Tach on a 9n

mgk2081

Member
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to put an electronic tach on a 9n (front mount dist)? I bought a new governor and it has the cap on the back side where you would put the cable for a mechanical tach but there is no square drive in the end of the governor shaft to drive the cable, it's just round. problem is that at about 1/4 throttle the little guy is running so fast that I'm afraid he's going to self destruct. I need to find out how fast it's turning before I can get the linkage and governor set right. any help would be much appreciated.
 
If you don't need it for everyday running you can get a non-contact handheld tachometer for pocket change. They use a reflection area on the
shaft for reading so you could stick one of the included strips onto the front pulley or just polish a small area for it to read from.
 
(quoted from post at 07:57:26 06/23/15) If you don't need it for everyday running you can get a non-contact handheld tachometer for pocket change. They use a reflection area on the
shaft for reading so you could stick one of the included strips onto the front pulley or just polish a small area for it to read from.
that would be fine. I only need it to see what it is running at so I can set the throttle and governor. where would I get this? I checked a couple auto parts places and they have nothing like this.
 
https://www.google.com/search?q=tachometer+wiring&biw=1067&bih=521&tbm=isch&imgil=7bN9lpgz7GzleM%253A%253BJBdIDg2NkazxOM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.fordmuscleforums.com%25252Fall-ford-techboard%25252F420856-need-help-wiring-new-autometer-tach-please.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=7bN9lpgz7GzleM%253A%252CJBdIDg2NkazxOM%252C_&usg=__MZS0H-qf-2MVGt0VQ8ZjxIsxaQA%3D&ved=0CCcQyjc&ei=YnKJVdXrPIzf-QHW5IPoCw#imgrc=7bN9lpgz7GzleM%253A%3BJBdIDg2NkazxOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fordmuscle.com%252Fpics%252FC7Z_Tachwiring.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.fordmuscleforums.com%252Fall-ford-techboard%252F420856-need-help-wiring-new-autometer-tach-please.html%3B650%3B227&usg=__MZS0H-qf-2MVGt0VQ8ZjxIsxaQA%3D
Check above site.
 

Thanks for all the help. got one coming from northern tool. thanks again, i really appreciate it.
mike
 
ngk.........yer 9N engine ain't gonna explode. Yer just NOT used to hearing engines run in yer soundproof BelchMobile-V8. In the late 1940's, yer N-engine was used in 1/4-midget open wheel race cars and routinely turned close to 4000-rpms and 40hp. The carbie was a down-draught Strongberg. Yer 9N is rated at 23hp at 2000rpms. Yeah, the later 4-speed 8N's with 5-nipple dizzys have a "proofmeter" that is also a tachometer. But as the guys say, you can gitt a transistorize tacho with a reflective LED scheme to entertain you. Alotta tachs don't like the LOW speed that our tractors idle (400-500rpms) and you haffta adjust yer side-pointing idlemix screw fer fastest idle, NOT smoothest idle. Understand the difference? ........HTH, Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister
 
I tried a digital tach with inductive pickup on my 9N.
Too sensitive to static to work with wire core plug wires.
It bounced all over the place with no usable readings.
The company offered a "better solution" if I had a coil wire.
No help otherwise. It's still in my cupboard in the shop.
 
(quoted from post at 13:50:38 06/23/15) ngk.........yer 9N engine ain't gonna explode. Yer just NOT used to hearing engines run in yer soundproof BelchMobile-V8. In the late 1940's, yer N-engine was used in 1/4-midget open wheel race cars and routinely turned close to 4000-rpms and 40hp. The carbie was a down-draught Strongberg. Yer 9N is rated at 23hp at 2000rpms. Yeah, the later 4-speed 8N's with 5-nipple dizzys have a "proofmeter" that is also a tachometer. But as the guys say, you can gitt a transistorize tacho with a reflective LED scheme to entertain you. Alotta tachs don't like the LOW speed that our tractors idle (400-500rpms) and you haffta adjust yer side-pointing idlemix screw fer fastest idle, NOT smoothest idle. Understand the difference? ........HTH, Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

that is very interesting.....I never knew that about using them for racing. it's just that the little guy just screams at only 1/4 throttle and the new governor isn't doing a thing. I took it apart and I don't see anything wrong with it. I read another guy's post that he bought a new governor and it didn't work and when he took it apart one of the balls was lodged. I was hoping to find that also but didn't. I will just be more comfortable knowing how fast the little dude is spinning. thank you for your help. mgk
 
yes sir, it would be much easier if I had a regular coil. I did find a tach at northern hyd. that the wire wraps around a spark plug wire and the other goes to ground. I hope it tells me how fast it's turning. I just don't want to take a chance and wreck the little thing. thank you for your help. mgk
 
That's exactly what I bought mgk2081.
Different company, but the same setup.

Now that you've bought it too, the best advice I can give you
is to wrap only one or two turns of the pickup wire, way out
at the end of it around the spark plug wire and keep the rest
of the wiring as far away from the plug wires as you can.
You might at least get "relative readings" that way.

Meaning it was somewhere around "x", now it's "half of x".
You may have better luck than I did, I certainly hope so, but
that was about as close as I could get with the one I bought.
Nothing actually useful as far as accurate RPM's.
 
(quoted from post at 23:28:49 06/23/15) That's exactly what I bought mgk2081.
Different company, but the same setup.

Now that you've bought it too, the best advice I can give you
is to wrap only one or two turns of the pickup wire, way out
at the end of it around the spark plug wire and keep the rest
of the wiring as far away from the plug wires as you can.
You might at least get "relative readings" that way.

Meaning it was somewhere around "x", now it's "half of x".
You may have better luck than I did, I certainly hope so, but
that was about as close as I could get with the one I bought.
Nothing actually useful as far as accurate RPM's.
dang it, I thought I was getting something different then what you tried. I guess I might as well try it as long as I'm going to have it soon. maybe i'll get lucky. sounds like "carlntexas" has had good luck with his. thanks Royse
 
(reply to post at 06:42:48 06/24/15) [/quo

As Royce said I don't think the RPMs are very accurate on mine at idle it shows 700 at full throttle about 1900. I didn't buy it for tach just wanted it for the hour meter I've timed it and it's accurate on hours.
 
i may just return it then. i only need it to get this thing set up, then i don't need a tach.
thanks
mike
 

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