Hi,

Some of you might have noticed in my previous post about the engine ticking that the tachometer wasn't working. I still haven't solved the ticking problem - I want to check out the header tightness, but the bolts aren't just rusted, they're positively decimated, hardly even bolts anymore so much as flaky bits of rust and the hex tool just spins around in there. Need to take a moment to figure that one out.

Anyway, so the tachometer doesn't work and I want to see if I can fix it. The light doesn't work and the cable doesn't spin. I found that the collar where the cable goes into the engine was a bit loose so I tightened that, but to no avail, cable still not spinning.

Perhaps the cable needs replaced, but before I do something like that I've heard the little gear can fall into the engine or something when you do that, is that true?

They make bolt-off tools that look like a socket with spiraled insides.  Hammer onto bolt/nut, turn with wrench.

As far as the cable goes, the cable is just a cable.  You don't need to remove the little housing on the engine that it screws onto so there's no risk of losing the small gears inside that turn off the cam.

Quote from: Watcher on October 03, 2016, 12:07:52 PM
They make bolt-off tools that look like a socket with spiraled insides.  Hammer onto bolt/nut, turn with wrench.

As far as the cable goes, the cable is just a cable.  You don't need to remove the little housing on the engine that it screws onto so there's no risk of losing the small gears inside that turn off the cam.

Cheers, about time I added one of those to my toolbox anyway and maybe some vice grips too.

Be careful you use the right size extractor and go on straight. It might be unavoidable if the bolt is really rusted and brittle, but you don't want to break the head off.
If that happens you'll need to drill it and use a screw extractor...  And having to buy more tools isn't always fun...

Certainly wouldn't be as I'm very sparse on tools. Don't even own a drill and a little tight on cash at the moment...!