1966 Tach not working

[Joe D.]

Just bought a 66, 327.350hp. Arrived last week. The tach is not working. Don't know where to start looking first. Thanks, Joe DeLuca

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Just bought a 66, 327.350hp. Arrived last week. The tach is not working. Don't know where to start looking first. Thanks, Joe DeLuca

About 95% tach drive or cable.

[Bob R.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Mine broke at the bend where the cable goes into the distributor. I think that is the most common location. Disconnect the cable from the distributor and pull lightly on the cable end. You will probably remove a 2" long piece of cable.

[Joe D.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Thanks, I will give it a try this weekend. Joe

[Edward J.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Joe,A easy check is first unhook the cable from distributer and look at the shaft to see if its moving while the car is running. if okay next spin the cable with your fingers and have someone watch the tach to see if it moves. C-2 cable make a shape bend at the dist. cables tend to break if not lubed regularly.

[Jim C.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Over the years, the only tach problems I've had with my 66 small block Corvettes are broken cables. As a matter of fact, I recall the first time a cable broke, it started making a squeaking sound while I was driving. By the time I got home, the tach wasn't working any more. Check the cable.

Jim C.

[Joe D.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Checked the tach cable and the tach moved when I turned the end. I guess its in the disrtibutor. Is it difficult to pull the distributor and replace the gear? I have done minor repairs, never removed a distirbutor. Thanks for the help, Joe

[Joe R.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Joe,

Most likely you will need a distributor shaft and a countergear. Also the end play on the countergear should be set. This will prevent this from ever happening again (in our lifetime). The best bet is to send the distributor to one of the experts advertised in the "Driveline". The reason I recommend an "expert" is because the pieces from the broken gears usually destroy the lower bearing that is pressed into the distributor housing. By the time you purchase the correct tools you have enough money into the project to pay the "expert".

JR

[Edward J.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Joe, its pretty easy on the removal,remove dist. cap, note the position of the rotor when removing the dist. cap,as you are pulling upward on the dist. the rotor will turn slightly, note the dist. rotor as it is out all the way,this will be the starting point when you re-install.(the rotor will rotate on the removal and install because of the curvature of the gear).

Next,take a flat blade screw driver and remove the bronze housing that holds the the tach driven gear( there is also a brass thrust button behind the driven gear), then removal of the dist shaft, This will require a roll pin punch as the gear is held on with a roll pin,once removed you'll pull the shaft upward, sometimes they they take alittle up and down motion to remove because of the varnish that builds up on the shaft after many years.

The pieces you will need to rebuild is the- driven gear, thrust button, a new shaft, checking the bronze shaft bushings in the housing is a good idea to they may be the reason the gear failed.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1966 Tach not working

Joe, its pretty easy on the removal,remove dist. cap, note the position of the rotor when removing the dist. cap,as you are pulling upward on the dist. the rotor will turn slightly, note the dist. rotor as it is out all the way,this will be the starting point when you re-install.(the rotor will rotate on the removal and install because of the curvature of the gear).

Next,take a flat blade screw driver and remove the bronze housing that holds the the tach driven gear( there is also a brass thrust button behind the driven gear), then removal of the dist shaft, This will require a roll pin punch as the gear is held on with a roll pin,once removed you'll pull the shaft upward, sometimes they they take alittle up and down motion to remove because of the varnish that builds up on the shaft after many years.

The pieces you will need to rebuild is the- driven gear, thrust button, a new shaft, checking the bronze shaft bushings in the housing is a good idea to they may be the reason the gear failed.

Without check the archives, I believe the thrust button was not used in 1966. My 68 and even my July built 1970 Corvette do not have thrust buttons in their distributors.