imnezrider

My '66 tach doesn't work...anyone have a suggestion about where to start??

TIA

Stangatic

Really.... Where to start...... please provide some more information if you want people to respond. Is it a rally pac, Auto meter etc? Did you check the ground wire or the wire that connects the tach to the coil?

imnezrider

Oh sure, you need details...Ok if you don't have a crystal ball, it's has a Rally Pac with an MSD ignition system. Thanks for your response and booting me in the butt.

TomKat

you need an msd tach adapter! to make it work properly

imnezrider

You're right, of course. I suppose that this would be the ticket, (http://www.ehow.com/how_5129867_inst...-ignition.html). I'm concerned about a bad tach also. Generally, a company won't take back anything electrical and this is a bit pricey...all that my wife and I do is take to car shows and I "exercise" it once a week." thanks again. I'll mull it over.

kenash

Hi,
I'll go "out on a limb" and assume you think the Tach is bad because it didn't work after you installed the MSD? Did it work before? Yes, a little history helps even when using our crystal ball.
FYI,....
It has been well documented MSD, Mallory etc. CD multi-strike boxes confuse the early current sensing tachs with the multi-strike system. That is, those factory tachs installed up until the early 70s. This being stated, I had my Rally-PAC checked out and refurbished by Glazier-Nolan located in Souderton, PA. I have experienced all that I have mentioned above. If you want to keep that Rally-PAC, you'll need an adapter. There are two, but, I think you'll need the MSD# 8920 unit.
Happy Motoring....

imnezrider

Thanks for the added info. Maybe this will help. I bought it fully restored and I assume that the rally pac is aftermarket, but I don't know how to determine that for a fact??

kenash

Hi,
I can understand you do not want to pay the $60 for tach adapter, only to learn it does fix the problem, especially, when you learn the "problem" is a dead tach and you can't return an electrical component.

Therefore, the way I see it, you have two choices....
1. Disconnect/bypass the MSD with the Rally-PAC in place...Retry....or
2. Send the tach off to a vendor for testing.

If the tach works, provided it is correctly connected, with the MSD bypassed,then, you have your answer. If that tach worked before, I can just about guarantee the MSD is causing the problem for all of the reasons I and many others have mentioned.

Now this being stated, I have heard, the after market Rally-PAC's tach was changed to the voltage sensing system and will work with the multi-strike units. Any history on the origin of your Raly-PAC? I only have OEMs so I haven't seen the newer look-a-likes. Perhaps, one of those owners will chime in. Or you can call on of the vendors.
Good Luck!

imnezrider

Thanks...I'll think it over. It's not like it serves me a purpose, anyhow. Clock dosn't keep time either. I "might" look around for a used one???

kenash

OK. As for the clock, there are DIY quartz kits for these. I had one in mine when I had my "PAC" installed. The Rally-PACs are a cool recognizable part of the mustang heritage. In my mind it's worth the effort, time, and money to have it in-place. The only reason, I'm no longer running mine is it does not fit the adjustable steering column I installed and I was horrified when I learned this. The pic is how I addressed it...I call it my "Rally-PAC" look!
Good Luck!