Topic: Tachometer Gauge? Or Tach cable
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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Driving today i heard a loud bad bearing type of noise.
I pulled over to figure out what was causing the noise. the sound didn't quit, it still was a loud screaming sound. Looked at the tachometer and it was going in all sorts of direction, all the way over and back and forth real fast. the needle had broken in half. I didn't know if there was a stop inside the tach that had caused the needle to break in this fast rotation. Had to continue to drive and finally the whole needle came apart and the screaming stopped.
This is a 1968 427 with a cable driven tach from the distributor.
I am thinking that the cable may have somehow quit working on the tach end or the tach quit and the cable continued to wind up from the distributor and when it all came loose the needle went wild like a spring wound up too tightly and then coming loose.
Now I will have to dismantle the lower dash and pull out the tach. Just wondering if I will have to replace the tachometer because of the needle being shot, or just put in a new cable and needle assembly.
Has any of the members had this problem before???
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
NO...that's BROKEN. Sorry, but the tach itself most likely has bit the dust. When the needle swings all the way back/forth like that, it means the coil inside has touched the spinning magnet thingy. Usually caused by dust build-up, but could also be caused by a worn bushing for the tach drive inside the tach.
Now...it's possible the cable is/was binding, and caused the needle to flop like that, but...if it twisted the needle off, the gauge is damaged.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Probably the ass of a painter who didn't cover the car well enough when I had it soda blasted and repainted. I had caustic soda all over the dash and inside the gauges. So I am still suffering from the works of Randolph paint and body in Randolph Texas.
I had plans of taking out the lower dash and cleaning the lenses because you could see soda residue inside.
Now is the time, since I have to replace the tach.
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
Take some pictures and have a person not related to you witness them. If you have damage caused by poor workmanship you may get something out of it. Maybe a clear coat or two.
I would at least tell the owner what happened so that he can take steps to see that it does not happen again to someone. Even if you do not want anything from him it would be of benefit if he knew what can happen when his employees are not careful.
Ask the owner at Randolph paint and body shop what he would consider fair. I know that mistakes happen but a good businessman would want to know and should offer at least an apology for the mistake.
The painter covered the car and trailered it to another place that did the soda blasting. The painter blamed the soda blasting company and the blasting company said it was the painter who would should have had the car covered properly.
I blame the painter who was initially responsible for the care of the car.
It is always someone else's fault these days.
I guess it was my fault for taking it to this paint shop in the first place.
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
It seems to be like that.
I think that I'm lucky in that there is a guy close to me that I purchase corvette part from and he restores about 3 to 5 C3 every year sells most of them overseas. I have made a deal with him to prep my car and take it to his shop as one of his.
That way I'm hoping it will get a little more care as the paint shop has been painting 3 to 5 corvettes for this guy every year for the last 10 years.
And again I'm just looking at a good paint job for a daily driver car. Not planing on taking any prizes with it at shows.
in Forum: C3 Electrical
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