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Tachometer

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capitalcitycars

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"Murphy" [76 1500,DGV Carb, Mallory Dual Point] is alive and on the road for the first time in a decade and insured thru Hagerty. I took Murphy on I-496 and it managed to top out at just under 73mph. Not bad.

Just one problem. I have no tachometer and have no clue where it hooks into the engine and have no idea if it's mechanical or electrical. It's the original guage and as usual, Hayes was its usual helpful self. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks!
 
I've got a 79 midget 1500 and when mine quit working it was a fuse that was "dirty". I think it was the 2nd one from the top.
 
The electrical sender for the tachometer on the 76 is on the tranny, near the shift lever. There is a rubber cap on the driver side of the transmission tunnel which reveals the sender and the wiring. Usually there is a connector at the end of a pigtail allowing it to be disconnected from the rest of the wiring.

Hope this helps.

Al /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
A '76 had a tach sender on the tranny? How did that work?

I thought late model MGs had Smiths RVI type tachs that have switched power and a connection to coil (-). Have you got any pictures or schematics showing how the tach is wired to the gearbox?
 
Thanks Brian. If any of you have a '76 or so Midget with the tach connection and sender on the tranny as mentioned above, please post pictures of it. I haven't seen this and am very curious about how it works and why BL would do it this way.
 
Sorry, but that makes no sense! Since the tach measures ENGINE speed, why would you attach it to the GEARBOX? Are you sure you're not looking at the reverse light switch? That's in the general vicinity of the shift lever.
 
Tach wiring is simple.
White wire from bottom center connection on the back of the tach goes to the + post on the coil

Red/white wire to the left center connection for the tach light

Green wire from the top center connection to the #4 fuse block connection

White wire from the top right connection to the #2 post on the ignition switch

The above info is from the Haynes MG Midget & AH Sprite Manual covering all models from 1958 to 1980.

Previously mention wires on the tranny next to the shift lever are for the reverse lights not the tach.

If you don't know what you are talking about keep your mis-information to yourself.
 
He seemed pretty sure of himself... I'm sure he meant no harm. But I'm not sure why he thought as he did. Does the '76 have a neutral safety switch as part of the ignition circuit?
 
Thanks. I thought that sounded very odd as well. I've seen tach sending unit kits for diesel engines that take pulses off the crank or cam. I'd never heard or seen anything like that for LBCs.
 
Biff - are you the character in Back to the Future??? Just kidding.. You are right, I did make a mistake. That will teach me to respond to a posting after driving 7 1/2 hours through BC's mountains. I did get mixed up in my thinking about the tachometer wiring... Should have checked first.

However, I must say that your comments are very rude, and completely oustside of the character of this forum. I have seen a number of incorrect responses to questions over the last two years and have never seen anyone take a personal shot like you did.... shame on you.

By the way, just a question for you... if I did not know it was misinformation how could I keep it to myself... maybe the trick is to be all knowing and never wrong like yourself.

Al
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
I appreciate everyone's responses. I now have the Tach working perfectly. Once again, you guys came thru. Thanks.

BTW Biff: I'm a moderator on a mental health forum. If you have issues, please email and I'll send you the link. No need to be rude or arogant to your fellow compadres of Lucas.
 
So I've been looking at my tach as well. I have a hunch that the calibration on the unit is significantly off. Currently she's idling around "188 to 2500". I put it in quotes because that's awfully high. From the sound of my ear, I'd put the idle at 1000, maybe 1200, still higher than the reccomended 600 to 700.

How do you calibrate the tach? The books seem to be useless on this subject.

Ben
 
Someplace on this site is a link on how to do that. Might be Tonys site even.
 
Brain,

I have no 'problem' personally but do have a 'problem' with people on a list/forum who post answers that are incorrect, or as I suspect just to see themselves post something, or who hijack a persons thread for their personal gratification. These are people with a 'problem' in my opinion. Are you offering these people 'help'? If they can't contribute to a persons question, i.e., an answer, why are they posting?

Apology to als for his answer now knowing his 'condition' that night.

Off my soap box, flame suit on, fire away!
 
Noop not Tonys site, still looking.
 
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