Tach cable

[dehavalandb]

Today I was flying and my Tach cable broke. I need to find one pretty quickly, as I was planning to fly from Missoula, Montana to Harlingen, Texas on the 20th of this month. Does anyone know where to find one, the factory doesn't have them in stock. I would be willing to buy one from anyone out there that has a spare. Please help.....


Jonathan Howells
N34236 46' BC12-D

[flyer1]

tach cable

I have one. dont know what it is worth. make me an offer.
I am leave for Anchorage Monday. 269 731 5874.

mike

[crispy critter]

Tach Cable

Aircraft Spruce always has them in stock.Just measure the length of your old one,call them up and they can ship you one overnight.
In case you don't have a catolog or number for them it is
1-877-4spruce(1-877-477-7823).They are open until noon on saturday and they have an office in Ca. also so that means there open until 3pm EST.I have ordered from them before on saturday,had it overnighted to me and it was at my house late Sunday morning.
Hope this helps,
Kevin Mays

[Jim Hartley]

90 degree offset adapter

Johnathan,I replaced my cable once a year until I put the adapter on.Too much of a bend in the cable before and put a strain on the cable. You may already have one but I'll bet you don't.

[M Jones]

Thanks for the info crispy and Jim. In the eight or so years I've owned my '39, I've gone through three tach cables, and need to replace one again. When the first one broke, I was at 1200' MSL about 900 miles from the home base on a X/C. Have to admit that that hadn't happened to me before. I have the big 3 in 1 gauge that takes up the center of the panel. It was pretty obvious when the needle dropped to zero, and I puckered up for a while, even though I could hear the engine running just fine......

I'll have to get one of those adapters too. Mine always fatigues and breaks at the sharp bend in the cable just beyond the back of the case where it has little room to bend at the firewall.

Any tips on where to find one of those adapters Jim, or anyone else?

Thanks!
Mike

[Robert Lees]

Perhaps a salutory lesson for us all: When did you last practice flying with "failed" instruments.

I use one of those rubber soap dish things to cover given instruments so as to practice with no ASI, rpm gauge, altimeter, etc. Try it in controlled conditions, then if it happens for real, it won't be such a surprise.

(Advanced users only: Get 3 soap dish things and blank them all out).

[Jim Hartley]

Mike, I belive my mechanic ordered it from Wag-Aero but I am not sure. His shop is closed today, but if you are having trouble finding one let me know and I will call him tomorrow.

I have flown a few hours without one and did not miss having one other than the engine never records any time in service.

[M Jones]

Don't tell anyone, but I flew the remainder of the trip home, without worring about the RPM. No recording tach, and I know the engine RPM in cruise by the airpspeed anyway. The shock to me was really just the initial sight of the needle going to zero.

Thanks Jim. I'm traveling for a couple of weeks right now. I'll do some checking when I get home, and might get in touch with you about that adapter info later.

Mike

[Jim Hartley]

Mike, it is a tach angle drive adapter from Aircraft Spruce&Specialty and if I rember right it was 50-60 dollars. I think the tach cable I had made last time was that much.

[alwaysoar]

If you have the right angle adapter, there is a very easy fix. Email [email protected]

[crispy critter]

Tach angle adapter

Guys,
I may be mistaken on this one but all of the angle adapters that I have ever seen reverse the tach drive so that it spins the tach clockwise.He said his T-craft has the big original(3 in 1)tach and it spins counter-clockwise(if my memory serves me right).Is there a different angle adapter that doesn't reverse the tach?
Hopefully I'm wrong but just thought I should point that out.If I am wrong I hope someone will correct me because I would like to know the answer for this one myself.

Kevin Mays

[Garry Crookham]

Most automobile speedometer shops can make you a new cable. Check the condition of the cable housing before installing a new cable and lube the new cable (I use Lubriplate 630AA).

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[yerich109]

Tach Cable

Another thing to look at is the right angle drive behind the tach. My tach had been 'bouncing' for a while, so I knew it was breaking. When mine broke, I bought a cable from AS. I connected it to the tack through the firewall and tried to turn it by hand, wouldn't spin. Pulled the tach and found that the 90 deg angle drive was very hard to rotate. When I opened it up, found grease that had to be 60 years old. Cleaned the gears, re-lubricated, assembled, and spun freely.

With the cable routed it was free enough to excite the tach by spinning the cable by hand.

Just something else to check....


Eric H.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Tach angle adapter

Originally posted by crispy critter
Guys,
I may be mistaken on this one but all of the angle adapters that I have ever seen reverse the tach drive so that it spins the tach clockwise.He said his T-craft has the big original(3 in 1)tach and it spins counter-clockwise(if my memory serves me right).Is there a different angle adapter that doesn't reverse the tach?
Hopefully I'm wrong but just thought I should point that out.If I am wrong I hope someone will correct me because I would like to know the answer for this one myself.

Kevin Mays

I believe it can be installed either way

[Robert Lees]

Eric H is correct...my new Aircraft Spruce right-angle drive has a grease nipple. The unit is serviced annually.