tach not counting up

[TheTurtle]

My tach works as far as RPM.  It matches pretty close to the GEMIII in the panel.  But the odometer is really really slow it seems.  I bought the plane with it at 1304  its now at 1308 and Ive logged at least 15 hours.  Maybe 20.  I havent been watching it closely enough but I think in the first 5-10 hours it went to 1308 and hasnt really moved since then.  So maybe it worked when I bought it and just died in the last 5 hours or so?  I do recall in the first few flights it was changing but not as fast as I thought it should have been.  At the time I put it down as pattern work where tach time is usually lower than actual.

any ideas on whats broken?  I assume theres only one cable?  so its probably the unit itself and not something loose.

Edited September 7, 2016 by TheTurtle

[Mooneymite]

1 hour ago, TheTurtle said:

My tach works as far as RPM.  It matches pretty close to the GEMIII in the panel.  But the odometer is really really slow it seems.  I bought the plane with it at 1304  its now at 1308 and Ive logged at least 15 hours.  Maybe 20.  I havent been watching it closely enough but I think in the first 5-10 hours it went to 1308 and hasnt really moved since then.  So maybe it worked when I bought it and just died in the last 5 hours or so?  I do recall in the first few flights it was changing but not as fast as I thought it should have been.  At the time I put it down as pattern work where tach time is usually lower than actual.

any ideas on whats broken?  I assume theres only one cable?  so its probably the unit itself and not something loose.

Wow!  That's a great tach.  Just think of how many miles you can fly before reashing TBO. 

Unfortunately, it sounds like it's time for a new tach.  May I suggest an electronic version?

 

[TheTurtle]

Just now, Mooneymite said:

Wow!  That's a great tach.  Just think of how many miles you can fly before reashing TBO. 

Unfortunately, it sounds like it's time for a new tach.  May I suggest an electronic version?

 

haha, I was thinking the same thing.  Im going to look into electronic ones.  I need to check the STC for the GEMIII I dont know if it can be primary for tach but anyway it doesnt log total time very well so I need something else.

[carusoam]

One physical spinning cable and a couple of internal gears, if it's like my old 65C.  Check the back of the tach for the oil cup. A few drops of oil go in there at annual.

The one from my C is in my office.  It has 4300 hour on it.

Cables wear and break, the tach runs on and on... Don't forget to lube the cable too...

Best regards,

-a-

[Andy95W]

I had a Mitchell tach that did exactly the same thing.  I (eventually  ) replaced it with an Uma electronic tach.  It is TSO'ed and you can have the red line, green arc, and red arcs put on at the factory and the hour meter pre-set to your aircraft total time.  Looks and works great, worth the extra $150 or so over replacement price of the Mitchell. 

Repairing the Mitchell really is not an option.

[TheTurtle]

Just now, N1395W said:

I had a Mitchell tach that did exactly the same thing.  I (eventually  ) replaced it with an Uma electronic tach.  It is TSO'ed and you can have the red line, green arc, and red arcs put on at the factory and the hour meter pre-set to your aircraft total time.  Looks and works great, worth the extra $150 or so over replacement price of the Mitchell. 

Repairing the Mitchell really is not an option.

one of these? https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/tso_tachometer.php?clickkey=3574

whats the diff between sender 6 and with markings?

I ws thinking of one of these  https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/ei-digitalgraphic1.php

has blinky lights..

[carusoam]

The EI one has been put in a few Mooneys like Marauder's...

 

Best regards,

-a-

[philiplane]

The counter wheel inside the tach is slipping on the shaft. It's a 15 minute fix with a soldering iron once the tach is out of the plane. The hardest part is knowing how to open the case and re-crimp the bezel after.

[TheTurtle]

Just now, philiplane said:

The counter wheel inside the tach is slipping on the shaft. It's a 15 minute fix with a soldering iron once the tach is out of the plane. The hardest part is knowing how to open the case and re-crimp the bezel after.

I have a bigass monkey wrench that should get it crimped.  Screwdriver and anvil?

[Marauder]

34 minutes ago, TheTurtle said:

one of these? https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/tso_tachometer.php?clickkey=3574

whats the diff between sender 6 and with markings?

