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Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 8:22 pm
by Dearg1275
This has stumped me. My Tachometer was working fine before the engine rebuild and has since decided to tell me the engine is turning twice as fast as it is. Nothing in the wiring has changed or even been disturbed. Has anyone any bright ideas or is just that it’s de died to play awkward?
D
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 10:05 pm
by Polarsilver
Smiths back in the day Tachos do not like electronic ign; in my experience ,, so if you are still using conventional Points bin this suggestion.
otherwise Speedy Cables have repaired mine .
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 10:09 pm
by iain1967s
Points or electronic? If points, it could be condenser failure, or try cleaning the contact faces with emery.
Also check you have the + and - wires correctly on the coil, else the HT return path will be via the RVI loop instead of the condenser, causing a double pulse.
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 1:07 pm
by Dearg1275
Still on points. I checked and double checked the coil connections, not that. Reworking the points this morning made no difference. I’ll swap out the condenser but I can’t be sure that any replacement is any better. I must get a remote condenser set up if only as a means of eliminating a duff standard one when trouble shooting. Useful to have in the in car spares box.
The hunt continues.
D
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:35 pm
by finchy533
Is it possible it’s become set for a different number of cylinders? If it’s reading exactly double it might be set for 2 cylinders (or should that be 8?)
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:21 pm
by Dearg1275
finchy533 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:35 pm
Is it possible it’s become set for a different number of cylinders? If it’s reading exactly double it might be set for 2 cylinders (or should that be 8?)
The Tachometer has not been disturbed nor has it wiring. Still a puzzle.
D
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 1:18 am
by LarryLebel
Try turning the fitting on the back, with the loop of wire, through 180 degrees. I have no theory for this. Just grasping at straws.
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:46 am
by Polarsilver
The nylon fitting on the back of the Tacho that the white wires loop through will only fit one way due to the offset hole that locates this item so rotation as suggested is not possible,

Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 12:42 am
by ado50s
Try taking one of the loops out of the white wire at the back of the tsch if all else fails.
Re: Smiths RVI Tachometer misbehaving
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 12:47 am
by Minimat20
Yeah i had to lose a loop to make mine work...it was still exponentially out a bit though...i did make the loop smaller and it helped a bit as the current sensing is very 'sensitive'. Lol.
I bought the new board from Spidya that converts the board to a modern style. Fixed the problem, allows electronic ignition, and still says, RVI on the tach face to keep the purists happy.
For my other car I just bought a RVC for cheap, it works much better and is much easier to install imo.
Cheers!
