Author Topic: Who uses an "accurate" tachometer (Read 6132 times)

Slayer · « **on:** August 24, 2009, 03:51:20 PM »

When finding the actual RPMs, does anyone have a recommended tach that they like? I am assuming the tach on the bike is not very accurate. I am just looking for a good inexpensive one that can get the job done. Can idle speed setting be done successfully by ear and bike tach?

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2009, 03:56:10 PM »

Accutron at Sears will run you about $24, it has a dwell meter on it also.
If you want to accurately set your idle for carb synching I would recommend getting one.

gane · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2009, 09:25:56 PM »

Am guessing your' doing the "idle drop" procedure via honda. If so, sorry..... Digital vom's from Fluke, Mac/snap-on etc.. all have this function. probly radio shack & sears as well. Sunn ega's also have a built -in tach. If you find one that does the job, leave a note.g

MJL · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:00:59 PM »

I wouldn't mind finding one that can read down to 50 rpm just for setting the idle air screws.

Slayer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2009, 11:12:13 AM »

Quote from: MJL on August 28, 2009, 10:00:59 PM

I wouldn't mind finding one that can read down to 50 rpm just for setting the idle air screws.

Thats exactly what I am looking for. Same reason.

BLUE71TURBO · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2009, 11:39:54 AM »

50 RPM ?

HELL I can kick over the engine faster than that.

Did you mean 500 rpm ?

Slayer · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2009, 01:08:39 PM »

I was looking for a dial gauge in small increments or a digital that could read low RPMs accurately. If I am reading close to 1,000 RPMs I want to be able to fine tune.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2009, 02:58:08 PM »

Then you aren't looking for an inexpensive tachometer.
Higher the accuracy, the more it's gonna cost you- law of diminishing returns beyond a certain point.

The accutron will be accurate enough for what you want to do.

Slayer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2009, 03:12:00 PM »

I did a google search and I could not find anything on that accutron. I guess I am going to have to go to Sears and check it out.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2009, 05:20:56 PM »

Crap, I couldn't find it on the Sears website, and it is not Accutron, it is Actron.
http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16160

I could have sworn it was about $30 when I bought it but I returned it because I got my dad's Mac-Allied tester to work finally.

Slayer · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2009, 05:41:04 PM »

Oh there we go. I wish I hadn't just bought a multimeter, but this has RPMs and dwell. The manual doesn't really explain how to use it as a tachometer. Can you give me a quick breakdown to lead me in the right direction?

myhondas · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2009, 05:51:32 PM »

since i planned to use on various projects I spent more than I probably should have....but then again....i have always belived in the adage of ...buy the best and it will cost you less in the long run.... so i purchased this last year and it will read from 400 - 10k rpm in increaments of 10rpm....dwell and timing included.

http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=26626&utm_source=shoppingdotcom&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=FER86&utm_campaign=shopping_r1

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2009, 07:57:41 AM »

Quote from: Slayer on August 30, 2009, 05:41:04 PM

Oh there we go. I wish I hadn't just bought a multimeter, but this has RPMs and dwell. The manual doesn't really explain how to use it as a tachometer. Can you give me a quick breakdown to lead me in the right direction?

Hook up the ground to good ground on your bike and if I remember right the other lead goes to one of the 12V coil leads (probably primary).
Voila, more accurate tach.

Yep, does voltage and dwell.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2009, 07:58:48 AM »

Quote from: myhondas on August 30, 2009, 05:51:32 PM

since i planned to use on various projects I spent more than I probably should have....but then again....i have always belived in the adage of ...but the best and it will cost you less in the long run.... so i purchased this last year and it will read from 400 - 10k rpm in increaments of 10rpm....dwell and timing included.

http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=26626&utm_source=shoppingdotcom&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=FER86&utm_campaign=shopping_r1

Wow, not cheap at all, looks nice.

Slayer · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:11:08 PM »

I just bought the Actron from ebay for a little over $20, score! The owner is selling one more

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Actron-CP7605-Dwell-Tach-Volt-Meter-Analyzer_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4999Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem45edde9485QQitemZ300343530629QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools#ht_1499wt_928

Thanks Dukie I will let you know how it goes.

Slayer · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2009, 10:33:32 AM »

I got in my new meter for RPMs but I dont know what to attach the leads to. There is a positive and a ground and I thought you attach it to the hot wire on the points and ground. Can anyone help me out here?

Gordon · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2009, 10:40:28 AM »

Did it come with instructions?

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2009, 10:47:55 AM »

No, I just attached the ground lead to good ground and the positive lead to one of the primaries on the coil itself.

Slayer · « **Reply #18 on:** September 12, 2009, 11:06:13 AM »

No instructions haha! I attached the positive to a primary coil and I blew my last fuse. I may have pinched a wire or somethin. Back to the parts store, I will let you know how it turns out.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #19 on:** September 12, 2009, 11:46:35 AM »

here's a link to the manual for the Actron, it will sort of help you.

http://www.actron.com/publish/2007/05/18/pdf_english_16160.pdf

Slayer · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2009, 02:59:09 PM »

Hey, it works but I can't read it properly. I have not synched the carbs yet but I have the bike at a happy idling medium at around 1,200 from the tachometer on the bike. With the RPM meter it shows a little over 200 RPMs for a 8 cylinder engine and 300 RPMs for a 6 cylinder. The meter reads "For a 4 cylinder engine double 8 cylinder scale." Well that would put me at maybe 500 RPMs. Do I double that number because I have 2 coils?

MJL · « **Reply #21 on:** September 13, 2009, 07:50:13 AM »

Quote from: BLUE71TURBO on August 30, 2009, 11:39:54 AM

50 RPM ? HELL I can kick over the engine faster than that. Did you mean 500 rpm ?

No, 50 rpm. The Honda procedure is that you set your rpm speed, turn your idle air screws in until the rpm goes up 50, turn them out until it goes down 50, leave it there and reset your idle. You do this for each carb.

Or at least something similar to this.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #22 on:** September 13, 2009, 03:20:46 PM »

Quote from: Slayer on September 12, 2009, 02:59:09 PM

Hey, it works but I can't read it properly. I have not synched the carbs yet but I have the bike at a happy idling medium at around 1,200 from the tachometer on the bike. With the RPM meter it shows a little over 200 RPMs for a 8 cylinder engine and 300 RPMs for a 6 cylinder. The meter reads "For a 4 cylinder engine double 8 cylinder scale." Well that would put me at maybe 500 RPMs. Do I double that number because I have 2 coils?

No, looks like you are idling around 500 rpms (That's low for a carb synch or regular idle). When my bike tach reads a little under 2K it is actually around 900-1000. I didn't think it would be that off, but I trust my Mac-Allied tach more than I do by bike tach.

If you want to get more accurate borrow one from somone with higher accuracy than what you have right now.
Remember, this is a tach that costs about $30. It won't be horribly accurate but it will get you closer than the bike tach will.

Slayer · « **Reply #23 on:** September 14, 2009, 12:44:08 PM »

I doubled the RPMs to get the bike at 1k and it is pretty loud. From my riding experience it sounds like it should be on the road, haha. It is also interesting because those coils fire twice per revolution. That should mean I have to cut the RPMs displayed on the meter in half right. Now I am thoroughly

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Author Topic: Who uses an "accurate" tachometer (Read 6132 times)