Modern Vespa

After trying for months to locate an affordable shop tach, I decided to try a different route. Smorris has a nice write up about using a tinytach in the Technical section. I didn't want to wire mine in permanently, and located an inductive hour/tach from my local Honda power equipment shop. I ended up with the Hardline HR-8061 model which runs off of a single line wrapped around the spark plug wire. It cost me about $40, but I have seen them less expensive on US websites.



What I liked about it is that you do not need to hard wire it in. The 22g wire can be inserted into the unit, and then removed when you no longer are using it. This was important, since I understood these hour/tach meters do not really stand up well inside the engine compartment. I've left the wire attached to the spark plug wire, and just tied it off to the side of the engine compartment for when I want to use the tach.

It is slow, and refreshes in 10 second increments. So you have to be patient when setting your idle.

That's really great.

Another simple project to add to my ever expanding list.

Strange thing is, I couldn't find anything like that, or even a proper tach, at the motorcycle or auto supply shops. Someone suggested that I go to the Honda place since they sell them for their power generators.

I have just found this at my local equivalent of your radioshack. (Maplin) Cost about $40

Just wonder if it will work for setting idle speed?

Product Features

· Rugged, reliable and built to last
· Provides 9 measurement functions, including Dwell, Tach, and % duty cycle
· Compact and simple to operate
· Includes inductive pickup for RPM measurement
· Reads pulse duty cycle and dwell angle for electronic fuel injection feedback carburettors and ignition

Try this
http://justhandhelds.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=001&Product_Code=11001

I don't see why it wouldn't, {edit: provided you can set it for 1 cylinder}. I had read some motorcycle threads here where a similar multimeter was used. As long as it has an inductive input, and I guess long enough lead so that you can hold it near the engine, then it should work.

Says it is for 3 to 8 cylinders. How would you use that with 1 cylinder?

Divide the reading by three maybe? Something like that, depends when the 3 igniton strokes occur.