Small engine Tachometer

[Jiles]

I have been working on a lot of single and twin cylinder engines lately. Several times I have needed a tachometer to set max rpm.
Any suggestions as what to get?

 

[rlp in Co.]

I use a tach. off of an old Subaru.

 

[JDseller]

I have a small tach that will work on 1-10 cylinder engines. You just hook it over a spark plug wire and it tells you the engine speed. It is an off brand that I bought at a local parts store. They had to order it. It was only $49. I have used it now for a couple of years.

 

[Jiles]

(quoted from post at 06:16:49 01/02/11) I have a small tach that will work on 1-10 cylinder engines. You just hook it over a spark plug wire and it tells you the engine speed. It is an off brand that I bought at a local parts store. They had to order it. It was only $49. I have used it now for a couple of years.

Do you have a name and part number?

 

[Steven-Id]

Years ago I worked for a company that used small engines to run squirrel cage fans. They had a tachometer that you just pressed to the end of the crankshaft. It had a rubber tip and it just spun the gauge. I don't know where they got it or if they are still made like that but it was pretty cool how it worked. Steven

 

[Anonymous-0]

Stewart Warner makes the portable hand held tachs. Dave

 

[Lefty]

Several options.
-Tecumseh"Vibra Tach",non electronic,gives rpm via engine vibrations.been around "forever"/
-Dickson"small engine tach.battery powered,hand hold..sorta like a walkie-ralkie.NO hookup,just hold probe/antenna neat plug/wire.
-Tiny Tach-matchbook sized digital tach/hr meter,designed to mount to tractor/engine,but easily adapted to "portable use".Internal battery,auto on off,pickup from coaxial wire lead wrapped around plug wire.
-Laser tachs,Various brands,"Harbor Freight"to NASA quality"Internal battery,cordless..generally require small tab of reflective tape attached to rotating part.Will give RPM/stroke reading on anything.
=Prolly others,but trying to explain basic types.

 

[JDseller]

I will get it tomorrow. It is out in my shop.

 

[JDseller]

I will get it tomorrow. It is out in my shop.

 

[Chris(WA)]

Here is one from Graingers. $80
Hand held Tach

 

[guido]

Hello Jiles,
Non contact tachometers ahve come down in price.
Thy is one was pricey at the time i needed one.
Blue point unit 0 to 50.000.
Claimed accuracy 1 R.P.M. or 1% ,its been to long to remember.
Guido.

 

[RodinNS]

My multimeter has an inductive pickup that attaches to a plug wire... but I don't know if it can be set for a 2 holer or not. It will do three... This is one of Napa's UltraPro high end meters that's made by Fluke...

Rod

 

[greygoat]

The picture of the Grainger one sure looks like
a "Stewart-Warner", but it says, in the spec's,
"Made in China". Has another "old American
company" "bit the dust"

 

[Goose]

I have one of those. They're handy around the farm to check combine cylinder speeds, PTO speeds, etc.

 

[MNGB]

I purchased a Digital Photo non contact Tach on e -Bay was about $25.00 works great, I also have the hand held contact type but there are time you can't get one of them on a turning shaft.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Digital-Laser-P...tDomain_0&hash=item483e681d5d GB in MN

 

[JMS/.MN]

Dad got one of them when he got the AC 60 combine, about 1949. I have it now- I believe Lufkin made it. Found a second one a few years ago is an auction box. Both work fine.

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

Briggs and Stratton dealers also a have the Vibra-Tach. I have one it work good.

Kent

 

[Anonymous-0]

It's a copy of a Stewart Warner. Westward has a lot of tools. Most, if not all come, from overseas. They are mid grade tools for the most part. Google Stewart Warner and I'm sure you'll find their tach. Dave

 

[JD Seller]

Jiles: The one I have is a Advanced Tool Design Model ATD-5581 I was wrong about the cylinders. It does 1-8 not 1-10. It has four settings: Two stroke or four, and RPM by 100 or 1000.

I am attaching some pictures and also a link with one for sale on Amazon for $44.99

ATD 5581

 

[Jiles]

(quoted from post at 05:09:28 01/03/11) Jiles: The one I have is a Advanced Tool Design Model ATD-5581 I was wrong about the cylinders. It does 1-8 not 1-10. It has four settings: Two stroke or four, and RPM by 100 or 1000.

I am attaching some pictures and also a link with one for sale on Amazon for $44.99

ATD 5581

Thanks JD---That looks like a tack that would suit my needs.