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Tachometer problems

rpeter12rpeter12
New tachometer from Thunder Ranch. Came with my kit and after 130 miles it quit. Didn't really quit but jumps all over. I sent it in to North Hollywood Speedometer and they rebuilt it. Installed it today and have nothing, Called North Hollywood and they don't have a clue other than to send it back again to be checked out. I think it is wired up correctly as there are only three possibilities. Is there anything I should be checking in the way of wiring from the distributor to the coil and so on? Where does the signal for the tach originate? I would like to solve this without another shipping and wait time. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

1959 Thunder Ranch(Speedster)

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rpeter12rpeter12
New tachometer from Thunder Ranch. Came with my kit and after 130 miles it quit. Didn't really quit but jumps all over. I sent it in to North Hollywood Speedometer and they rebuilt it. Installed it today and have nothing, Called North Hollywood and they don't have a clue other than to send it back again to be checked out. I think it is wired up correctly as there are only three possibilities. Is there anything I should be checking in the way of wiring from the distributor to the coil and so on? Where does the signal for the tach originate? I would like to solve this without another shipping and wait time. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
J justinh
Tach signal wire goes to the negative terminal on the coil. Same coil terminal as the small wire that goes from the coil to distributor. But that assumes you're using points. If not, connect it to the tach signal wire from the distributor module.

Other than tach signal (green), the gauge probably just has switched +12V (red), Ground (black), and Illumination (white). I'd verify your power and ground connections.
FM Former Member
If you have any kind of VW distributor made by Bosch 009, vacuum advance etc. then the point eliminator wires up with the red wire on the positive side of the coil and the black wire on the negative side of the cole. The negative side of the coil is where the tachometer signal wire should be attached. Makes no difference if you have or don't have points.
rpeter12rpeter12
If the negative side of the coil is where I make the connection, then I have a problem. Is there any way to check if a signal is getting to the tachometer? I'm assuming that the tach works by picking up an interruption in the circuit on the negative side of the coil, could I then check the wire under the dash with a multimeter with a tach function to tell me if I just have a wire conduction problem?
rpeter12rpeter12
I pulled the tach out and checked the wire connections, Positive and ground were fine but the lead from the coil was a problem. I inserted the stripped wire too far into the connector before crimping and basically I crimped onto insulated wire and the bare wire that came through the fitting probably did not make contact. I guess I will find out when I put it back together.
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