I've read several posts that say if the tach isn't working the trailing ignition isn't working. My tach works up to about 3-4 K then stops. It sometimes freezes at about 2 K, and sometimes at 0 K. Do you think this is caused by bad ignitor, bad coil, or is the tach just not working? I haven't been able to get a helper to keep the revs up while I pull the trailing plug wire off to check for spark.

Thanks for any help.

- David

 

I've been having a similar problem lately, but only sometimes.

 

if you have a 79, with the points ignition, and the tach bounces, you need points.

if the tach doesnt work on an 80-85, you need a trailing ignitor

if the tach is jumpy/slow/not working cold then the tach itself is bad

jumpy could also be a poor connection somewhere

 

Sometimes my tach sticks when its cold out, but it fixes itself so I dont worry much. I mean how often is it cold here in Lousiana?

My guess would be,

1) Bad connection
2) Trailing ignitor on its way out
3) Tach itself on the way out

I would keep it simple and cheap. Start off looking for loose connections, it could just be the plug on the trailing coil is loose.

 

Sounds like mine's bad. Darn.

 

mine was doing this for a short while. i had corrosion on my battery terminals. cleaned them, and my problems went away.