[Vwdiesel] Tach for Diesel
Roger Brown
r.c.brown at ieee.org
Wed Apr 7 21:11:18 EDT 2004
Wade Yorke wrote:
>
> I had a 1.9TD installed in my '84 Westy and now trying to get a tach
> hooked up. Apparently I would have to use a signal converter (Dakota
> Digital DSL-1 rev. A ALTERNATOR TACH INTERFACE UNIT getting signal
> from W terminal on the alternator) to use the stock tach.
> The other possibility would be to use an aftermarket tach if one is
> available that would work with a diesel without the expense of the
> signal converter.
> Someone had mentioned to me to get a tach from a '86 turbo diesel
> Jetta and swap it with the Vanagon gas tach. I got the diesel tach but
> the mechanic doing the install could not see how it could work. I know
> nothing about electronics so I am looking for suggestions.
This page should answer the majority of your questions:
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/Tachometer/index.shtml
> p.s. if I do go the signal converter route, it has to be calibrated.
> Do diesels idle at a known rpm so I could use that figure as a
> baseline?
That's the crux of the matter. You can get an optical or contact tachometer from Harbor Freight or similar that will show you the actual RPM for calibration purposes, figuer US$80 for one.
--
Roger
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