Tachometer
 

I just took apart an SVX tach. I wanted to get the face off of it. Please don't ask me why - I'm working on something and I can't tell anyone until it's finished.

To get the face off the tach, I had to pry the needle off its spindle. What I found out then was that the spindle was spun counter-clockwise a little when assembled so there was some tension in the spring. If the spring doesn't have some tension applied to it, the needle doesn't settle back to zero at the nice even rate - it gets almost there and then slows...

...so is the rotation of the spindle important when the tach is reassembled? I figure that you guys who have installed white gauge faces have to go through this step.

The important part would seem to be the alignment of the needle on the shaft and it's calibration/accuracy afterwards. I hate to say this but I think you opened a can o' worms. You might need the assistance of a speedometer shop, if you can find one they should be able to help. If not try looking for an instrument repair shop (not musical ;) ). Or you can keep pulling the needle on and off until it's close, determined by driving at a set speed, like 60mph = 2000rpm in fourth.....

If I could pull the wiring out far enough, I wonder if I could start the car and then swap the tachs back and forth until they both worked the same. :)

I might also try to contact Denso.

But I wonder - if the alignment of the needle on its shaft is so important, why isn't it keyed?

(Because it's not supposed to be taken apart, stupid.)

I love it when we answer our own questions. I've given myself the same answer too many times. :D

just get one of those really big tacs, ooo and mount it on the hood lol

I want to turn my windshield into a big TFT display so I can have all my instruments onscreen plus a PIP for the DVD! Anyone here seen the old scifi movie with Tom Selleck and Kirstie Alley called Runaway? ;)

KuoH

I don't know why you couldn't Nick, it would be a hassle but effective enough. It's not a mission critical part anyway, so close counts just as much here as in a good game of 'shoes or hand grenades.

If I actually have to do it this way (my research so far suggests that it will not be), do you think I could keep the car running while I swapped tachs back and forth? Or would I run the risk of blowing something?

At this point, I'm really just asking for curiosity's sake.

i actually though of doing this to my rear window...just so I could have pre programed annimations, flick off the jerk behind me, a little wave bye bye, stuff like that. It came out to be way too expensive and far too much work. So I am currently exploring a 356 color lcd, about 15 inches...it's compleatly clear untill you run voltage to it...I can make it more transparent by cutting the voltage down a bit, my only problem is I cant get it to run a composite signal :( if i can figure it out, it will only look like a small rise on the interior of the window :)