TinyTach now external 12volt

[Anorak_ian]

I don't really know where to put this entry as it isn't ground shattering stuff but here goes...

I have just bought a TinyTach, and reading the blurb that came with it I was surprised to see that it no longer uses a 5 year battery. Instead it has power leads to an external 12volt source.

I just thought I'd let you know as I think it's a lot more of a viable item now, knowing that you don't have to replace it every few years.

I write this at the risk that someone is going to tell me that the battery version was discontinued years ago and I was the only one who didn't know.

[IgorVigor]

Sounds good

how much was it in total including postage?

Just out of interest

[Anorak_ian]

It was £69 all in from I.T.C.O. they are very trusting people, in this day and age they post the goods before they get the payment.

itco@btopenworld.com
http://www.tinytachuk.com/
I think they are the main importers based in east grinstead, west sussex.

[IgorVigor]

Fair enough

Will keep that in mind if/when I get an engine for a diesel bike :S

[Sphere]

To make Anorak_Ian look smart

Why would one buy and mount a tiny tach? What is the purpose of this device?

[andrewaust]

That has to be better then the old type "which I have " although when the battery expires I know where it is . To answer spheres query, I've used a tiny tach for service intervals and when sitting on top speeds that I don't over rev the ole thing, also good when pulling up hills in 3rd, unlike petrol engines diesels don't like being taken over the rev limit.

I could never see the sense why the old unit didn't go that way as it does have an external 12V power lead that needs to be hooked up to work, here is the full run down on the unit http://www.tinytach.com/tinytach/diesel.php

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[Sphere]

Wasn't your setup one of the select few that actually ignores the rev limit

What I wouldn't give for 4000rpm. Or 3800. Wonder if my Hatz would die...

[Anorak_ian]

My bike's still limited to 3600 at the moment but I shall open her up to the 4300 to see what she can do, the maths say 93mph, we shall see.
I'm having a bit of bother with the gearbox giving false neutrals and not going in to gear, until it's sorted it's an old Brit plodder. I get those looks from people "oh how wonderful an old Brit bike", "what the hell is it"?

[Sphere]

No fair, you have an RD211

[Anorak_ian]

And it's working better than expected, woomph...

In 4th gear (overdrive) she's doing 50mph at 2000rpm

[Dan J]

I have one of the original "battery" TinyTachs. I thought the battery was simply used to retain memory of running time and max rpm's etc? I thought it was actually powered (along with the backlight) from the 12v line? If not do I have a dead TinyTach to look forward to in a year or two?

Andrew, I'm guessing from your comment that you know how to replace the battery? The unit certainly doesn't look easily serviceable up a quick inspection...

[andrewaust]

I have one of the original "battery" TinyTachs. I thought the battery was simply used to retain memory of running time and max rpm's etc? I thought it was actually powered (along with the backlight) from the 12v line? If not do I have a dead TinyTach to look forward to in a year or two?

Andrew, I'm guessing from your comment that you know how to replace the battery? The unit certainly doesn't look easily serviceable up a quick inspection...

Hi Dan

Do you want the good news or the bad news first? - OK I'll go with the good! My tinytach locked up so I called the supplier (really wanting a replacement) who told me how to peal the front sticky panel open and dig through the silicon to get to the battery "to short it our momentarily", so now I know where it is. Like yourself I'm hoping that the battery is only there for memory but !! When the tinytach locked up the display came up all the time with ignition power off, if you also press the select button whilst the power is off the LCD display will come up. I don't know how true it is, but I was told the 12V wires run the mechanism for the pulse, the battery runs the digital read out "that could be the bad news".

My tinytach has never had a lit display either, I think they can be a bit of a dud, but looks like they may have improved them.

To replace the battery a fair bit of mucking around would be involved, even then it could stuff the thing anyway.


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