Tach on '66 bouncing around

[Michael J.]

I am wondering if there is something wrong with my tach on my '66. In reading the judging manuals, they say the tach needle shouldn't bounce around when engine is revved up, points deducted if it does. Mine does, big time. Maybe 1000 rpm of so bouncing as you rev and let off. The tach drive on the distributor sounds fine, no noises, or behind the tach gauge. Is this a lubrication problem or something worse, like a bad tach or tach drive? Thanks for any ideas.

[Peter C.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

I had the same problem on my 67. I did two things, I removed my gauge cluster and had it reconditioned by D&M Restoration. They told me the gauge had very little lubrication in it. I also removed the tach cable and relubed it. When I put everything back together the tach was as good as new - no boucing.

Hope this helps.

Peter

[Michael J.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

I had the same problem on my 67. I did two things, I removed my gauge cluster and had it reconditioned by D&M Restoration. They told me the gauge had very little lubrication in it. I also removed the tach cable and relubed it. When I put everything back together the tach was as good as new - no boucing.

Hope this helps.

Peter

Thanks for this info. Starting with the easiest thing first, I will try lubing it. Any suggestions as to what lube to use?

[Peter C.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

I used a product called Kable Ease from AGS. I believe I purchase it through Corvette Central. It was amazing to see how much easier the inside cable rotated once I did this. With luck this will solve your problem. Pulling the gauge cluster is no fun and I have to do it again this winter.

Good luck.

Peter

[Bill I.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

Follow instruction on lubing, too much is BAD. Do Not lube the upper 1/3 of the cable, it will wick itself toward the tach fine. Bill.

[Clark K.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

My '65 had minor "needle bounce" when I bought it a year ago. When I had the transmission rebuilt last summer, they found a worn out/defective "bullet" (?) that is on the end of the speedo cable. They replaced the cable since it was beyond lubrication. It immediately cured the needle bounce. -Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

My '65 had minor "needle bounce" when I bought it a year ago. When I had the transmission rebuilt last summer, they found a worn out/defective "bullet" (?) that is on the end of the speedo cable. They replaced the cable since it was beyond lubrication. It immediately cured the needle bounce. -Clark

Please disregard my post. I just realized that you have needle bounce on the tach, not the speedometer. Sorry. -Clark

[Chris E.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I'm curious. Is the tach bounce in this video (around minute 3:30) normal?

My car has a HUGE amount of bounce compared to this car. Just wondering which is right?

(thinking ahead to my PV in September)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut_g0Ct9lCA&feature=related

[Ken A.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

When you "goose" the motor you will see pointer bounce. The video car has normal bounce. At idle or steady RPM there should be no bounce. If the cable is suspect , ALWAYS replace the cable and casing as an assembly, not just the cable.

[Chris E.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

When I punch the throttle, mine does bounce around a bunch, more than the car in the video.

At steady RPM though, my tach does not bounce. I put a new cable in when the car was rebuilt.

[Pat M.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

I'm pretty sure I had both tach and speedo bounce on my 70, and lubing the cables did not cure the problem. But new cables did, and they received no deducts in judging.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

What did you guys use to lube the tach mechanism within the cluster?

[Ken A.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

Watch oil, ONLY!

[Ronald L.]

Re: Tach on '66 bouncing around

Ken Thanks. I have some of that for the grand father clock!