Tachometer setup for diesel?
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Junior User
Joined: May 2006
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Tachometer setup for diesel?
Now that I have installed the 6.9 into my former gas '86 F350 and have it operational I would like to tidy up some of the details. The truck came with a tachometer which was connected to the distributer. Does anyone have a diesel with a tach and where does the signal come from the engine? Is it mechanical or is there a electrical pickup? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Ladner, British Columbia
Diesel and Gasser Tachs are different so you will need to get a dash that has the diesel tach in it. The diesel tach sending unit will not work with the gasser tach in the gasser dash.
The sending unit for the diesel tach is located next to the engine oil filler housing (drivers side, it is a 1" nut with two wires coming out of it. It counts the teeth on the injection pump drive gear.
The biggest job will be to replace your dash.
Seb.....
The sending unit for the diesel tach is located next to the engine oil filler housing (drivers side, it is a 1" nut with two wires coming out of it. It counts the teeth on the injection pump drive gear.
The biggest job will be to replace your dash.
Seb.....
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 588
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Seb, I don't think he has to replace his dash, just the instrument cluster.
I did this swap from my 86 [which had a tach] to my 84 [which did not]....the cluster is easy to re & re, did the same for the sending unit housing, then hard wired it...Bobs your uncle, you have a tach.
I did this swap from my 86 [which had a tach] to my 84 [which did not]....the cluster is easy to re & re, did the same for the sending unit housing, then hard wired it...Bobs your uncle, you have a tach.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Ladner, British Columbia
Originally Posted by bc6.9
Seb, I don't think he has to replace his dash, just the instrument cluster.
I did this swap from my 86 [which had a tach] to my 84 [which did not]....the cluster is easy to re & re, did the same for the sending unit housing, then hard wired it...Bobs your uncle, you have a tach.
I did this swap from my 86 [which had a tach] to my 84 [which did not]....the cluster is easy to re & re, did the same for the sending unit housing, then hard wired it...Bobs your uncle, you have a tach.
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 28
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From: SLC, UT
Isspro
Try http://www.isspro.com/proddetail.php?prod=R8503
I have this in a 84 F350 in the center of the dash. It came with the truck but wasn't working, both magnets were gone. Using epoxy I placed two new magnets on the crank pulley, one stayed on and the other one went somewhere never to be found. I've tried three times to get the second magnet to stick but the temperature must be too cold right now.
Nice tach but pricey - with sensor $207.01 + shipping
I have this in a 84 F350 in the center of the dash. It came with the truck but wasn't working, both magnets were gone. Using epoxy I placed two new magnets on the crank pulley, one stayed on and the other one went somewhere never to be found. I've tried three times to get the second magnet to stick but the temperature must be too cold right now.
Nice tach but pricey - with sensor $207.01 + shipping
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: KY
Hey Rick, There are tachs that will work off of the tach sensor. Which is an analog speed sensor really. Big trucks use these same sensors if they are not a truck that has a datalink dash. Info supplied by the motor. There are tachs that you program for your truck. Meaning that you tell it how many pulses per rev you have, number of teeth on the gear. I can get one for a KW but I don't want one that big. I am putting one in my truck and I am digging around for one that isn't to large that looks ok. I will post when I find one that will suit me. You may like it also.