I need a tachometer! Options? By HotStuff2 (Read 1,156 times)

[HotStuff2]

OK, I've been on a buying spree for the scooter today. ;D

Already picked up the Stage 3 Ignition Kit from ScooterElements, a set of Dragon Custom chrome billet grips I found on eBay for $33 shipped (they won't add anything but bling LOL), and the Dragon Custom Big Shot Air Intake and Big Shot Exhaust (got them for $245 shipped.) I'm waiting to hear back from a guy who has a set of carb jets for me, 'cuz I'm gonna need them, and I know I need a tachometer.

I'd really love to find a nice 2" round tachometer somewhere, (at a reasonable price!) but all the ones I've found are Harley-related, and way over the price I'm willing to pay (they're anywhere from $125 to over $200!) I've found a few on eBay, but I don't know if they'll do the job or not. For example:

• This "Gauge JDM 2"/52mm RPM Tachometer Smoke Tint Universal" seems like it might work; I might be able to mount it by the speedometer, even (maybe surface mount, maybe drill a hole for it.)
  
• this one looks almost identical to the one above
  
• this one with the blue LED readout looks pretty cool (although I'm partial to actual gauges, instead of a number readout, this one looks small enough to be unobtrusive on my somewhat-factory-cluttered gauges.)

Those are just three examples of what I've found so far; most everything looks like one of those three.

Honestly, I've never installed a tachometer before - everything I've driven has already had one installed - so will any of these work? Is there something else I should be looking at? (I know of the Tiny-Tach™, but I really don't like those or even know a good [cheap?] place to order them from.)

And of course, once I get it, how the heck do I install it? I figure with the new air intake and new exhaust, plus the NCY CDI & Racing Wire coil, I need to know what my RPMs are both before installing any of that, and obviously what they are after installing any of those, so I can adjust the idle and whatnot accordingly (if necessary.)

So: As always, the opinions and experience of those who've been doing this longer than I are welcome - and needed!

[alleyoop]

You have to read what they are for, those will not work on a 1 CYL motor. They are for 4,6,8 cylinder motors. Stick with something for motorcycles not cars.
Alleyoop

[HotStuff2]

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. Hoping to find something like those, and thought maybe someone would have a link or something.

[HotStuff2]

What about this one? It says motorcycle tachometer, so...?

.ebay.com/itm/New-Scooter-Analog-Tachometer-Gauge-13000RPM-For-Motorcycle-/300701766592?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460338d3c0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.ebay.com/itm/New-Scooter-Analog-Tachometer-Gauge-13000RPM-For-Motorcycle-/300701766592?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460338d3c0

[alleyoop]

Here is one that is easy to install:
Alleyoop
trailtech.net/tto_tach-hour.html

[HotStuff2]

Yep, I was already looking at the Trail Tech line. I am wanting to find a "regular"-type gauge, and I think I found it:

Equus 2 1/2" Mini Chrome Tachometer - Part # 6076 - MSRP $71.04

They also have a black model, but I like the look of the chrome one better...

All their tachs use inductive pickup per their info page, so it should work perfectly. And I was able to find the chrome model online for $36 shipped, so that should work, no?

[HotStuff2]

Well Alley, once again I'm taking your advice and ordering what you tell me to. Thanks!

[alleyoop]

The reason I recommend that one is it appears it registers in real time not like the Tiny Tachs that are about 1/2 to 1 second slow in reponding to the flow of juice to the spark plug. Plus I also think it is better quality and looks pretty cool as well. Also to show it in a Video working is a plus in my book. To bad they don't make them in Black.

Let us know how it works out for you.
Alleyoop

[HotStuff2]

Well, the Trail Tech tach came in the mail today, and I took the seat off and set it up - generically simple, just wrap the wire around the spark plug cable.

My RPMs appear to be higher than most; she seems to idle in the 1800-2200rpm range (depending on where I set the idle screw), and the back wheel isn't turning. I thought the back wheel was supposed to engage around 1800rpm? The Taotao plate on the bike calls for setting the rpms to 1700, +/- 100, but anything less than ~1750rpm and she wants to die out.

Also, I seem to have to give her a quick turn of the gas when I start her, else she'll die out immediately. One quick turn, and she idles normally. Is that...normal?