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Tach Drive

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B

BWillis

Jedi Knight
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Ok guys. I try not to do this to often but I must. Do any of you have a spare or unused tach drive that you would part with for a fair price? I bought a tach drive gen off of Ebay and now need the gear drive. I don't want to do an electric conversion right now although I have a 1275.

Thanks guys!
 
This is the age old ? of original or new and better. After yrs and yrs, a tach that is not really accurate and always bounces, and after replacing the third little tranny that is so unique to the bug, I went with a electric tach and couldn't be happier. So, even if you do find a tranny, and they are out there, when you find an electric tach cheap, have the time, and figure out how to install, enjoy it then.
 
I agree with kcbugeye, but if you really need one, I saw a couple on ebay!!
 
I see VB has them new for around $100, but I would sure like to check the quality before I bought one. I'm going to need one eventually, so I may have to be the guinea pig.
Jeff
 
Yeah, I just jumped over to ebay to check and they have them there at a "buy now" price of $125, all the way to $150!!! At that price I think I could buy a couple of good electric tachs, but I do understand that it is not "original".
 
I have looked rather carefully at mine and I am amazed at how flimsy it is - it looks like it's made of what we used to call monkey-metal. Seeing as I'm not overly obsessed with being absolutely OE, what I want is a car to drive, not to show, I may be tempted to switch it out and part with it to someone who just has to have the AUTHENTIC part.
 
It is what was also called Pot Metal. They last a long long time if kept lubed properly through that screw hole.
 
I think one of the usual places (Moss or VB) has a tach drive gear for $75. Still pretty expensive. Mine broke some time ago, and it turned out that the cylinder in the tach that's driven by the cable was jamming; no flaw in the gear itself. So, I took apart the tach, reamed out the hole a little, relubed, and so far all is well. But I'm working on an electronic tachometer conversion now, in the hope that it will be a little more reliable. I'll write up the details when it's ready.
 
Also, locktite the screws that hold it together, a cause of one of my failures. I really believe that you don't become a true longterm owner til you find a rust bucket and save the good parts. You sometimes can find (or they find you) one for nothing or almost nothing and get a world of parts and the experience of salvaging good parts such as a tach. It is fun when someone says he or she needs something and you can say, I think I have one. Anyway, good luck.
 
how difficult of a conversion is it? neithermy speedo or tach are currently working after replacing the cable and gear at Trans.
 
The speedo actually swaps into the screw holes that hold the original. The tack, I had to soldier the back of the smaller can into the cutout back of the original can. What really makes it look nice is I took the glass front, laid a round piece of plastic down and painted the perimeter black, then silver to reflect interior light in the can to the gauge, installed the black is to the outside so you can't see the the inards of the gauges. Once installed, the gauges are constant with no bouncing. The speedo becomes acurate with a 3.9 rear end. Another nice feature is the tach goes to 7000 rpm if you modify your engine. Good luck......
 
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