Need tach tech help, please
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
Need tach tech help, please
My tach (1970) was working only on occasion. So I snaked my hand up to the back of it and noticed the cable is NOT secured to the tach.....jus' kinda stuck in there and barely hanging. I can pull it out and put it back in with my fingers. Is there a threaded ring, retainer clip, or something else that mine is missing? As always, thanks in advance guys. Lee
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 39
From: Fremont CA
The spring clip on the back of the tach holds the cable housing on. You should be able to compress the clip and remove the cable housing. You should be able to slide housing back on without having to deal with the clip. I would start looking for a broken inner cable or distributor drive gear problems.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
The spring clip on the back of the tach holds the cable housing on. You should be able to compress the clip and remove the cable housing. You should be able to slide housing back on without having to deal with the clip. I would start looking for a broken inner cable or distributor drive gear problems.
What does the spring clip look like...any photos?
I am just blindly feeling my way here I don't have anything removed yet.... Do I need to pull the dash?????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: San Jose CA
Just push the cable back in the hole. Then you are all done. Does not screw on. You press the tab below the speedometer or techometer (same thing) only to release cable. No need to press the tab to reinstall. Just push it in the hole. Feels good.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
its real hard getting up in there..
i have been back there removing and replaceing the dash about 6 times on my 70 replaceing my speedometer 4 times with trying out new speedos and ultimately just getting my old one repaired, and headlight switch and little dash lights, vacumm lines, etc.... remove the seats, drop the steering column.. its probably a lot worse with A/C harness and ducts in the way.. if you do pull the dash, then replace all you can back there..
its real hard getting up in there..
i have been back there removing and replaceing the dash about 6 times on my 70 replaceing my speedometer 4 times with trying out new speedos and ultimately just getting my old one repaired, and headlight switch and little dash lights, vacumm lines, etc.... remove the seats, drop the steering column.. its probably a lot worse with A/C harness and ducts in the way.. if you do pull the dash, then replace all you can back there..
Last edited by joewill; Apr 13, 2011 at 03:15 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: San Jose CA
Doing that now. I'm replacing all 12 #1895 bulbs. Too hard to replace later. I removed and washed out all the ducts. 40 years of dirt and grunge I won't be breathing. Removed the rust and painted all the screw tabs (left in bare metal by the factory). Happy, no rust otherwise.
Sometimes I wonder? Will anyone ever remove these dash pads again and admire my effort?
Sometimes I wonder? Will anyone ever remove these dash pads again and admire my effort?
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
Okay, after a pretty good bit of effort, I pushed the cable in and the tach works. I did NOT hear or feel a "click." And the tach needle "bounces" a bit constantly. Did I fail to get it in all the way since I didn't feel/hear a click and the needle is bouncing? Due to the cramped area, (A/C too) I cannot find a way to push the cable in any harder. I actually tried thru the engine compartment and had my best luck there....Hmmmm Do I need to pull the dash???
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 423
Likes: 7
From: Utah
If you can't pull the cable out without pressing the clip, then you have it all the way in. I think everyone has a bouncing needle. You can lubricate the cable and it should help, but if it's an old cable, it may need replacing. Mine bounced quite a bit and finally snapped because I refused to take it out to lube it. I've got a new one that's all lubed up and ready to put in when I get the interior back together...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
If you can't pull the cable out without pressing the clip, then you have it all the way in. I think everyone has a bouncing needle. You can lubricate the cable and it should help, but if it's an old cable, it may need replacing. Mine bounced quite a bit and finally snapped because I refused to take it out to lube it. I've got a new one that's all lubed up and ready to put in when I get the interior back together...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
my distrubutor had a gear stripped that drove the tach cable, I replaced both of these parts and solved the problem, but it was 18 years ago and i think mine was totally not working.. either way the problem seems to be at the tach head connection or the distributor.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
Well, I went back to the project this afternoon. Gave the tach cable a good inward push from the motor side of the firewall, and then tried to pull it out. It would not budge. Cranked up the motor and the tach works. It does bounce when under 1500 rpm. So now I wished I'd pulled it out and lubed the little dude when it was disconnected, because with the a/c and all, there ain't no way this 58 yr old can get to the release clip on the tach w/o pulling the dash. I guess I'll dis-connect the distributor end of the cable, lube it heavily, and keep it vertical for a few days and hope gravity helps me out here.
Thanks for all the help and expertise guys, I really appreciate it! Lee
Thanks for all the help and expertise guys, I really appreciate it! Lee
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Well, I went back to the project this afternoon. Gave the tach cable a good inward push from the motor side of the firewall, and then tried to pull it out. It would not budge. Cranked up the motor and the tach works. It does bounce when under 1500 rpm. So now I wished I'd pulled it out and lubed the little dude when it was disconnected, because with the a/c and all, there ain't no way this 58 yr old can get to the release clip on the tach w/o pulling the dash. I guess I'll dis-connect the distributor end of the cable, lube it heavily, and keep it vertical for a few days and hope gravity helps me out here.
Thanks for all the help and expertise guys, I really appreciate it! Lee
Thanks for all the help and expertise guys, I really appreciate it! Lee
).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 716
From: San Antonio Texas
Thanks Bro... I'll work on that Sunday.... I've got Texas Corvette Assn in town this weekend....Will be a LOT of "Bench Racing" going on tomorrow....