Digital Tachometer

[Fawlty]

Does anyone have any experience of this type of Tacho? It is cheap and seems easy to install. It also looks as though it could be adapted to fit on the handlebars. There must be a catch somewhere.

Any comments:

The link is only used as an example, as it gives some tech detail. They can be purchased from Amazon and other sites also.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spark-Plugs-E ... 3a7b1eaebf (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spark-Plugs-Engine-Digital-Tach-Hour-Meter-Tachometer-Gauge-/251173711551?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3a7b1eaebf)

Apologies to the Mods. I should have posted this under Gadgets.

[Water Warrior 2]

I like that. Not too expensive and easy to hook up. The hour meter is a real bonus. I had an hour meter installed in a truck years ago because I was interested in knowing the amount of running time. I could calculate average speeds too.

[Fawlty]

I have ordered one of these and I will post an update when received.

[Water Warrior 2]

Just a thought. If the tach does not look waterproof you could paint the possible water entry points with clear nail polish.

[Fawlty]

Just a thought. If the tach does not look waterproof you could paint the possible water entry points with clear nail polish.


Thanks for that idea. It is supposed to be waterproof, but I will check it out.

[Water Warrior 2]

I found out the hard way with a digital temp gauge after a couple good rains. Replaced it with a solar power unit from China that was actually better and didn't seem to care if it got wet. For a tiny $5 I had little to loose if it went south after a rain.

[mrlmd1]

These things are very simple to hook up - the lead just wraps around the spark plug wire and uses inductance to record the plug firings.
If I remember correctly the GZ is a dual fire ignition system - it fires off a spark every revolution of the engine, so that tach, if it's set for that, will read the rpms correctly. Some of the 4 cycle single cylinder engines only fire on the ignition stroke (every other rpm), so the reading may be half, so keep that in mind when you get a tach.

[Fawlty]

If I remember correctly the GZ is a dual fire ignition system - it fires off a spark every revolution of the engine, so that tach, if it's set for that, will read the rpms correctly. Some of the 4 cycle single cylinder engines only fire on the ignition stroke (every other rpm), so the reading may be half, so keep that in mind when you get a tach.


Will do and many thanks for your advice.

[5th_bike]

If I remember correctly the GZ is a dual fire ignition system - it fires off a spark every revolution of the engine, so that tach, if it's set for that, will read the rpms correctly.
Yes, you remember correctly.

[Fawlty]

Here is an update. I ordered one of these on Ebay on 21 Feb. and it arrived from China on 11 March. I paid £8.08 Sterling including International delivery.

I fitted it the same day and it took me about half an hour. It works very well and appears to be accurate using the RPM/Speed charts available on this excellent forum.

As you will see from the photos I fitted it on the left hand handlebar clamp. I used self adhesive velcro strip vertically across the clamp and then secured it firmly using cable ties. This works well and there is no vibration on the unit when travelling at speed. It is easy to read.

There is only one cable to attach and this is simply wrapped around the spark plug lead a few times.

The unit is self powered, using an internal lithium battery. The only down side is that the unit is sealed, so when the battery expires that is it. Having said that, for the price I am not complaining, the battery should last a long time but we will see.

No drilling involved and easy to remove without trace if necessary.

The correct configuration for the GZ is 02 (Spark Plug Fires Once Per Revolution).

Sorry about the quality of the installation and operating instruction photos, but they are readable if you zoom in.
http://s11.postimage.org/szek1rhb3/IMG_2085.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/szek1rhb3/)
http://s23.postimage.org/5rcs286vr/IMG_2086.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/5rcs286vr/)
http://s24.postimage.org/cj7bzg4bl/IMG_2087.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/cj7bzg4bl/)

[jonathan180iq]

Man, that's awesome. And I'm happy to see you do your bike work in the living room.

[Fawlty]

Man, that's awesome. And I'm happy to see you do your bike work in the living room.

If only! Mrs Fawlty would not be too impressed. I am restricted to the garage.

[jonathan180iq]

hmm, I can't zoom in on it because the work server things GZ250bike.com photos include nudity... but it looks like carpet in the thumbnail.

[Fawlty]

hmm, I can't zoom in on it because the work server things GZ250bike.com photos include nudity... but it looks like carpet in the thumbnail.


That's a tiled floor. Common over here. Carpet salesmen in southern Spain are a rare and poverty stricken breed!

[jonathan180iq]

Haha. I recokon that makes sense. I assumed, though, with the Moorish influence, that the flooring industry boom that is happening in the Middle East and North Africa would have spread into pop-culture flooring influence... Oh, well. I've been wrong once or twice before.

[5th_bike]

Nice tach.

You can also see the km-only speedometer very well when you zoom in.

hmm, I can't zoom in on it because the work server things GZ250bike.com photos include nudity... but it looks like carpet in the thumbnail.

What? Nudity? In this forum? :whistle:

[alantf]

What? Nudity? In this forum? :whistle:

Well, Snoopy (alias The Red Baron) doesn't appear to have his flying jacket on. :lol:

[jonathan180iq]

I know... It's weird. I'm not really sure how our attachments got flagged as containing nudity but every one of them is blocked when I'm at this desk.

[alantf]

I seem to remember, a while ago, that the pop-up window for uploading pictures, used to have a selection of tick boxes to say whether the picture was family friendly or not. Could it be something to do with that?