Mechanical tachometer?

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George Greer
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Mechanical tachometer?

#1

Post by George Greer »

Trying to find out what Harleys came with a mechanical tachometer, driven by the circuit breaker.

Anyone?

Thanks,

George
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#2

Post by RooDog »

Sportsters, XLH, and FL were optional.
The XLCH drove off the base of the magnetos.
Later nose cone Sporties could drive a cable using the unused hole in the cam cover where the dizzy used to live.
I don't believe they were ever standard on the pre-1970 Big Twins, just a accessory.
I have some fabricated Stainless brackets that should fit your risers, send me the center distance of the front screw holes in the riser caps and I'll confirm the fit....
Pic sent via email....
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#3

Post by RUBONE »

The tachometer for Big Twins was a '65 and up item, early timers never had a drive hole for the cable. Anything used on a pre '65 was fabricated by owners or customizing shops. There used to be an aftermarket kit to use Brit tachometers and drives which involved machining a hole and mounting area in the cam cover for the 90 degree drive.
Early tachometers as used by KRs, XLRs, and XLCHs were chronometric types, later were magnetic.
George Greer
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#4

Post by George Greer »

Thanks for the reply’s.

65 and up….

Robbie, were these special order items?

RooDog, got the mail, I have made one like that.

Thanks George
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#5

Post by hydra74 »

George, this is from the spare parts book 58 up

Hydra74
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George Greer
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#6

Post by George Greer »

Hydra, thank you,

My reprint manual does not show all of the information you posted.

Also I found this:

1968 accessory catalog, scroll down to page 15

http://www.sunnymeadcycles.com/files/19 ... atalog.pdf

Thanks again.

George
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#7

Post by hydra74 »

had to look in my pile of photos
but here they are
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Andygears
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#8

Post by Andygears »

RUBONE wrote: Fri Sep 24, 2021 12:26 am The tachometer for Big Twins was a '65 and up item, early timers never had a drive hole for the cable. Anything used on a pre '65 was fabricated by owners or customizing shops. There used to be an aftermarket kit to use Brit tachometers and drives which involved machining a hole and mounting area in the cam cover for the 90 degree drive.
Early tachometers as used by KRs, XLRs, and XLCHs were chronometric types, later were magnetic.
If the early timers did not have a drive hole, why is the HD number -61 ? Did the factory have a “gotcha” that required the later circuit breaker be fitted?

Andygears
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#9

Post by RooDog »

Sportster parts?
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Re: Mechanical tachometer?

#10

Post by RUBONE »

Good question Andy, especially since those are the years of dual point timers. I'll research my parts books a bit since I have every issue and all the supplements as well as every year accessory catalog.
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