you just can't pull that inner cable out and replace it from the distrib end?

I was wondering that myself.. how to get the tach connect end of the cable through the firewall..

Feb 27, 2011 | 08:40 PM

#19

Paul L

Team Owner

Joined: Aug 1999

Posts: 30,995

Likes: 99

From: Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultimix

I was wondering that myself.. how to get the tach connect end of the cable through the firewall..

You pull out (and destroy, hard to avoid) the old tach grommet and buy a new one along with the new cable.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...s=tach+grommet

Feb 28, 2011 | 09:51 PM

#20

ultimix

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 449

Likes: 0

From: Greensboro, nc usa NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul 74

You pull out (and destroy, hard to avoid) the old tach grommet and buy a new one along with the new cable.

http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...s=tach+grommet

Thanks - sorry getting both - but how would you run the cable though the gromment with the metal end already installed on the cable or will that be easy to figure out once I get both parts??

Mark

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