Shop Tachometer

[burtonrider11]

In the interest of fine tuning the running of our boat, I think it may be nice to have a good, accurate shop tachometer to gauge the boats tachometer with. Is there a specific brand or type I should look at? I see that some people also use digital multimeters as a tachometer as well. I have a very nice multimeter that I used when I was a mobile electronics installer years ago. Back then we installed remote start systems and would test the tach wire with our mulitmeters and tie the remote start system into that, however those were EFI systems.

I am guessing that I would take my black lead and ground that and take my red lead and attach it to the coil? Not sure what post, also, what setting should I be on the multimeter?

If anyone could point me in the right direction in terms of how to use a multimeter as a shop tach (if its even possible) I would be extremely grateful!

 

[Cat nip]

Try to find a photo tach. It shoots a laser beam at a reflective piece of tape tou put on the flywheel and gives you the most accurate readings. And you can use it for anything that spins . It dont care if its 2 stroke or 4 or how many cylinders. They cost about $50 .

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,... Donno the multimeter tach trick,...

I bought an advance timin' light, with a built-in digital tach,....

 

[H20Rat]

Try to find a photo tach. It shoots a laser beam at a reflective piece of tape tou put on the flywheel and gives you the most accurate readings. And you can use it for anything that spins . It dont care if its 2 stroke or 4 or how many cylinders. They cost about $50 .

I've used my RC tach on full size engines before, works well! I usually just put a piece of white masking tape across the crank pulley, and make sure there is enough light from either the sun or an incandescent bulb. (other lights flicker at 60 hz, not good for an optical tach!) The cheaper RC ones don't have the laser, they just pick up changes in the light they are receiving.


Under $20 shipped for this one, from china so it might take a little longer. Haven't dug much but I'm assuming there is a US seller also.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/3012530...&ul_noapp=true

 

[JASinIL2006]

You can also pick up a Tiny-Tach for about $55.

 

[burtonrider11]

Thanks all!