Smith's Tachometer Information and Notes
First published in 9/2008 Revisions ongoing, R. Kwas
[Comments Added]
Note: I am looking for: 1. Specific circuit for the Gen 1 voltage Sensing Module installed in front of Radiator. 2. Specific info on interaction with Electronic Ignition modules. If you can help with info beyond what you see here, please e-mail...thanks! R
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Non-working Tach
Is your Tach not working? See
also SW-EM Tech Article: Two Wrongs make a Right!
...sometimes it really can be as easy
as simply tightening a loose thumbscrew!
Age Related Problems
Explanation of Why Sensing Polarity
Matters
Practical Confirmation of the Importance of Sensing Wire Polarity
Notes on Conversation with Mark
Olson.
Reference Information
Comparison of Smith's
Tachometer Versions as fitted to Sport Volvos.
Additional
variations of the Gen 1 Tach
Instrument negative
connection
In-depth
video presentation of Smiths Tach
Smith's Tach Related Discussions
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Smith's Second Generation Model No. Model No.
RVI 3410/00
First things first! Over the production run of the 1800 model, three different styles of tachometers were fitted...and after 50 years, a vehicle may not have the original it came with...infact, Volvo's own shop literature recommends replacement of the Gen1 units with Gen 2 units if the Gen 1 units ever came in with a failure (Reference: )...so here is info for determining which style a vehicle has: Tachometer Commercial Sites
Here is my compilation of info on the Smiths supplied Tachometer, as fitted to all Volvo P1800 vehicles. This info is presented for reference, some is included for completeness and unconfirmed by me...I will always try to attribute information from other sources. It has been a long time since I've been inside an 1800 Tach, and the last time I had one open, was long before electronic cameras were commonplace. The next time I have one apart, I intend to confirm details, and that the circuit within is as shown here. Until then, here is a circuit diagram I have found in my research:
Circuit Diagram of Generation One and Two Smiths Tachometer as used on the Volvo 1800
('61 -'69, see below).
(Attribution shown, and I have recently spoken with Mr. Olson, see below.)
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Notes on Function:
The Tach is a current sensing type, signified by the I in Smith's Part Number RVI 3410/00. Input (primary of T1) consists of an inductive link (also: "Impulse Loop") only. There is no galvanic connection between input (Ignition primary circuit of vehicle) and internal circuit of Tach. This gives two distinct advantages: 1. It assures that no failure of Tach can disable vehicle IGN, and that 2. ...the same Tach (with some simple reconfiguration) can be used with "positive earth" vehicles (typical configuration of many British vehicles of the era, and this should not to be confused with the polarity of the current in white "sensing wire". See Sensing Polarity Matters below!).
T1 Primary! It may not look like a transformer, but it is!...and
that bracket (from the rust, likely of tin, a ferrous metal)
holding the two turns of primary
wire in place, is actually part of the transformer's magnetic core!
Missing here is the little
plastic spacer intended to prevent vibrations from chaffing through
insulation
and making electrical contact with internal conductors.
The plastic part is not critical to immediate function, it serves to prevent long-term chaffing of the wires on the sharp metal edges...but the two turns, and in the correct direction, ARE!
Graham Coutts picture, used with his kind permission,
shows the originally installed plastic insulator well.
A disadvantage of this inductive-only coupling is that the Tach is compatible with only single pulse electronic ignition systems like Pertronics, or '75 240 Volvo Ignition Amplifier electronic ignition conversions. If an 1800 is upgraded to multiple spark (Multiple Discharge or also "Shower of sparks") electronic ignition systems, the Tach is unlikely to function at all...it might deflect as the T1 does couple in some edges, but indication will be anything but accurate.
Tachometer wiring excerpt of 123GT diagram,
1800 tach wiring is substantially the same.
Ignition Coil Primary Current path is shown in
Blue,
and only one polarity of White sensing wire will allow correct Tach
function!
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Theory of Operation (source: M. Olson):
The two transistors together form a monostable multivibrator, or one-shot. Normally, the collector of Q1 is at 6V. An ignition pulse couples through the transformer to trigger a one-shot voltage pulse to 12V on the collector of Q1 for a set amount of time. Every time an ignition pulse is detected through the transformer, the collector of Q1 will pulse from 6V to 12V for a fixed amount of time. While the collector of Q1 is at 12V, the top of the meter is held at 6V by the Zener diode, so current will flow through the meter, causing the needle to deflect. The width of the voltage pulse is determined by the combination of the 0.25uF capacitor C2 and the combination of resistors R3, R4 and pot. R5. The one-shot is triggered by every ignition pulse, so the voltage waveform looks like a series of pulses when the engine is running. Since the pulses are fixed in width and the frequency of the pulses is determined by the engine speed, the ratio of the time the waveform is at 12V vs. 6V goes up with increases in engine speed and down with decreases in engine speed. The way the meter works, the more time the waveform is at 12V, the more the needle is deflected and the less time the waveform is at 12V, the less the needle is deflected.
