How do I measure my RPMs with no tach ?

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thenewguy65

New Member

Jun 14, 2006

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0

Sep 8, 2006

#1

• Sep 8, 2006

• #1

How do I measure the RPMs if my cluster doesn't have a tach ? Can I get a handheld one like vacuum gauges ?

 

krash kendall

Active Member

Nov 19, 2004

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36

Aldergrove, B.C. Canada

Sep 8, 2006

#2

• Sep 8, 2006

• #2

Some timing lights have that option.

 

6

66Runt

Member

Jun 11, 2005

680

2

18

Sep 8, 2006

#3

• Sep 8, 2006

• #3

Sears has a cheap Tach/Dwell meter

It's about the size of a Girl Scout cookie box. Works very well, and is pretty inexpensive.

 

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tylerrocks

New Member

Oct 13, 2005

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Big Spring, TX

Sep 8, 2006

#4

• Sep 8, 2006

• #4

autozone has some fairly cheap tachs that attach to your steering column or under dash. simple to wire, thats what I did.

 

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THX 138

Member

Oct 7, 2004

375

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16

Los Angeles

Sep 8, 2006

#5

• Sep 8, 2006

• #5

get really good with your algebra and figure it out from your mph and gear ratios.

 

K

KStang65B

New Member

Sep 9, 2006

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Sep 9, 2006

#6

• Sep 9, 2006

• #6

Sears is the place!

I agree. Sears has all sorts of excellent automotive tools.

Actron Dwell Tach Volt Meter: Sears # 00902165000
Craftsman Engine Analyzer: Sears # 00921029000
Actron AutoTroubleShooter Digital Multimeter & Engine Analyzer: Sears # 00920925000

I have the Actron AutoTroubleShooter Digital Multimeter & Engine Analyzer and it works great.

 

TBP

Founding Member

Nov 14, 2000

681

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16

Transient

Sep 9, 2006

#7

• Sep 9, 2006

• #7

KStang65B said:

I agree. Sears has all sorts of excellent automotive tools.

Actron Dwell Tach Volt Meter: Sears # 00902165000
Craftsman Engine Analyzer: Sears # 00921029000
Actron AutoTroubleShooter Digital Multimeter & Engine Analyzer: Sears # 00920925000

I have the Actron AutoTroubleShooter Digital Multimeter & Engine Analyzer and it works great.

Click to expand...

I have the same one. Works great since my tach doesn't work.

 

F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

Founding Member

Dec 6, 1999

4,818

1

69

BC Canada

Sep 9, 2006

#8

• Sep 9, 2006

• #8

Well the only way to measure RPM is with a tach. You can get aftermarket tach's, or things like timing lights with a tach built in...but the only way to measure RPM is with a tach.

Of course: you can calculate RPM if you know your tire height, transmission gear ratio, and rear axle gear ratio.

 

SHIFTY101EASY

New Member

Feb 24, 2006

129

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0

Sep 9, 2006

#9

• Sep 9, 2006

• #9

just buy the friggin cheapy tach....no one should have to do that kind of math lol....this is supposed to be an enjoyable thing to do...

 

Henceforward

The Avatar Master

Founding Member

Jul 17, 2001

485

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0

Sep 9, 2006

#10

• Sep 9, 2006

• #10

Here are two affordable tachs.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...irect&categoryId=22425&parentCategoryId=10339

Auto Meter Z-Series Gauges

2-1/6" Electrical

105-2697
5,000 RPM
$97.99




105-2698
8,000-RPM
$97.99

 

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tylerrocks

New Member

Oct 13, 2005

514

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Big Spring, TX

Sep 9, 2006

#11

• Sep 9, 2006

• #11

my autozone tach cost me like $30-$40

 

zookeeper

Founding Member

Aug 25, 2001

3,415

63

109

Rogue River, Oregon

Sep 9, 2006

#12

• Sep 9, 2006

• #12

My car doesn't have a tach (yet) but I needed to know what RPM to set my idle at, so I borrowed a hand-held tach from work. Basically I just put a piece of reflective tape on the crank pulley, aimed the pickup (looks like a timing lite) at the tape and squeezed the trigger. I've seen similar units at various tool sales catalogs for under $20.

 

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TOM B

20+ Year Stangneter

Nov 15, 2002

872

1

16

Harrisburg Pa

Sep 9, 2006

#13

• Sep 9, 2006

• #13

If your really cheep you could mark the damper and yet a video camera and record the damper spinning for one minite then slow the tape down and count!

 

zookeeper

Founding Member

Aug 25, 2001

3,415

63

109

Rogue River, Oregon

Sep 9, 2006

#14

• Sep 9, 2006

• #14

What if you don't have a video camera? That would be the classic situation, wouldn't it? Some guy figures he can't afford a $90 tach, so he buys a $600 video camera to do a frame-by-frame shot of his damper! Sounds like a guy I used to know, he had a fairly quick Karmann Ghia drag car, but no driving skill whatsoever and kept missing shifts and blowing up fragile VW motors. After the third motor in six races, my brother asked him why he didn't buy an ignition with a rev limiter to at least help keep the motor semi-safe. His response was, "...I can't afford it, those things cost over $200..." Never mind the fact his big cc VW motors were going for about $1800 a pop...