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electric tach in MGA

Posted by cobra25

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electric tach in MGA #1
cobra25 stafford dillon key largo,fl., USA	Posted: April 28, 2012 09:56AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 11

I have a 1958 MGA with an MGB motor. Nosinger wants $375.00 to convert my mechanical tach to electric. My question is, will a MGB tach bolt in and work properly? I also have an electronic dizy. If not what are my options? Also my mechanical tach (which was restored by Nosinger and never used) is for sale.

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Re: electric tach in MGA #2
JimNH Jim Mail Nashua, New Hampshire, USA 1957 MG MGA "Camilla (the Other Woman)"	Posted: April 28, 2012 10:01AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 2,708

how much for the tach?

JIM

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Re: electric tach in MGA #3
mgageoff Geoff Howard Ashburn, VA, USA 1958 MG MGA 1500	Posted: April 28, 2012 11:11AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 673

I don't know current prices for MGB electric tachs, but think you'll find that much cheaper. I also have an MGA with an engine that has no mechanical tach gear (from a magnette) and the mgb tach I have works fine. I have a dm2p4 standard distributor but with Petronix electronic ignition unit in place of points and it all works fine. Barney has some good info on this set up.

I think there are two different types of mgb tachs - current sensing and voltage sensing. I have the current sensing type. Mine is positive earth converted to negative by a previous owner by splicing wires. It needs to be recalibrated and I'm still working on that, but it works fine other than that.

Geoff Howard
http://mgaexperiment.blogspot.com
Now Playing on the Blog (1/6/2013): Sagging With Age

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Re: electric tach in MGA #4
michalakmj Mark Michalak Chicago, USA 1958 MG Magnette ZB "Hilda" 1958 MG Magnette ZB "Mr. Belvidere" 1960 MG MGA 1600 Coupe	Posted: April 29, 2012 09:22AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 288

Yes, the early MGB electric tach fits right in the dash. When you find one, make sure it has the plastic clip on the back with the white wires on it. This is the induction loop necessary for the tach to sense ignition pulse. You can make one if you have no other option. There are also instructions available to convert it to negative ground if you need to.

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Re: electric tach in MGA #5
TRY Tom Young Georgetown, Ky, USA	Posted: April 29, 2012 10:17AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 100

Can anyone post a photograph of the plastic part with the induction loop.
Perhaps with measurements?
I need to make one.

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Re: electric tach in MGA #6
jeffs555 jeff schultz wake forest, nc, USA	Posted: April 29, 2012 01:28PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 287

Don't have dimensions, but Barney has a good drawing of the plastic part and metal loop.
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et202a.htm

The plastic part is not critical and is just there to keep the wire from flopping around and rubbing through the insulation on the metal loop. I believe the metal loop needs to be made from steel, but not sure of the thickness.

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Re: electric tach in MGA #7
Neil MG Neil McGurk Cumbria, United Kingdom 1956 Morris Minor 1958 MG MGA 1960 MG MGA 1961 MG MGA 1966 Jaguar Mark 2 → more	Posted: April 29, 2012 01:35PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,485

Try ebaY UK. There are loads of tachometers coming up all the time. With a bit of patience you should be able to get a very nice one for less than $50. Note that the same size and style (RVI and RVC) was used on UK cars until well into the rubber bumper models, so there are plenty about.

Some more info here:
http://www.british-cars.net/mga-bbs/mgb-electronic-tacho-and-a-non-points-distributor-200907271445298541.htm

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Re: electric tach in MGA #8
Gordon Masor Chico, California, USA	Posted: April 29, 2012 03:42PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 16

Is this the plastic clip you need? This is off a MGB GT Positive ground Smiths Tach.

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Re: electric tach in MGA #9
TRY Tom Young Georgetown, Ky, USA	Posted: April 29, 2012 05:41PM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 100

Yes, that is the assembly I need. I did not know about the steel outer part.
Thanks

Tom

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Re: electric tach in MGA #10
barneymg Barney Gaylord Naperville, Illinois, USA 1958 MG MGA "MGA With An Attitude"	Posted: April 29, 2012 11:41PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 2,210

More pictures of the plastic piece on this page: http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et202c.htm
The retaining U-shape bracket is supposed to be copper. The plastic piece is L-shape with two cross holes for the wire and one hole for the mounting stud.

Barney Gaylord
1958 MGA with an attitude - http://MGAguru.com
Notice: - Do not leave a PM for me on the forum server. Send any private message to my personal e-mail address barneymg@mgaguru.com

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Re: electric tach in MGA #11
jeffs555 jeff schultz wake forest, nc, USA	Posted: April 30, 2012 03:08AM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 287

Would hate to disagree with the guru without checking, so I just pulled the U shaped bracket off mine and it is definately attracted to a magnet and looks to be original. Since it forms the core of a transformer, it would have to be some kind of ferromagnetic material. The thickness of the metal is 0.020" and think I have seen someone say before that they cut one out of a tin can. The legs measure 3/16" across and are 1/2" long. The top is 5/16" wide and it is also 1/2" long. Can't easily get the plastic block out to measure it, but its dimensions are not critical.

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Re: electric tach in MGA #12
mgheathrow Ron Edmond London West, United Kingdom	Posted: April 30, 2012 03:41AM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 45

OK

The tacho required for an MGA which is still positive ground is the MGB 1965 - 1967
The number on the face will be 2401/..
If negative ground the instrument can be converted or try the 2430/..from UK cars 1967-1970
Do not use the 2415/..
You will need to wire in as per MGB diagram

This will not match your Jaeger speedo.....
The pointer is wrong
The gauge is Smiths rather than Jaeger

So if you are a purist you will still want your Jaeger gauge but with electronic internals
This involves making 1 instrument from 2
Send us your original Jaeger instrument and we will produce a hybrid which looks correct
Cost will be less than $200

mgheathrow@hotmail.com

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