Tachometer questions

[Austin86250]

86 f250 6.9 c6
haven’t seen a recent tach thread
Im looking into getting an aftermarket tachometer
What are good brands that are also budget friendly?
how hard are these to install? Could stop me from doing it all together
what is better doing it though The alternator or injection pump?
thanks in advance

 

[Jim993]

I don't know the answer, but if your stock tack is not working, the usual culprit is the sender on the cam gear housing. $75 +-

 

[mintmoballen]

@Jim993
Probably doesn't have a factory tach since it was optional

 

[Farmer Rock]

He can still add one. The early 6.9 just have a bolt plugging the whole on the timing gear cover. Just toss the sender in and run it to whatever tach you get. Shouldn't be hard at all.


Rock

 

[ROCK HARVEY]

I haven’t bought it yet, but I have this one on my Amazon wish list for when I do my custom gauge cluster. I like that it only goes up to 4k. MOTOR METER RACING Universal Diesel Tachometer for Alternator W Terminal 3-3/8" 4000 RPM Black Dial in Dash https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075F3GJW...abc_65HG4YV6NM02457TR8BH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Austin86250]

He can still add one. The early 6.9 just have a bolt plugging the whole on the timing gear cover. Just toss the sender in and run it to whatever tach you get. Shouldn't be hard at all.


Rock

so a factory sender will work with aftermarket tachs?

 

[Farmer Rock]

so a factory sender will work with aftermarket tachs?

I haven't tried it myself, but I would think any tach that is driven off the alternator can be simply hooked up to the sender unit as long as 12+ and 12- are hooked in. I would imagine any tach that is not cable driven would work. That being said, the most simple way to do this is just an alternator tach.


Rock

 

[IDIBRONCO]

One thing here. Not all of the 6.9s had the hole for the tach pick up in the IP housing. I'm guessing that this was only added when the tach became an option in 1985 (I'm guessing on the year).

 

[Farmer Rock]

One thing here. Not all of the 6.9s had the hole for the tach pick up in the IP housing. I'm guessing that this was only added when the tach became an option in 1985 (I'm guessing on the year).

Yes, I wasn't very clear on that. I believe you are correct on the year as the two 1985 6.9s I have sitting in the garage have the hole for the tach.


Rock

 

[IDIBRONCO]

That's what I seem to recall seeing. I don't think a tach was an option for 83/84, but it became one in 1985. It also seems like most of the 86 trucks that I've seen had a tach.

 

[Norark]

My 84 XLT has a factory tach. I haven’t checked to see if there is a hole in the IP housing for the tach pick up, but now I’m curious enough to take a look tomorrow.