I'm looking for a tach. for my 3 cylinder ford tractor. looking for digital as I need to know whether the engine is running 1200 or 1300 rpm. The dial gauges that go to 10,000 rpm just don't have the resolution I need.
They don't seem to make a tach for three cylinder engines. here's the best page of digital tachs. I've found:
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Is there an easy device to add to a tach set for six cylinders to actually read for a three? Some other idea?
Karl I can't find one right off hand but I had a tach that used an inductive pickup off the plug wire to drive the tach. I guess it would work on any number of cylinders as long as they only fire once per revolution. Steve
Tiny-tach or other secondary triggered tach connected to one plug wire. Doesn't care how many cyls - there are 2 types - 2 stroke and 4 stroke. 2 stroke tach works with double ended coils, which are NOT used on 3 cyl engines.
"Karl Townsend" wrote in message news:48278ab7$0$87934$ snipped-for-privacy@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
There are a bunch of units out there that use sources other than the ignition for tach input. Does the tractor have an alternator? Alternator tachs are common. Lots of engines use a hall effect transducer reading a magnet in the flywheel. I've even seen one setup that used a proximity sensor reading the fins on the generator fan.
What you are looking for seems to be more akin to the readout on a stationary power unit.
Give the folks as Isspro in Portland OR a call----(888) 447-7776. They are who I've used for mobile equipment instrumentation for years.
I'm in a similar boat with the 3cyl diesel tractor I just got (used). Looking at the various commercial offerings I've seen a few that read off the A/C from the alternator, and another that uses a hall effect sensor and a magnet you epoxy to something rotating. I'm not real happy with the prices on them however and am considering just building my own unit using a hall effect sensor.
Thanks, I just ordered a tiny tach. I don't like that it has a sealed battery and will only last 4-5 years and then need to be replaced, but that's the way everything is built now.
I have read all these posts. This is NOT an application for an electronic Tach. Use a mechanical Tach. They come in 1-1 and 2-1 flavors and are very accurate at low speeds. Steve
When the time comes, freeze the unit in the freezer overnight and give it a rap along the sealing line in the morning and see if it cracks open easily.
I will use it to apply fungicide and insecticide. I can get away with using
1/2 what the label calls for but not 3/8. These companies call out higher rates just because most don't apply accurately. In my case, I save about $3K per year. Plus, its good for the environment, yada yada.
Gas is easy. Use a 6 cylinder electronic and look for 2400-2600 rpm - ie, a 6 should just read double what a 3 is actually doing. Adjust your brain (or the industrial strength post-it stuck to the dashboard) and it's easy.
"Karl Townsend" wrote in message news:4828452e$0$218$ snipped-for-privacy@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
For well under 3K you could install a spray controller. I'm most familiar with Raven, was a service tech for years. Also Dickey John and Spray Systems, and a few others are popular.
Install unit, set for desired gallons per acre, and drive.
OK, that brings up a question. How does an alternator tach work? Or I guess more importantly, how does it know the engine rpm based on the alternator speed? If I have different pulley ratios than the calibration for the tach won't it be off? I can easily follow that it is picking up on the frequency of the AC in the alternator, but never figured out how it "knew" the correlation to engine speed.
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