I ws thinking of one of these  https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/ei-digitalgraphic1.php

has blinky lights..

I think it depends on what you want. The electronic version of a mechanical gauge is one way. Replacing it with a pure digital is another way. I have the JPI 900 which starts logging tach time at 800 RPM I think. The EI I have is my official tach and it records starting at 1,200 RPM.

[TheTurtle]

Just now, Marauder said:

I think it depends on what you want. The electronic version of a mechanical gauge is one way. Replacing it with a pure digital is another way. I have the JPI 900 which starts logging tach time at 800 RPM I think. The EI I have is my official tach and it records starting at 1,200 RPM.

thanks I have drooled over that panel a few times.  no need to rub it in   Now that im actually looking into their gauges... why didnt you get the volt/amp and oil temp/pres for the full stack?  Is your JPI primary for those?

[Andy95W]

The EI is only 2 1/4", the standard (large size) is 3 1/8".  If you are planning on changing all of your instruments to the EI versions, that would be the way to go.  

The UMA tach starts recording at 1800 rpm.

The UMA tachs either have markings or not, the '6' is for the length of the lead.  If you want different red/green arc markings and a different hour meter set, you will have to call them to place the order.  When the order is being filled, customer service at Aircraft Spruce will give you the number for UMA.  That is what I did and talked to them direct to ensure that Aircraft Spruce actually sent the correct information. 

Extra work, but worth it in the end.  Your A&P will be glad you did all the legwork.

Also, I got the sensor that screws in the side of the magneto.  I preferred that because it keeps it further out of the way.

[carusoam]

DP

[Marauder]

Just now, TheTurtle said:

thanks I have drooled over that panel a few times.  no need to rub it in   Now that im actually looking into their gauges... why didnt you get the volt/amp and oil temp/pres for the full stack?  Is your JPI primary for those?

The JPI 900 is primary and so are the EI gauges. I like redundancy but at some point, it can become ridiculous if not expensive. I wanted backup for fuel usage and engine power. Fuel quantity and the rest of the temps are a secondary concern. On our Mooneys, the cluster gauges are a pain to deal with as well. If the JPI fails, I feel I would a higher probability of getting it repaired than my 40 year old factory gauges.

[TheTurtle]

Just now, Marauder said:

The JPI 900 is primary and so are the EI gauges. I like redundancy but at some point, it can become ridiculous if not expensive. I wanted backup for fuel usage and engine power. Fuel quantity and the rest of the temps are a secondary concern. On our Mooneys, the cluster gauges are a pain to deal with as well. If the JPI fails, I feel I would a higher probability of getting it repaired than my 40 year old factory gauges.

yes im kind of in the market for the cluster replacement.  oil temp is wonky, fuel gauges are useless, im suspicious of the ammeter and the CHT is inop.  I figure Ill start pricing stuff to be done at annual in december.  going to sting a little.  Or a great christmas depending on how you look at it

[Marauder]

3 minutes ago, carusoam said:

I think the JPI is newer than the EIs in Marauder's panel.  The panel has gained many skills over time.

Best regards,

-a-

Yeah, I originally had just the factory gauges and the EI F5P-L (I think that is the model). When the avionics shop destroyed my tach by installing too long of a replacement cable, I pulled the tach and MP/FP upgraded them to EI versions. I had the right breaker panel rebuilt to eliminate the 3 1/8" holes and it gave me enough space to put another row of breakers in.

A year later a JPI 830 went in and then a year a half later, I installed the 900 and removed the factory gauges.

Next on the agenda is to rebuilt the left side of the panel.

[Yetti]

carpet and side panels.  if I get bored one day, I might just cut and build you some and send them your way

[Marauder]

15 hours ago, Yetti said:

carpet and side panels.  if I get bored one day, I might just cut and build you some and send them your way

Are you posting any of the pictures of this anywhere? Would love to see what you have done. I'm still speaking with Bruce Jaeger about doing his Spatial Interior in my plane but the carpets are still not decided on.

[Yetti]

well there was this thread from last year....  The smell of leather for a year is nice.