How improtant is a Tachometer?

[highonthai]

I have a small Tach in the car, its mounted in the dash on the far left. I can't realy see it when I'm driving and was wondering if you guys use one or not? Seems to me, that I drive with my foot in it all the time anyway.
What gauges do all of you run?
Thanks
Scott

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[racer951]

We run no gauges...only oh [I have been warned] warning lights, 1 for fan belt, one for the oil system. I just listen and feel for RPM's and it's never been a problem although at the last race with the blubbering problem I had 1 was down into 1st a lot in the sand at high rpm and I was curious what I was at. Beyond the curiousity factor, I wouldn't say it's too much of a big deal on a vw/9

[ntsqd]

A tach with a tattle-tale can be useful sometimes. On one Vintage Road Racer I did some work on the owner swore that he never rev'd it over 5k. Based on the wear my employer saw in the engine he put a tach with a t-t in the car. Turns out the owner routinely was taking it up to 7.5k whether he knew it or not. Complained bitterly about loss of power after we put a rev limiter on the car to try to make the engine last longer. In that particular car there were only something less than 275 complete cars ever built, starting in '53. Spare parts or castings had to be made.

Other than that, I support the "less is more" approach. I've heard of some people wiring the lights to always be on unless there is a problem, then they turn off. Removes any suspicion of a bad circut or burned bulb not warning you in time.

[TimHayosh]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I've heard of some people wiring the lights to always be on unless there is a problem, then they turn off. Removes any suspicion of a bad circut or burned bulb not warning you in time.


[/ QUOTE ]

That's interesting! That's the opposite of the way airplanes (and just about everything else) are put together. I like this idea. Wire the filament of the light in series with the field of a relay which, when relaxed will sound a horn.

I think I know of a certain Jeep that will get this treatment!!

[kurt]

"I like this idea. Wire the filament of the light in series with the field of a relay which, when relaxed will sound a horn.

I think I know of a certain Jeep that will get this treatment!!"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim
Way too many lights, bells and whistles for the right seat guy to deal with!!!!! Think KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. My right seat guy (U) has only 2 "too late" lights to look for, nothing else, no gauges, nada.

[TimHayosh]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Way too many lights, bells and whistles for the right seat guy to deal with!!!!! Think KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. My right seat guy (U) has only 2 "too late" lights to look for, nothing else, no gauges, nada.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, what if I wire it so that when we loose oil pressure or get too hot, a cold Coors Light pops out of the glove compartment? Would that get your attention?

[Protech975]

Tim...Very funny! Stuff!
The only reason we left the Tach. in our 9 car was more for testing purposes, when we did some engine work or changed carbs or even exhaust systems, we used the tach to let us know if we were meeting our bench mark settings. other than that I can only remember taking a glance at the tach during a race a couple of time just to make sure I was still up on the pipe which is a must with these low comp. engines. 99% of the time you can hear the engine and base your RPM that way but it's nice to know your still running a strong 5,000 rpm's up a sand wash as well as down a long staight-a-way. I must admit that I have found myself a couple of times sort of daydreaming or caught in tunnel vision and not fully aware that I was lugging the engine. a quick glance at the tach will confirm that. R.S.

[ntsqd]

If you pick the right sensor switches, you don't need a relay. Just simple wiring will turn the lights on with the IGN. Let the switch turn them off when there's a problem. If you are used to seeing lights, and then suddenly there aren't any or one's missing, it'll be pretty obvious.
Besides, if it also sounds a Klaxon horn the flatbiller will think you're trying to pass.

Never really knew what the cause was, but I had a SP 1641 once that would pull until the cooling fan made the oddest sound. Best I can describe it is that it sounded like the blade tips had gone supersonic. Always wished I'd been able to afford a tach in those days. Would like to have known what kind of rpm's it was seeing.