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Topic: Bouncing Tach

in Forum: C3 General Discussion


Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/14/07 5:56pm Message 1 of 9
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Indianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2431
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
Oh no.  I can't take much more of this!  First my speedo gave me fits, so I pulled the dash and replaced that.  I'm not very mechanically inclined, so that took me a whole weekend and was not much fun.
 
I am supposed to get a rebuilt clock back soon and was dreading opening things up to replace it.
 
Yesterday, on my way home, the tach started acting up.  Instead of a smooth reading, the needle started bouncing up and down.  I really don't know that I can bring myself to tear into the dash again - seriously.
 
I have a mechanic shop that I trust, but they do well with engines - I don't know how they would do with this.  However, I was thinking, even with the clock, of having someone else do it.  I don't think I'm too far from ProTeam Corvette in Ohio.  Do you think they could do something like this (fix the tach and put in the clock, maybe even find out why the radio doesn't work) on an 'outpatient' basis?
 
If not them, can anyone recommend someone in the midwest that does this sort of thing?  I really struggled to get the speedo in place and functioning (and I must have left the cable for the trip-ometer bound up, since I can't get it to reset since I replaced it), and I really don't trust myself to play with the tach.
 
Help



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Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/14/07 6:05pm Message 2 of 9
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North Charleston, SC - USA
Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176
Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top
Under the TOOLS tab at the top of the page there is a mechanics directory for Corvette shops. There is one located in Thorntown Indian. I think it said Deakins Automotive shop.

If you have te stock ignition and distributor it maybe the filter between the tach and the distributor. It is normally located on a white wire leaving the distributor near the firewall. These filters are known to go bad. It could be the tach but the filter is the second thing I would check. The first would be dirty or loose connections.

Scott



Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/14/07 6:54pm Message 3 of 9
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Victor, NY - USA
Joined: 7/12/2004
Posts: 6842
Vette(s): 2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe, Auto w/HUD. 13K miles in 2015. Sold 1982 Red Coupe
If there is a Corvette Club in town, ask some of the members who they would recommend. There is usually one place in every town that the guys trust.


 
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Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/14/07 9:33pm Message 4 of 9
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
I had the same problem with my tack and it was the filter. It looks like a capacitor from the distributor and mounts to the left rear on the intake manifold. Had a single wire going to the distributor.


Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/15/07 5:24am Message 5 of 9
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20229
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
'74 has a mechanical tach...cable-drive.
The problem is most like a the cable binding some, and probably only needs some lubrication...but it still requires some contortionistic skills to get out.


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Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/16/07 6:43am Message 6 of 9
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Indianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2431
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
I'll start with a check at the tach.  I did have to undo that cable during the speedo endeavour.  Maybe it has worked it's way loose.
 
Thanks guys



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Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/19/07 5:41am Message 7 of 9
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Jefferson City, MO - USA
Joined: 3/9/2007
Posts: 150
Vette(s): 1969 L46 4 Speed Roadster
It does sound like the cable is experiencing some binding.  Check the routing and make sure there are no hard bends in it.  I highly recommend using some cable ease to lube up the cable.  I used it on the speedo and tach cables when I rebuilt the 69.  I also used it on the back drive (ignition interlock) cable.  It sure made the difference between keeping the original cables or having to replace them.  With the tach and speedo cable I held the end up, put some in and then moved the center cable in and out a couple of inches repeatedly.  When all of the lube was sucked in I did it several more times.  Works great.


Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/19/07 4:57pm Message 8 of 9
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Indianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2431
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
Thanks guys.  My clock should be here soon, so I guess I'll give this one more go, and make sure there are no binds in the tach cable.  I need to get the tripometer cable loosened up anyway.  I hate not being able to use that!


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Bouncing Tach

Posted: 6/23/07 8:20am Message 9 of 9
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Indianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2431
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
As an update, I tightened the cable connection at the tach (it really wasn't very loose), and everything has been fine since!!
 
Thanks for the advice everyone!



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