Tachometer died

[Magicman]

OK, I am new to OTT.

I just bought a new to me M4900 Utility Special 4WD (2005 model) last month and have been getting acquainted with with it. This morning I noticed that my tachometer had quit working. I have not had time to do any searching but I am assuming that it is manual with a cable like our old auto speedometers were back in the day. Yup, since I am 76, my day sometime stretches back further than I can remember.

If I can be pointed into the right direction I would appreciate it. Also you may have some do's and don't 's for me.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Cable operated with a right angle drive off the timing gears if it's not an electronic engine.

 

[Magicman]

Looks like I found where the tach cable enters toward the front of the injector pump. Getting to the tach head may be a real problem but it was dark. I'll get a better look tomorrow and verify whether the failure is the cable.

 

[D2Cat]

You may be able to easily remove the cable from the front of the engine and use a cordless drill to spin the cable to see if it moves the needle.

 

[Magicman]

Thank You Guys for your help. My first visit to OTT and I was immediately pointed in the right direction. Now I will have to figure out how to get behind the instrument cluster. It does not look very user friendly.

The picture shows the disconnected end plus the stub on the tach end.

 

[D2Cat]

You only need to get behind the cluster IF the needle does not turn by the drill. Remove the end at the engine first, so you can easily power it with the drill.

 

[Magicman]

Oh the needle does not move because the cable is "broken". Note the stub end in the above picture. I also shined a light into the threaded hole and the tach drive is turning and varying speed as the tractor engine speed changes.

I am not gonna remove the instrument panel until the new tach cable gets here because I have some subsoiling and disking to do.

A tech at the shop told me that it was a booger but doable.

 

[Magicman]

Just a follow up to say that I replaced the broken tach cable and to say Thanks for the quick responses. This cable broke before I got my WSM so I was kinda shooting in the dark. The old cable had an almost 90 degree bend at the tach head and that is where the inner cable broke.