How to measure 2N Engine RPM PTO???

I am working on correct Carb adjustment and IT Ford Shop Manual says to adjust idle at carb to 400 RPM Engine Speed. Is there a tachometer available from Napa, Harbor Freight, etc. that I can use to measure actual engine RPM? While I am at it, I also would like to measure my RPMs at the PTO. I know there is a conversion chart for calculating PTO speed at various engine speeds, but I would still like to be able to take a direct measurement. I suspect most people with 9Ns and 2Ns have the same issue when adjusting an idle speed. Any suggestions on what to buy would be a real help, Thanks to ALL, Larry. PS, it was a bit of a surprise, but adjusting the carb enrich setting really worked in fixing my hesitation problem under load. Easier than rebuilding my Gov!

You can get a tach for $10-15 form Amazon.

Re PTO speed, see tip # 69
75 Tips

Digital LCD Photo Laser Tachometer Non-Contact RPM Meter Handheld Gun $19

Work on diesel , gas , electric , pto shaft . Cut a small piece of reflective tape and stick on shaft or pulley .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-LC...h=item23ad65b20a:g:r3UAAOSw1w5bzUcc:rk:1:pf:0

Digital Engine RPM Tach Tachometer Hour Meter Inductive

You can mount this one on the tractor / lawn mower and keep track of the hours .

Wire wraps around a spark plug wire and counts rotations on a 2 or 4 stroke gasoline engine . $12

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-En...h=item3d795b3b7b:g:dmQAAOSwdhdcCfFo:rk:1:pf:0

(quoted from post at 21:33:24 02/06/19) Digital LCD Photo Laser Tachometer Non-Contact RPM Meter Handheld Gun $19

Work on diesel , gas , electric , pto shaft . Cut a small piece of reflective tape and stick on shaft or pulley .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-LC...h=item23ad65b20a:g:r3UAAOSw1w5bzUcc:rk:1:pf:0

Digital Engine RPM Tach Tachometer Hour Meter Inductive

You can mount this one on the tractor / lawn mower and keep track of the hours .

Wire wraps around a spark plug wire and counts rotations on a 2 or 4 stroke gasoline engine . $12

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-En...h=item3d795b3b7b:g:dmQAAOSwdhdcCfFo:rk:1:pf:0

Click to expand...

Have you tried either of these? I have the exact inductive type you posted and I have never been able to get it to read correctly despite following the instructions to a T.

Harbor freight catalog shows a dwell tachometer and a non contact tachometer. There are many of the "old school" dwell tachs on eBay. Different contact and non-contact tachs there as well. A contact type tach with a point is easy to stick in the center of a PTO shaft to get a reading, just need to get one with a low scale to read the 540 easily. Pawn shops sometimes have both as well. Most parts stores likely have or can get something but the price, and one can hope the quality, may be higher at places like NAPA.

Ken, thanks, this was exactly the info I needed. I was not aware there was such a thing as a non-contact tachometer, or even one that worked by induction. Both seem to be a great solution. Thanks again, Larry.

Have you tried either of these? I have the exact inductive type you posted and I have never been able to get it to read correctly despite following the instructions to a T.

Click to expand...

I had an hour meter / Tach and it worked with no problem . It did seem cheap and the second time I went to use it ( years later ) the battery was dead and I left it alone . I bought an inductive timing light with a tach built in and it worked good the first few times i used it , then it also quit . I have not yet purchased the laser gun type but plan on it for using on my diesel 3000 .

(quoted from post at 19:09:11 02/07/19)

Have you tried either of these? I have the exact inductive type you posted and I have never been able to get it to read correctly despite following the instructions to a T.

Click to expand...

I had an hour meter / Tach and it worked with no problem . It did seem cheap and the second time I went to use it ( years later ) the battery was dead and I left it alone . I bought an inductive timing light with a tach built in and it worked good the first few times i used it , then it also quit . I have not yet purchased the laser gun type but plan on it for using on my diesel 3000 .

Click to expand...

I do have an old inductive timing light/tach from Sears but I haven't tried it on my tractor because the light is 12V and the tractor is 6V.

I wasn't able to ever get the hour meter/tach to work correctly. It would read much lower than it should have been but not by any multiples that made sense, the readings were all over the map.

I do have an old inductive timing light/tach from Sears but I haven't tried it on my tractor because the light is 12V and the tractor is 6V.

Click to expand...

I used a 12v battery sitting on the ground to power the light and clamped the inductive lead on the #1 plug wire

(quoted from post at 19:33:17 02/07/19)

I do have an old inductive timing light/tach from Sears but I haven't tried it on my tractor because the light is 12V and the tractor is 6V.

Click to expand...

I used a 12v battery sitting on the ground to power the light and clamped the inductive lead on the #1 plug wire

Click to expand...

I'll have to try that, thanks.