tachometer for anything

[coolguy147]

Digital Hour Meter Tachometer Tach Tacho for Yamaha KTM Honda Kawasaki BMW Motorcycle Dirt Bike ATV UTV Quad Generator MX Snowmobile Boat Outboard Jet Ski 4 2 Stroke Gas Engine : Amazon.com : Automotive

Cheaper version of the tiny tach?

I had a tiny tach but it stopped working all of a sudden and would lock up when it read readings for my old mercury. Wouldn't read anything right. The place claimed it was the wires that shorted out the unit but they look fine. The battery is probably dead by now.

Anyways, I need a tach.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: tachometer for anything

Looks interesting! Are you going to try one?

 

[coolguy147]

Re: tachometer for anything

Looks interesting! Are you going to try one?

Idk, but if i buy it at northern tool i can always return it if i don't like it.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: tachometer for anything

So are you saying that they carry these at Northen Tool also?
I have a Faria tach that I couldn't get to work with my 35hp Rude but maybe it will work with the 50hp Johnson.
Again if you try one LMK what you think. I need to find a tach to dial in a prop on this 50hp.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: tachometer for anything

The link below is what I use now after years of frustrations with the "cheap solutions". It works on two & four-stroke motors and provides for different number of cylinders. It also has an induction (no connection) sensor option and uses standard replaceable batteries. Best thing I ever did!

Electronic Specialties Inc. Professional hand held automotive test equipment. Automotive Multimeter

 

[coolguy147]

Re: tachometer for anything

I just called tiny tach about my old gas tach. Didn't help much other than them saying to send it in.

Electronic Specialties 328 EZ Tach Plus : Amazon.com : Automotive

Found that tach on amazon. I don't quite understand how it works? How would a wireless pickup even work lol? some videos on youtube it to update kinda slow (1-2 sec)

 

[coolguy147]

Re: tachometer for anything

Buy Electronic Specialties EZ Tach Plus ESI328 at Advance Auto Parts

Advance auto carries it too. How strong is the wireless signal? Can I drive the boat and look at this at the same time? Or will someone have to be 3 feet away from the engine? How long is the wire?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: tachometer for anything

Some hour tachs don't work well in all outboards unless they have spark firing timing. If this model doesn't have it, specify engine model when ordering. Electronic specialist models are for larger applications, workshops, etc and do cost more..

Must be one of a kind, have a Tiny Tach bought and installed in 1997 with 900 metered hours and still runs as a champ. The new TT-2A is a superb tach.

Happy Boating

 

[Willyclay]

Re: tachometer for anything

Buy Electronic Specialties EZ Tach Plus ESI328 at Advance Auto Parts

Advance auto carries it too. How strong is the wireless signal? Can I drive the boat and look at this at the same time? Or will someone have to be 3 feet away from the engine? How long is the wire?

The wireless signal requires the handheld unit to be within one inch of either a spark plug wire or an ignition coil wire. The inductive pickup wire is 36 inches long. If you want a permanent installation in your boat, this is not what you want. If you want a portable tachometer for checking all your outboard motors, motorized lawn equipment, cars, etc.; then I can recommend the ES328+. Good luck!

 

[coolguy147]

Re: tachometer for anything

The wireless signal requires the handheld unit to be within one inch of either a spark plug wire or an ignition coil wire. The inductive pickup wire is 36 inches long. If you want a permanent installation in your boat, this is not what you want. If you want a portable tachometer for checking all your outboard motors, motorized lawn equipment, cars, etc.; then I can recommend the ES328+. Good luck!

Yea, it won't reach the steering wheel lol. I don't want it as a permanent installation because i would also use it on my atv, or any other outboard i might own in the future.

Will this work on old magneto style ignition systems?

As long as it's a good working tach that doesn't give me problems, i'm ok with that.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: tachometer for anything

Will this work on old magneto style ignition systems?

Yes, that is part of the reason why I bought this particular device!

 

[coolguy147]

Re: tachometer for anything

Yes, that is part of the reason why I bought this particular device!

The tiny tach would lock-up. When school lets up ill have to see about getting it.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: tachometer for anything

If you want a tach just for reading max rpm at wot, testing different pitch props, setting idle speed, etc a TT is the way to go, wire is long, don't know if long enough for your engine/helm distance. But a buddy near engine could hold it and check tach's rpm. TT-2A being firing programmable could be set to match different engine firings and that's a + to have.

Happy Boating

 

[coolguy147]

Re: tachometer for anything

If you want a tach just for reading max rpm at wot, testing different pitch props, setting idle speed, etc a TT is the way to go, wire is long, don't know if long enough for your engine/helm distance. But a buddy near engine could hold it and check tach's rpm. TT-2A being firing programmable could be set to match different engine firings and that's a + to have.

Happy Boating

The tiny tach would give me flawed readings for my old magneto system outboards. I have a tiny tach. It broke within a few months use. That or the battery died prematurely.

EDIT: Btw, the EZ tach plus is only sold online at advance auto.

 

[MattFL]

Re: tachometer for anything

I've had several of those little sealed tach's made by SenDec and they have been great. I've used them on several generators, my boat (Honda 50HP) and I Just bought this one for my new Tohatsu outboard:

Hardline Products HR-8061-2 Hour/Tachometer with adjustable input, Resettable MAX RPM and Log Book : Amazon.com : Automotive

It remembers total hours, number of starts, peak RPM (you can reset this to 0) and it shows you the current RPM. I mounted it under the hood and just check the peak RPM and total hours. It's sealed, so no worries about it getting wet. Some motors fire the spark plug every revolution, and some 2x per revolution, and I believe this one is adjustable. The default settings worked fine for me.