Installing tachometer on rope started tiller engine?

[Patrik]

Hey

Got a crazy idea that it would be fun to install a tachometer to see how the engine is performing. But it's a pulley started outboard with tiller!

Can't find any examples of this on the net. Is it even possible?

Regards,
Patrik

[Polwart]

It may be possible relatively easily using traditional gauges depending on what wiring is hiding inside the cowel. However by far the simplest way without a 12v battery, is the tinytach approach... a search should find various posts on this.

[jyasaki]

Second Tinytach.

Info here: Tiny-Tach: Gasoline Tachometers

jky

[Patrik]

Sounds like a smart device! Where should I put the display? Thinking of putting it just on top of the engine.. Is it just one wire between the display and the part wrapped around the plug chord?

[jyasaki]

Sit where you normally pilot the boat from, and figure a spot you can see it without doing any kind of contortionism. I'd think the side of the motor towards the front would work, but would involve mounting holes in the cover. (Though I suppose you could use double-sided foam ape and plan on replacing it every now and then.)

If it were me, I'd zip tie it somewhere inside the cowl, and simply remove the cover when I wanted to get rpm readings.

jky

Sorry; the connections are: a ground wire (tied to the motor block or other groundpoint), and a wire that wraps around a spark plug wire. That's it, as far as I know.

[chris123]

I have a TinyTach on my outboard, works really well.

Mine is cable tied in front of the cowl.

You need to get the right version for the sparking pattern for your outboard.

Cheers

Chris

[Fenlander]

That looks good Chris... probably the best place for one. I'm just a bit put off with the fact you can't replace the battery and have to regard a £60 device as disposable. I wonder if its life would be related to how long the engine runs as well as the time the unit is in standby?

I've nearly bought one a couple of times... this 100% seller looks OK...

Standard Tiny-Tach

I have a laser rev counter for tuning at home in the tank and on the water for a one-off check with a helper. Will use it on this year's hols to check out my prop sizing. Obviously you have to do a few runs with the cowl off so it's not as user-freindly as the TinyTach.

Could be useful for some folks though and only a tenner.

Digital Laser Photo Tachometer Non Contact RPM Tach | eBay

[chris123]

I'm not sure how much the battery life is affected by run time - the unit is permanently on (displaying hours run) even if the outboard is not running.

I would get a price direct:

Tiny-Tach: Contact page for ITCO

Richard Dunn is a really helpful bloke - when my TinyTach cable broke after a couple of years, he sent me a new cable.

SIB (lack of) performance seems to be a popular topic - when you look at the costs of outboards / props / mechanic's time, £60 strikes me a s a good investment.

Cheers

Chris

[ferryden]

I've ordered the hand held laser tach Chris... question of cost but I agree it may well prove to be an investement that's worthwhile (and clears up a lot of my frustration!)
Thanks mate..

Guys, I bought a new tank and fuel line, which seems to feed fuel without any problem (no cutting out or lumpy ride). At the time there were larger diameter fuel pipes... what difference could the flow rate with a larger diameter fuel pipe make to performance one way or the other? (I take it the engine will run at same rate as it's via carb etc?)

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by ferryden

At the time there were larger diameter fuel pipes... what difference could the flow rate with a larger diameter fuel pipe make to performance one way or the other? (I take it the engine will run at same rate as it's via carb etc?)

It won't make any difference on a 15HP engine. Some larger engines can't suck enough fuel through the smaller pipes and therefore have problems.