Register now to get rid of these ads!

Backwards Tach

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Little Wing, Nov 21, 2009.

  1. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,504

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

    Got a neat old Aircraft Tachometer ( curved glass woo hoo ),,The sweep is right to left,,,now is this an internal thing ? like hooked to a tach drive distributor will it work or is car and airplane different direction rotation ( figuring it is but just wanna make sure )

    Now if I have to change the direction,,is there an adapter to do this?? I know there are reductions and right angle adapters

    ok heres pictures


    any idea what the adjustment thing is for ?? never seen one on a Tach

    also the spline on teh inside says CAT 5878,,is that the cable I need to drive it ?
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Nov 28, 2009
  2. 50stude p/u
    Joined: Jul 14, 2009
    Posts: 169

    50stude p/u
    Member

    mechanical tach? Spin the thing on the back counterclockwise (if you are looking at the back) and see if the needle moves the opposite way
     
  3. scottybaccus
    Joined: Mar 13, 2006
    Posts: 4,109

    scottybaccus
    Member

    Twin engine planes have one engine rotate each way. You have a tach for #2.
     
  4. oilslinger53
    Joined: Apr 17, 2007
    Posts: 2,500

    oilslinger53
    Member
    from covina CA

    mount it upside down, walla! sweeps left to right!
     

  5. smartest thing said all day.
     
  6. Ron In the SHOP
    Joined: Nov 15, 2009
    Posts: 53

    Ron In the SHOP
    BANNED
    from california

    I have seen these and taken various units apart to figure out what to do.


    it kinda depends on who actually made the tach.
    some will not move the pointer if rotated in opposite direction... you can easily test this with a drillmotor and then reverse the rotation of the drill...


    most have a one direction flyweight or magnet that spins only one direction....
    the "drag" is what makes the little needle move.

    some are made to rotate reverse by way of a planetary gear... so if you can remove the planetary gear and make the magney rotate "normal" then you can get it to work.
     
  7. Little Wing,

    Many of the replica Cobras use the original style counter clockwise (CC) speedo. They have a reversing adapter that fits behind the speedo, you could possibly use one of those to faciltate using the CC Tach. Just a thought.

    Johnnie.
     
  8. Retro Jim
    Joined: May 27, 2007
    Posts: 3,854

    Retro Jim
    Member

    Little Wing ,
    I think it would just be one of those thing I would put into my car just to screw with people ! I would use it if you have a way to hook it up !

    RetroJim
     
  9. Ron In the SHOP
    Joined: Nov 15, 2009
    Posts: 53

    Ron In the SHOP
    BANNED
    from california

    the direction of the SWING NEEDLE is kinda secondary.

    the underlying issue is which direction does the IN PUT SHAFT have to rotate in order for the tack to show MOTION....??

    hook up a drill motor to it and see....
     
  10. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 56,181

    squirrel
    Member

    get the right tach, and you can change the direction of rotation of the cable, by moving the drive from one side to the other
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,258

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    Almost all tach drives can be reversed.
    Most speedometer shops can handle it if you don't want to do it.
     
  12. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,504

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast


    Prefect,,thanks :D
     
  13. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,504

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

    Posted some pix ,,,to move it does have to rotate the other way,,so gonna start the search for the stuff to do it
     
  14. 51 MERC-CT
    Joined: Apr 5, 2005
    Posts: 1,594

    51 MERC-CT
    Member

    Suspect that is not an Aircraft Tach. The Aircraft Tach's that I have had and seen didn't go over 3500 RPM. Most likely used for a commercial or industrial application. But if it works, use it.:)

    [​IMG]
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.