How do I remove the tach?

[BOAT]

Anyone know how the tachometer on the 26M toothbrush pedestal is secured? There is a chrome ring around the tach and I look in there but I can't see how it's all attached. Anyone know how to remove the tachometer?

[K9Kampers]

You need to get inside the pedestal. The tach is held in place from behind via a simple bracket that screws to the back of the gauge, clamping it in place.

[BOAT]

So if i manage to hold on to that bracket and spin the tach you think that might release it?

[K9Kampers]

NO. You need to undo the screw or nut from the backside.

[BOAT]

There is no room in there to get a screwdriver or a wrench - I can't even get my hand back in there. How many nuts are holding it? If there are nuts over on the other side that has no hand hole I can't imagine how they installed the thing.

Not sure how to proceed with this, have you ever removed one? How did you do it?

[K9Kampers]

This is the backside of a typical tach. The black diagonal piece shown is part of a collar around the gauge body. When installed, the pedestal is sandwiched between the collar and the chrome ring. Nuts on the threaded posts secure the bracket.

[BOAT]

On my boat the rack an pinion is right up against that black diagonal with the nuts on either side of the rack and pinion. My hand will not fit over to the other side. Not sure what to do. I guess I need to noodle on this for a while.

[K9Kampers]

I assuming you are accessing the innards via an access hatch on the side opposite the engine throttle. You may have to remove the throttle control from the helm to access from the other side.

[BOAT]

Okay, I will investigate the throttle - never removed that before either - I will inspect. I will report back in a few - thanks.

[K9Kampers]

Found a pic of your throttle...



it looks like a U-flex B-85. I don't think removing this will give you any access.

Try removing the black face of the toothbrush (first removing the steering wheel) for access to the gauge back.

[BOAT]

I can't log into my own photobucket account to post a picture! I have really had it with photobucket - it's really slow and there are lots of ads and it does not even work very well. You guys know of a better picture post site I can use and I will post pictures.

[K9Kampers]

That's exactly why I left photobucket. Went to Flickr...they were great until they started changing their posting protocols every six months. I lost my premium album with them because I forgot to renew it. Still haven't figured out Flickr's latest system!

[BOAT]

Fer crying out loud! I finally got logged into that stupid photobucket and it will not upload a photo. WHAT a piece of crap. I just went to Google and signed up for thier picture thingy - it seems to work pretty well.

So ANYWAYS

When I looked up into the top of the pedestal where my tach is there is no room as the ignition switch blocks all access on the port side and the rack an pinion blocks all access on the starbord side so I removed the ignition just to see if I could at least get one finger on to the back of the tach. I stuck my hand up there and felt around for a nut. I found one.

To get this picture I shoved my phone up into the top of the pedestal and pushed the shutter over and over till I got a picture:


There was no way to get a driver or wrench on it, so I just grabbed it with my finger as hard as i could and twisted.




I guess 48 years of playing the guitar really paid off here, the tips of my fingers are so hard that they were able to turn the nuts. Once I got one nut off I could spin the tach over a little so the other nut was within reach and I wrenched that one off with my fingers too.

Thanks for the info catigale - or I would not have known where to look for the screws.

[K9Kampers]

Are you having a problem with your tach?

[BOAT]

Nope. it works great - motor makes it go up to about 5800 or so, is that okay? I think it's working fine - is that right? 5800 or 5600 or something like that? (Honestly I don't pay much attention to it).