Those looking for a Tachometer

[Braveair78]

Just installed a new Tach in my 1-ton. After an exhaustive search

I found a great little tach. It's digital, it has a Hobbs (hourmeter),

two setteable service timers, and a max RPM storage. The unit

connects to the 1/4 inch injector fuel line (any one will do, one

pulse equals two revs) and battery/ignition hookup for internal

signal amplifier. Cost is $65. 00 plus shipping. The only detractor of the whole setup that I can see is that it is not backlit

for night operations(easily remedied for the cost of the unit).

They also sell other tachs and a dynamic diesel injection timing

unit. The name of the company is Tiny Tach and they are

at "www.tinytach.com" interesting site nonetheless.

 

[LarryB]

Good find! I have one of these TinyTachs in my plane. It works perfectly. Amazing little thing.



www.tinytach.com



#ad

 

[Braveair78]

Thinking the same

After installing mine I had the exact same thought..... will be

adding the gas 4-stroke version to my plane as well (1978

PA-36-375). I'll admit it was an exhausting search, but

what a solution.

 

[paccool]

Jason,



Good info here!



Does the tack reading stay stable or does it fluctuate a lot up and down? What I mean by this is if you are going down the freeway with the cruise set, when you look at the reading is it reading one number or bouncing up or down 50 RPM? Some digital volt meters tend to change and can be tough to read if you just glance at them.



What is the size of the unit as well as the display?



I can't get the ISSPRO units to work in my truck, may as well try something like this. Sounds easy to install.

 

[Braveair78]

Stable reading

Stan:



The reading is stable. It appears to be gated at about 2 seconds. Occasionally I will get a wild reading when accelerating or decelerating(very hard), but while cruising it's fairly rock solid, very good for most digital devices that I've seen. In fact the first thing that I did after installing it was to set my Idle, It had been around 800 and I brought it down to the factory spec of 750. I pulled power from the original tach harness (ground , and a switched +12V from the Ignition on, for the signal amplifier). Install is straightforward and easy. I have not played with the service timers or any of that as of yet. Hardest part was figuring out where to mount the unit. I decided to mount it in the message center area. I think it looks good where it is ... . okay it won't win any awards at a carshow but, I think that the "can-do Individualist TDR subscriber" would like it. I am working away

from home right now and don't have the where-with-all to

post photos. ... . this weekend will be new Moog ball joints and

control arm bushings, injection pump timing, and... . dropping

in my POD's from Piers... so you could say that I'll be a little tied

up for the next few days..... but I digress.....

Size of the hole cut out for the unit is 2 inches wide and 1. 5 inches

high (unit is not much bigger) depth is . 5 inches (if that)... very small, but extremely legible. At a constant cruise down the

highway it is rock solid, I know what you are alluding to, don't worry it's perfect.

Ran the piezo sensor wire thru the firewally grommett and put the

clamp on the #2 cylinder. Thay say to sand off the paint before

putting on the clamp but I just rubbed it away with some acetone.

the display is large enough

 

[paccool]

Thanks Jason



I have already sent an E-mail to them. I'll let you know when it gets ordered.



Thanks again for the good information.



Stan

 

[paccool]

Well, it is ordered. We'll see how it works!



Had a good talk with one of the guys, they also make a timing unit if anyone is interested. Braveair talked about this. The unit clamps on the #1 injector line and fires a timing light. He said you would need to make a mark on the damper and then read like a gas engine. Said the cost was around $250 or so. I'm putting this out just for info, I don't know anymore about it than what I have said.



One interesting thing came out of the talk - he said the 24valves from 981/2 to the 03's had a problem with the engine finding top dead center. Cummings had to make step keys to allow fine tuning of the timing on the engines. Wonder if this is why I've seen some of the guys complaining about fuel mileage? Timing off???



Stan

 

[bkokotovic]

I emailed Tiny Tach a while ago about a lighted tach. The response is listed below. I think the lit display is the way to go, although I haven't seen one.



Good luck all.

B





<B>Dear Boris,



We have a fiber optic system that lights the present tach with a red light that shines through the display. The system is not in production, but with lead times of 2-3 wks can be made, cost is $20 more.

Thank You

Steve Myers </B>