tractormeter

Armand · May 10, 2015

I think I will have to purchase a new tractormeter for my 55 TO35 but before I do I would like to troubleshoot it. Took cable off generator and didn't notice anything wrong with gears. At least thats what my limited knowledge sees.
I was thinking of hooking cable to a varible speed drill and see if the needle moves.
Does the cable spin clockwise or counter clockwise so as not to damage the meter if I missed something else. It seems to be the original meter. Or should I just go for a new one.

miner09 · May 10, 2015

Take cable off generator and turn cable end with your fingers and let someone watch before using drill. I'm sure it's clockwise. If it works your gears are bad in tack drive. Gears run in lite grease. I use assembly grease. Gears are available if this is your problem. Most of the original meters I find are also bad.

maxwell99 · May 10, 2015

Years ago the tachometer started jumping on my 1957, TO35. I took it off, turned it
upside down and sprayed a healthy dose of powdered graphite into the cable opening.
Then I pulled the cable out and graphited it.
Also be sure the gears in the back of the generator are well lubed.

That was years ago and it's still working fine.

Armand · May 10, 2015

thanks guys I'll try turning it by hand first and then open it up and graphite it. Any particular lube should be used on the generator end ?

Steve@Advance · May 10, 2015

Take the cable loose from the back of the meter, start the engine and see if the cable is turning.

If it's not, either the cable is broken or the gears are stripped in the back of the generator.

If it is turning, try putting a light load on the cable by gripping it with your fingers. It should
continue to turn smoothly. If it stops or turns intermittently there is a problem with the gears.

On the back of the meter there is a brass colored socket the cable plugs into. You should be able to turn
it with your fingers. It should turn effortlessly. When turned the same direction the needle moves, you
should see the needle move a little, the faster you can turn it, the more the needle should move, then
return to zero when it stops.

If the socket will not turn, or is rough or hard to turn, the meter will need to be replaced or lubricated.
If the cable was found to be broken or the gears stripped, a possible cause could have been because the
meter froze up. Putting a new cable or gears on a bad meter can break the new cable or gears!

Armand · May 10, 2015

Steve I took cable off the generator and the only way the meter moved was when I pushed the cable in its housing and turned by hand. It sort of flickered a bit and sounded like the was something loose in the meter. The cable itself felt sturdy and really didnt moved in and out . I didnt remove the dash at this point. will do that tomorrow. the needle did move. Also there was tar like substance (really thick) inside the connector that screws into the generator. I have a feeling it wasn't serviced much. But I give it a shot tommorrow and see what happens

tractormeter

Armand

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miner09

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maxwell99

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Armand

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Steve@Advance

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Armand

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