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  #1  
Old 06-27-2015, 01:33 PM
mantry mantry is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bountiful, UT
Posts: 145
Default Tachometer Fluctuations shake

(GRANTED GOING FROM MEMORY)
On my RV7 with O360 (No vacuum pump) I have what I believe to be the Standard VANS tach setup, which consists of a small 12" tach cable from the rear of the engine to a transducer and then electrically connected from the transducer to the electric tachometer (display) on the panel.

I've notice in certain cases the tachometer bounces around +/- 200-300 rpm.

I'd like to know if anyone has any suggestions before I go tearing into.
Should I remove the tach cable from both the accessory case and the transducer and clean and lube and put it back? Is it the transducer going bad? Could it be electrical connections somewhere between the transducer and the tachometer?

I've looked at the existing topics.

Thanks in advance!
Mark
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  #2  
Old 06-27-2015, 02:29 PM
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jetjok jetjok is offline
 
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Location: Sutter Creek, CA
Posts: 842
Default Cable

I would start with the cable. Pull it out, and inspect for wear. If it looks good, lube it with a good speedometer cable lubricant from your local NAPA store. Reinstall and see if it is any better.
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RV-6 N506MM VAF #1410
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  #3  
Old 06-27-2015, 03:21 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
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Default

search the form archives...

On some engines, because of cable length (rotating portion), the square end only engages in the tach generator a very small amount. Over time, this can wear and it begins to slip until it fails to turn at all.
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  #4  
Old 06-28-2015, 09:39 AM
mantry mantry is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bountiful, UT
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Default

Sounds like a perfect plan guys. Will do! Yes I did see the part about it NOT engaging all the way, will take a look at that as well when I pull the cowl off. I'll post my results when I get around to do it. Glad I can do it will only the top cowl off.

Mark
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  #5  
Old 06-28-2015, 04:59 PM
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Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 427
Default

Also check to see if the connecting internal cable is not too long. Initially I installed this sensor directly on the engine with the short stubby connecting pin. All seemed fine but after a couple of flights the rpm reading became erratic. On inspection I found the connecting pin ad punched the back cover off the transducer.
Since I had an EIS4000 I switched to the p-lead sense and omitted the tach sender.
I think the problem was the admission of light to the optical sensor caused the sending errors. I was able to reassemble the sensor and bench tests confirmed it did seem to be working.
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  #6  
Old 06-29-2015, 09:02 AM
JimWoo50 JimWoo50 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chicago sw suburbs
Posts: 395
Default Flight data systems T-30

And kiss the cable, transducer etc. goodbye. I went through the same problem with the stock setup. Could never get it to settle down. For less than $200 the T-30 has been way better. BTW I have replacement gauge etc. if you're interested.
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  #7  
Old 12-08-2015, 10:20 PM
mantry mantry is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bountiful, UT
Posts: 145
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In looking at adding the T 30 Digital tach. I have to connect the two mag wires from the tach to my MAG SWITCHES. Today I was looking at my mag switches they are two separate toggle switches with FASTON connectors.

Any suggestions/recomendations on how to get the two additional wires from the tach to the mag p-leads on the toggle switches?
Here is a pic of the backside of my two mag switches:


Determine which is GROUND and which is the p-lead and then cut off the FASTON connector and strip the wire and then include the tach wire with the p-lead and crimp them both into a new FASTON and plug it back on the switch?

Thanks folks!
Mark
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  #8  
Old 12-08-2015, 11:35 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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Location: Hubbard Oregon
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One way would be to use something like THIS

You can also google double spade connector or dual spade connector to find many options.
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  #9  
Old 12-09-2015, 08:30 PM
mantry mantry is offline
 
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Location: Bountiful, UT
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Stopped by a friend who works in a TERMINAL shop and picked up a handful of those Double Spade terminals, looks like they will work great. I was a little concerned about quality control and if they would fit tight and not wiggle off and they look like they will be great!
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  #10  
Old 12-13-2015, 09:58 PM
mantry mantry is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Bountiful, UT
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Going to be working on installing the T 30 Electronic tach this week. They mention that you need to install a supplied resistor on the two leads that go to the mag switches. I will be using a FASTON crimp connector on those leads but I'm wondering how I should incorporate the resistors on the leads?

Suggestions?

1. Take the FASTON and cut the lead of the resistor and crimp one end of it in the FASTON and then crip the other lead of the resistor to the wire leading to the tach via a crimp on butt connector?

2. Same as above but solder the resistor lead into the FASTON and then solder the tach lead on to the other end of the resistor and cover all in heat shrink?

3. Crimp a short 2" piece or 22 ga wire into the FASTON and the solder the resistor to it and the lead going to the tach and cover in heat shrink?

or
____________

Thanks in advance and always appreciate the help of all the folks here.
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