 Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11
Learned Hand
|
OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11 |
Well, It has been a busy and productive day! 3 hours + to pull out the carbs, change main jets to 135, put back the carbs, install an aftermarket tach, check wiring, put back the long TORs and test! So, I got this cheap tach (about 40$us) and since the Triumph tach here is around 250$.. I figured I had not much to lose! It looked a lot like the Drag Specialties tach, just this one goes to 12,000RPM. Took off the dashboard.  Popped off the Triumph logo by carefully pushing on the little tabs under it.  Here is the tach I got, It comes with a Y to handlebars mount.  I took the Y thing off.. and the screw on the right side was just a tad off the hole on the retaining clip for the tach mount. So, I drilled another hole and voila, it is holding in place nicely.  For the wiring, it comes with 4 wires, just like the Drag Spec. and a little diagram showing the correspondent connection to be made. I followed the instructions on this site, connecting the hot for ignition and light together to the green/red wire from Triumph's own tach connector. The red to coil wire and I also used the ground from the clock connector to the black wire. The package came with these insta-tap. First time I ever used these... worked ok.  Here's installed on the dash, notice the blue lighting... shouldn't be too intrusive for night riding, I believe  And now, here is my view when I look down... the tach, the clock and the speedo. All in line... order please!   This is the item I bought. I doubt you will find it anywhere else but Asia. It is made in Taiwan for a Japanese company. Just in case you ever see this and you are thinking "this thing is way too cheap! can't work as advertise!" Well, I will keep you posted as time goes by to see if this tach continue "ticking" !  PS. Even if it says it is a "Non Normal" tach, it just works like a "Normal" tach... I guess! The joys of direct Chinese to English translations! 
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 988
3/4 Throttle
|
|
3/4 Throttle
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 988 |
Looks Good! Let us know how it works.
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
I like the look, good job. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525 |
Great Post! Thanks Jeff 
Erwin
05 America
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 663
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 663 |
It's a nice looking tach - the numbers are very clear to read. I wonder...does "Non Normal" mean "Non OEM"??? You're right, the translations do sometimes come out funny!
2013 Speedmaster Matte Black
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
|
|
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Good post, great job, nice going!
Live to love, love to live.
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
|
|
Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
very nice looking - good writeup too.
|
|
|
 Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 8
Complete Newb
|
|
Complete Newb
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 8 |
you got a web link at all to where to buy this tacho? very interested in trying your method
good write up too - very clear and seems easy to follow
2008 triumph Bonneville America, short cut silencers, summer screen
Looking to upgrade with: sissy bar, roadster screen, hard panniers, footboards and rocker gear lever
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11
Learned Hand
|
|
OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,202 Likes: 11 |
I got it from the Yahoo auction site in Taiwan. I am afraid it will be difficult to ask them to ship anywhere else... Here is the link for the auction, if it helps in any way: http://tw.page.bid.yahoo.com/tw/auction/1206048339The company making these in Taiwan is: Chia Lin Trading Co. You can email them at: ca.lin@msa.hinet.netThe part # is: CL416-011W Maybe they can tell you if they have a distributor in your country because I am afraid that if I bought it for you, the shipping cost added would come close to what you can get in your corner of the world... Good luck!
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 189
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 189 |
Sorry for bringing. This thread back, but my tach just went crazy and i may need to replace it. My tach was working fine till yesterday it started reading 3k as if it were 0. Today it is reading 5k as if it were the zero mark. I have no idea how to even attempt to correct this problem and do not want to spend $200 for a replacment. If anyone has some ideas such as this that is sold in the USA please let me know. Wish they sold this one in the US as i love the price the look and the blue lighting as i replaced the stock bulbs with blue on my speedo and tach already.
07 TBA, 32" Turnouts, DIY Freak, hard saddlebags, 18" screen, dresser bars, highway pegs, floorboards, fog lights, amber run/turn lights front, red run/turn/stop lights back, blue speedo/tach lights, LED console lights
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
That same tach was available from Drag Specialties, should be able to get one at any place that sells after market HD stuff.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Here is one I came across really fast, have to leave for work so don't have time to find the exact one. Tach
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 32
Greenhorn
|
|
Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 32 |
Just a heads up, I bought one of the Drag Specialties tachs for my 2010 America (efi, elec speedo) and it works only showing 50% rpm. There are/were major electrical changes that year and the tach does not work as it should.
The often used ecu connection on older bikes is not there on the 2010.
Great tach where the application will work, looks good and nicely lit.
One side benefit, my math skills (at least the 2X ones) are used often.
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 189
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 189 |
Quote:
Just a heads up, I bought one of the Drag Specialties tachs for my 2010 America (efi, elec speedo) and it works only showing 50% rpm. There are/were major electrical changes that year and the tach does not work as it should.
The often used ecu connection on older bikes is not there on the 2010.
Great tach where the application will work, looks good and nicely lit.
One side benefit, my math skills (at least the 2X ones) are used often.
Care to take it off and sell it. Lol
Thanks guys for the info. It looks like Eddy has a replacment tach at a good price. I think i will get one from him.
07 TBA, 32" Turnouts, DIY Freak, hard saddlebags, 18" screen, dresser bars, highway pegs, floorboards, fog lights, amber run/turn lights front, red run/turn/stop lights back, blue speedo/tach lights, LED console lights
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 457
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 457 |
Quote:
Thanks guys for the info. It looks like Eddy has a replacment tach at a good price. I think i will get one from him.
looks to me like eddy is selling drag specialties, most likely just like op's.
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Quote:
Quote:
Just a heads up, I bought one of the Drag Specialties tachs for my 2010 America (efi, elec speedo) and it works only showing 50% rpm. There are/were major electrical changes that year and the tach does not work as it should.
The often used ecu connection on older bikes is not there on the 2010.
Great tach where the application will work, looks good and nicely lit.
One side benefit, my math skills (at least the 2X ones) are used often.
Care to take it off and sell it. Lol
Thanks guys for the info. It looks like Eddy has a replacment tach at a good price. I think i will get one from him.
Good call , Eddy is great to deal with. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 32
Greenhorn
|
|
Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 32 |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Just a heads up, I bought one of the Drag Specialties tachs for my 2010 America (efi, elec speedo) and it works only showing 50% rpm. There are/were major electrical changes that year and the tach does not work as it should.
The often used ecu connection on older bikes is not there on the 2010.
Great tach where the application will work, looks good and nicely lit.
One side benefit, my math skills (at least the 2X ones) are used often.
Care to take it off and sell it. Lol
Thanks guys for the info. It looks like Eddy has a replacment tach at a good price. I think i will get one from him.
Good call , Eddy is great to deal with.
That's where mine came from, he is top drawer to deal with.
|
|
|
Re: Another cheap tachometer DIY
|
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
|
|
Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
|
|
|
|
|
