Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

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Reno Speedster
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Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

Post by Reno Speedster » Tue Jul 15, 2025 1:15 pm

I have a great old tachometer that reads in hundreds of RPMs that I am using on my speedster. A while back I saw a tachometer drive that ran off the fan belt in a picture of an English car, but I can’t find the picture and have never seen another. Have any of you made, used, or seen a belt driven tachometer drive on a T or other car? If so, I am interested in any information on what works and how to make one.

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Steve Jelf
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Re: Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

Post by Steve Jelf » Tue Jul 15, 2025 1:58 pm

I don't know about belt drive, but tachometers are a common item for sale on the net at a wide range of prices.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

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DanTreace
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Re: Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

Post by DanTreace » Tue Jul 15, 2025 2:40 pm

Older post on tach installs

Scroll down and photo of fan pulley drive using an o-ring as drive belt.


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Craig Leach
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Re: Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

Post by Craig Leach » Tue Jul 15, 2025 2:59 pm

Hi Morgan,
A while back someone was looking for info on adjusting the speed of a tach drive that came off the back of the generator. But no on the fan
which will maybe need the same ratio change made.
Craig.


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Reno Speedster
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Re: Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

Post by Reno Speedster » Tue Jul 15, 2025 3:16 pm

I like the one that runs off the fan hub. That would be a simple way to do it and using a rubber drive rather than the belt would be simple. I would need to do some calculations to get the ratio right. The mounting is pretty easy as well. The only difference is I am using the 1926 water outlet/fan hub.

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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Any tips on a fan belt tach drive?

Post by Henry K. Lee » Tue Jul 15, 2025 3:21 pm

The ones I have seen Morgan used a rubber wheel as you are stating with light spring pressure from an arm. Turned out it was pretty accurate.

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