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Dauntless Tach Not Working

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by rejeep, Oct 25, 2018.

  1. Oct 25, 2018
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Rochester, NY
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    tried to hook up a tach this past weekend and i wasn't getting any tach signal.

    Pos/Neg on the gauge is simple.
    as should be the tach signal coming form the neg side of the coil...

    however, after wiring correctly I was not getting anything other than the needle bounce on first key crank.
    Any basic troubleshooting?
    its a points distributor with an external resistor, inter-web says that shouldn't be an issue..

    any thoughts?

    tach im using
    Amazon.com: VDO 333 959 Tachometer Gauge: Automotive
     
  2. Oct 25, 2018
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    Setup for 6 cyl? Some brands you pull the housing and set dip switches.
     
  3. Oct 25, 2018
    zinertia2

    zinertia2 "and which part are you keeping?" 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Greencastle , IN
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    Issue with odd fire? I have added a tac to my build that uses the alternator (adjustable to different ones) to provide my RPM measurement based on cautions I have read.
    Possibly over cautious!
    :)
    Dennis
     
  4. Oct 25, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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  5. Oct 25, 2018
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Rochester, NY
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  6. Oct 25, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    OK, can you confirm the switches are set on-off-on?
     
  7. Oct 27, 2018
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Rochester, NY
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    Didn’t get a lot of time to fiddle with this, heading out to Vegas for conferences and SEMA....

    Dip switches were set correctly and at first glance wired just as diagram indicated...

    Deff a head scratcher at this point.
     
  8. Oct 27, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    I had issues 30+ years ago with getting tachs to play well with the odd-fire Buick engines. They worked fine with the HEI even-fire Buicks around 1975 era. I can't remember what brand finally worked correctly.
    -Donny
     
  9. Oct 28, 2018
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    I have HEI on my dauntless and I just bought one and plugged it in. Worked right away. Settings for 6 or 8 on the tach. thats it for me.
     
  10. Nov 5, 2018
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    OK, back at this now that I'm home...

    is anybody running a tach with the stock ignition on their motor.
    i don't fully understand how being an odd fire makes it any different than an even fire motor since the tach picks up the signal before the distributor..
     
  11. Nov 5, 2018
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I run a simple 4 wire tach - it works fine. I think you already know all this but: one wire (red) is from 12V source through the key ignition start. Green wire is to (-) coil. White for light bulb and goes to headlight switch to come on when headlights are on. And black is ground. I think the tach kind of averages out the 'odd' fire gap without too much issue for a simple tach reading - might not be good enough for some computer processed signal like EFI etc. The tach gauge always seems to be a bit higher than my handheld meter for dwell, timing etc says - which is what I use for tune-ups. I've run the same tach with points and now with pertronix with same set-up - no problems other than the slightly higher rpm reading (an idle rpm of 850 on the handheld meter looks more like 950 on the guage).
     
    heavychevy and Beach66Bum like this.
  12. Dec 12, 2018
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Rochester, NY
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    so i have still not been able to get my 52mm VDO tach to work with my motor.. despite checking wires, etc..

    can somebody send me a link to a known compatible tach with the Dauntless engines...
     
  13. Dec 12, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Test it on another vehicle. It sounds like you have a faulty unit.
     
  14. Dec 12, 2018
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    tried 2 already...
     
  15. Dec 12, 2018
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    What did VDO say when asking about the issue?
     
  16. Dec 12, 2018
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    I'm running the cheapest pedestal mount tachometer I could find, and I have points ignition.

    Simple hookup--one wire to the coil and another to the hot wire of the ignition and a ground too, I think.
    It's variously called a Dragon Gauge 3.75" tachometer.

    Programmable shift light (wheee!) and 7 color mood lighting :clown:
    It uses LEDs.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Dec 12, 2018
    1967 CJ5A

    1967 CJ5A Mike 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I have a super cheap parts store "Sunpro Super Tach". Worked great for a couple years... until I let it get rained on a few too many times. I used it with points, then pertronix, and finally HEI. Never had any issue.
     
    Vanguard likes this.
  18. Dec 12, 2018
    NCRenII

    NCRenII yellow fever

    Far Nor Cal
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