Tachometer Hack

Describes how to add an alligator clip to a small engine tachometer to allow quick attachment and disconnection. Transforms the tachometer to a mobile test instrument for small engine repair and adjustment.

[@frankmatthews3755]

Thank you for sharing this absolutely clever idea! After watching your video I ordered a battery clip from Amazon and installed it on the tachometer/hour meter I received a few days earlier. It was easy to do and works like a champ! I was surprised that the electromagnetic field was strong enough to trigger the device (with essentially what amounts to one turn of wire) but it certainly is! The ability to be portable is a big plus. Best wishes for your continued success here on KZbin.

[@jmonte2811]

Awesome and very simple. I use the tachometer at time but not regularity and was about to buy a $60+ unit when I stumbled into your post. It saved me😀 some much needed $$ . Thanks for sharing this idea!!

[@johnplaninshek3839]

So today it was 40 outside so I could try this hack on the tach I purchased and it worked just fine. Thanks for this great Hack !!!!

[@johnmorse8434]

I put the clip on today and it worked fine, you just have to position it close to the hinge, it works just as good as wrapping it around 5 times and then taping it in place.

[@mrbrown6421]

Yes. I am furious I did not think of that. Seriously. Brilliant. Thank you sir! 9.10.2023

[@techtinkerin]

I know you're mad you didn't think of it yourself..Thats hilarious 😂 Thanks subbed

[@PSN7373]

This is great just got mine yesterday and glad I found your channel thanks.

[@jackhutchins8272]

Great Idea, thanks for sharing.

[@olofjonsson4874]

Brilliant, why didn't I think of this myself? Thanks for the hack

[@jcarney42]

Hooked one up to my 4010 Mule and it worked great!

[@bobmorrison8687]

Good stuff 👏 another great mind thinking outside the square.. I'm not alone.. 👍

[@davidburdsal5301]

Dude that's great! IDK why I didn't think of that! Thank you!

[@HondaSnowblowerEnthusiasts311]

great video

[@johnmorse8434]

My clips are coming today from Amazon, wrapping that wire around is a pain, I hope it works out for me, thanks!

[@johnmorse8434]

Did it it works

[@johnmorse8434]

kzbin.infoEn7-iN8gwnU?feature=share

[@browngreen933]

Awesome. I'm doing this!

[@vitov58]

I need to get a clamp. I agree its a PITA to wrap. I was just always wondering how it would work since they say too many or too few wraps no good. How many wraps is a clamp equal to? According to the consensus here it works fine so I guess its a moot point.

[@Scott.Farkus]

Another good way is to wrap the wire around good and tight, then put a zip tie around running and standing ends to keep it all tight.

[@roybatty2030]

Great little mod, thanks.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Great idea! I'll be doing this for sure.

[@dimalranasinghe8152]

Thank you for the new idea.

[@myparadiseonbantayanisland9030]

Can you extend the length of the inductor wire?

[@frederickwolf8413]

does this tach have a setting for 4 stroke and 2 stroke?

[@edhigbe9780]

This is exactly what I was looking for. It was hard to hear you when you talked about cutting the wire. How long did you leave the wire?

[@PSN7373]

Dont cut the wire

[@kennyhays6573]

Great idea! Anyone questioning the accuracy has to wonder about the accuracy of the inductive tach to begin with. Using this on a 4 cylinder engine, is any conversion needed when it reads only a single cylinder?

[@haraldpost]

Neat! Thanks for sharing.

[@thomasm6769]

thank you that was helpful.

[@MrBonito22]

I have just ordered a different model with a ground wire. Do I have to connect ground wire or will it still work. Don't really want to loosen bolt on motor to connect it as is a new motor and might void warranty if anything happens to it. Cheers.

[@billyb.9533]

I tried this and it didn’t work. My tach has an s1 and s2 instead of an M and S. What am I doing wrong?

[@user-gh9jz1cg1m]

mice hack. wasn't sure if you could test with these and only do 1 or 2 loops around the spark wire. what I wanna do is buy 2 of these and check 2 plug/cylinder engines. then swap them and see if the readings are the same. could tell me if a plug is fouled or ignition coil is bad. ie running on 1 cylender or week cylender. rough running engine.

[@Thomas-nz4uh]

Who sells those clops or where did you purchase it?

[@jdprice3043]

Thank you

[@Thomas-nz4uh]

I purchased one of these for my Husqvarna 128 LD weedeater. The manual says the idle rpm's are between 2800-3200, so I have the rpm's set to 3,000, but the max speed be set to 11,000 rpm's. My question is, how would I get this techometer to show 11,000 rpm's?

[@pitapitabread]

have you set the mode '1' for two revolutions per one ignition spark, or to mode '2' for one revolution per one ignition spark?

[@Thomas-nz4uh]

@@pitapitabread Thank you for responding, but yes I've set it at 1,2 and 3 modes with the same results. The manual says the digits range from 0-30,0000 but I can't get it to go above 9999.

[@Thomas-nz4uh]

@@pitapitabread Yes, I went through all the settings the first time, but I finally figured it out and got 11,000 rpm's but that was to high which is required in the manual. At 11,000 rpm's my high adjustment screw was almost seated, so I backed it down to 9,000 rpm's and I'm comfortable with that. Thanks for taking the time to share the video and responding though.

[@TEEZS10]

@@Thomas-nz4uhhow were you able to get the higher readings?

[@Thomas-nz4uh]

@@TEEZS10 Set the tachometer to number 2 for my two stroke weedeater, then turning the high screw clock wise at full throttle.

[@crisprtalk6963]

brilliant

[@patrickviray6934]

Hot to put settings in 4 stroke

[@vijayam1]

Are these reliable?

[@jess5.019]

How you reset these

[@juancarlosmoreira2728]

Top

[@kevinclear4007]

I just use a rubberband 😊

[@hparadigma]

How do you use it?

[@kevinclear4007]

@@hparadigma you use a rubberband to hold the wire in place. What you mean how you use it?

[@hparadigma]

@@kevinclear4007 wellnoted. I thought you are using some method that make it easier to attach and deattach the wire. 🙏

[@scorpnz4433]

When using near a lawnmower keep it well away from the mower skirt, trust me lmfao. Should be fine to just clamp the wire in the clip keepers without what you've done unless there's a specific reason. My tach is a different model/make however it works on the same principle & doesn't need to be threaded/looped with the clip. The downside with mine is assuming the battery is ok, it requires me to touch the looped connection at the meter for it to read correctly i.e the exposed wire at the end of the insulation, why's that ? damned if i know it's been like that since new,even sent the first one back until by accident i found how to make it work. It wasn't a cheap meter either grrr

[@davidsmit1074]

What amp clip does a person use?

[@scorpnz4433]

As small as you like will be fine. The one he uses is in reality overkill however so long as it works who cares

[@davidsmit1074]

@@scorpnz4433 thanks for that.

[@Wildone0687]

No way that’s accurate! 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@frankconly6736]

Why not? No different than an inductive timing light

[@stradplayer90]

I agree. If the metal clip is completing the loop like the wrapped wire, then it shouod work. ​@frankconly6736