MSD and Tachometer, Anyone ever get this to work |
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MSD and Tachometer, Anyone ever get this to work |
Mike D. |
Apr 14 2011, 04:44 PM
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#1
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OK, It runs now, and pretty good too! Group: Members Posts: 1,445 Joined: 3-January 03 From: Santa Clarita, Ca Member No.: 85 Region Association: None |
Has anyone ever gotten the 4 cyl. tach to work with an MSD6al or the Mallory? Even with the "Tach Adaptor" from MSD I have never been able to make it work. On my 6 I just had the Tach rebuilt and modified for use with MSD. But I've been asked to help instal two others for friends and never seen a stock tack work after MSD.
Anyone??? |
Scott S |
Apr 14 2011, 04:57 PM
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#2
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Small Member Group: Members Posts: 1,697 Joined: 30-April 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 633 |
Hmmm... that is strange. I use the 6AL with the adapter and it works really well - never an issue at all. Have you started the install on the other car? I am wondering if you had a bad adapter or tach in the previous attempt. I did have a tach go dead several years ago - litterally just stopped working. Replaced it with a 35.00 used one and have had no problems since.
I am taking the plunge like you did however and having the tach redone to be "plug and play" for my conversion (it is also an excuse to get the 10k rpm guage face....) |
Randal |
Apr 14 2011, 05:04 PM
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#3
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,446 Joined: 29-May 03 From: Los Altos, CA Member No.: 750 |
I have a Mallory CDI that I works fine with my stock 4 cylinder tachometer.
Does your tac look like this on the back? |
Randal |
Apr 14 2011, 05:13 PM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,446 Joined: 29-May 03 From: Los Altos, CA Member No.: 750 |
More information on the Mallory Hifire 6A installation.
If you go here: http://www.jegs.com/InstallationInstructio...0/650-6852M.pdf and you can secure the installation instructions. You'll need to choose which set up is the right one for your situation, i.e., like in my case installing with a Malory Unitlite or Magnetic Breakerless Distributor. |
Mike D. |
Apr 14 2011, 05:16 PM
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#5
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OK, It runs now, and pretty good too! Group: Members Posts: 1,445 Joined: 3-January 03 From: Santa Clarita, Ca Member No.: 85 Region Association: None |
Yep same tach. I just swapped another tach and got the same results, Nothing....
Guess I should check wire for signal. This install is the Mallory6al and a Mallory Unilite Dizzy. Mallory references the MSD adaptor part number in the manual for VDO tachs. When I plug in the adaptor I get a tach bump when I start to crank the engine but that is it. Going back out and getting the Volt meter... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) |
Mike D. |
Apr 14 2011, 05:34 PM
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#6
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OK, It runs now, and pretty good too! Group: Members Posts: 1,445 Joined: 3-January 03 From: Santa Clarita, Ca Member No.: 85 Region Association: None |
Randall, Thanks. I have the manuals etc., it is all hooked up and the running. Just no Tach. I put the MSD Adaptor inline with Yellow (tach) wire from the Mallory. and the switched on power for the box. The engine still runs fine but still no Tach.
I used a Volt meter and got 12v and 1.75-1.85 bounce on the signal wire with engine running... maybe I'll just try another tach. (got 4 of them in a box somewhere (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ) Any other Ideas? PS - I do remember my Tach working when I did my six conversion, however it was a 4 cyl. tack and I was getting 1.5 x the signal.... |
Dave_Darling |
Apr 14 2011, 05:38 PM
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#7
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,990 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
I don't have a solution for you, but I did want to mention that we've seen this before in pretty much all combinations. Some were able to just plug the MSD tach output into their tach signal wire and have it work, some required the adaptor to make it work, and some didn't even work with that.
--DD |
jim_hoyland |
Apr 14 2011, 05:47 PM
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#8
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Get that VIN ? Group: Members Posts: 9,303 Joined: 1-May 03 From: Sunset Beach, CA Member No.: 643 Region Association: Southern California |
Do you have the correct tach adaptor ? there are two ya know; a flattish one and one with a hump ( don't remember the part numbers) . Mine works great with the Mallory Unilite and humpish tach adaptor (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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Mike D. |
Apr 14 2011, 06:00 PM
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#9
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OK, It runs now, and pretty good too! Group: Members Posts: 1,445 Joined: 3-January 03 From: Santa Clarita, Ca Member No.: 85 Region Association: None |
OK - So swapped in two other tachs. One early and one late. The late Tach from a '74-75 works with no adaptor! Niether of the early ones worked at all...
Solution - Lose the Silver Button Centers - Oh well. |
Kirmizi |
Apr 14 2011, 06:08 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 836 Joined: 12-February 06 From: Wyoming, US Member No.: 5,568 Region Association: None |
Yes, I'm running the MSD 6A and Unilite with no adapter, and my tach works fine.
I don't have the wiring diagram in front of me, but IIRC there's an old thread or two on here about "how to". Then again, like Dave said QUOTE Some were able to just plug the MSD tach output into their tach signal wire and have it work, some required the adaptor to make it work, and some didn't even work with that. Mike |
tomeric914 |
Apr 14 2011, 06:52 PM
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#11
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One Lap of America in a 914! Group: Members Posts: 1,259 Joined: 25-May 08 From: Syracuse, NY Member No.: 9,101 Region Association: North East States |
Do a search here and on the bird board and you'll find a lot of topics on aftermarket CD ignitions and the stock tachometer.
While you may have found a tach that works off the output from the CD ignition, it may not give you the correct reading. |
JamesM |
Apr 14 2011, 07:25 PM
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#12
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,900 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Kearns, UT Member No.: 5,834 Region Association: Intermountain Region |
Has anyone ever gotten the 4 cyl. tach to work with an MSD6al or the Mallory? Even with the "Tach Adaptor" from MSD I have never been able to make it work. On my 6 I just had the Tach rebuilt and modified for use with MSD. But I've been asked to help instal two others for friends and never seen a stock tack work after MSD. Anyone??? 914 tachs take a high voltage signal from the coil, MSD tach signal is low voltage. Remove the tach signal wire from the coil and hook it to the MSD yellow TACH wire, then modify your stock tach to trigger off of low voltage by placing a jumper across the input signal resistor. While you have your tach apart add the proper capacitor across the coil windings to cut out the tach bounciness. Just be carefull with the trim rings, those things are a pain. |
ConeDodger |
Apr 14 2011, 08:18 PM
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#13
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Apex killer! Group: Members Posts: 23,594 Joined: 31-December 04 From: Tahoe Area Member No.: 3,380 Region Association: Northern California |
IIRC, JCD914 took the signal directly off of the MSD6AL tach plug that comes off of one end of the box. It worked fine...
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Kirmizi |
Apr 14 2011, 08:24 PM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 836 Joined: 12-February 06 From: Wyoming, US Member No.: 5,568 Region Association: None |
That one.
Aaron's thread from years back was the one I referenced when I installed my MSD. Mike Attached image(s) |
jim_hoyland |
Apr 15 2011, 06:42 AM
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#15
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Get that VIN ? Group: Members Posts: 9,303 Joined: 1-May 03 From: Sunset Beach, CA Member No.: 643 Region Association: Southern California |
Mike,
See: http://www.914club.com/bbs2/index.php?show...368&hl=coil Also, North Hollywood Speedometer can install a small adapter on the back of your Tach to convert the signal. |
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