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Non-working Tach (External Power Issues):
Is your Tach not working? See also: Two Wrongs make a Right! In this documentation of unusual symptoms associated with Tach non-function, it was found that the root-cause of the non-function of Tach was quite simply a poor chassis connection from the housing of the Tach to the Dashboard of the car by way of the securing straps, which hold the Instrument in place!! Beware: Tach negative power return is strictly indirect and through its mounting hardware!
The vehicle in question was in a late, carbureted 1800, with dual Brake System, and the associated Brake Warning Switch and Indicator, so this led to some very unusual symptoms, which are detailed in that tech article, but the bottom line is that in order to assure Tach has power to function as expected, it MUST have a good connections for its power, and that means not only the wire bringing in Ignition Power, but also from from its Housing to the Dashboard, and this is provided by the holding straps shown here:
|
1800
(Smiths) Instrument mounts are either two, single sided "J" shapes, or a single
"U" shape, which straddles the back of the instrument.
In both cases shown, Thumbscrews tighten these onto on threaded posts on the
instruments, to draw the Instrument securely into its hole in
the Dashboard...but the electrical fun does not stop there(!), since the Instruments do
not have individual connections and wires for their negative
return current,
these mounts also serve as the electrical return path for the instrument!
What does the reader of the SW-EM site think the author
recommends to keep this
current path conductive and free from corrosion...?
(Two pictures stolen from epay offers...Condition: Good, gently used,
and 50+ years old, but sold
As-Is!)
...so if your Tach is not working, or working intermittently, or even
working but temperature dependent, the very first thing you might
check and try is to simply tighten the thumbscrews of the Instrument holders as
seen above...and if that brings no joy, you can also try tightening the two screw
on the back of the Instrument which not only secure the internals to the
Housing, as shown here...you might just get lucky with this "Simple Fix"!
...and note that if your 1800 is a later Injected E, with a Gen 3 Instrument, this situation and advice STILL apply to you, because neither Gen 2 (Turquoiseface) or Gen 3 (Blackface) Tachometers had separate negative power wires, but only return their operating power to chassis by way of the Instrument Housing, and securing brackets.
See also: Instrument negative connection
Tach power connections are critical to its function, but they are all
indirect and through hardware!
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C2 (likely electrolytic construction, responsible for mono-stable circuit timing) looses capacitance as it ages. Slow failure of this cap. causes symptoms of Tach being erratic, temperature sensitive or just plain dead. C2 problems are the most common. Replacement is the only remedy. [At this point, there are non-electrolytic caps, not susceptible to drying out, like tantalums, available in that value range, so that's what I recommend replacing C2 with.] Calibration will be affected if this cap is replace, so should be checked and adjusted.
The slider on the calibration potentiometer (R4) goes intermittent and/or open after many years. Associated symptoms are: ???? To permanently fix this, measure terminals of variable resistor, and replace with soldered-in fixed resistor(s). Recheck/adjust calibration after repair. [This used to be my recommended repair, but better yet, rather than make this major modification, simply apply a drop of Deoxit D5 to potentiometer to protect the resistive element long-term, and allowing one to keep Tach original. Reference M. Olson Conversation below This is also good practice any time has access to the internals of the Tach. ]
Electrolytic capacitors such as C3 are also known to open as they age and electrolyte dries up [probably the most common issue!]. I recommend replacing C3 as a matter of course... and apparently Mr. Olson has some experience with other components failing. [I have spent some quality time on the phone with Mr. Olson who has lots of experience with these Tachs as he operates a service repairing and calibrating Tachs of various manufacturers. See my Notes on Conversation with Mark Olson. ]
UPDATE: Note that this failure mode of C3 opens the interesting option of a non-invasive repair (see internal Tach circuit diagram)...since this filtering component is on the power node (which is accessible on the outside of Tach)... a perfectly effective repair can be implemented without opening up Tach(!) ...because there is nothing sacred about the physical location of the component...only the electrical location is important!...so the filter cap can simply be added externally as shown below! That would also explain the success of "Rainflye's" addition of a remote capacitor to calm down the easily excitable Tach on his '73 1800ES. See: https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1590735/1800/73_es_tach.html
Back of a Generation Two Tach (Smiths model RVI
3410/00), showing in Red
where to locate hole necessary to access calibration
potentiometer,
and a possible location for an external filter capacitor in
Yellow (observe polarity!).
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Explanation of Why Sensing Polarity Matters: Input transformer T1 couples pulses from the Ignition coil Primary circuit into the Tach circuit. In studying the voltage and current waveforms of the Primary circuit in following (generic) oscilloscope waveform below, it is clear that these are quite non-symmetrical...meaning the waveform coupled into the transformer secondary will be also non-symmetrical...and since the Base-Emitter circuit of Q1 is unidirectional and polarity sensitive, only the higher pulse excursion (occurring at time o, Points Opening) provides sufficient input pulse to the Q1 base to trigger one-shot (Ref. Theory of Operation above)...if sensing wire is reversed, excursion of waveform coupled in the required polarity is insufficient to trigger Q1...resulting in pulse not making it through Q1 and no tach function. Note: I am confident in this explanation, but it is theoretical only...I haven't verified this in the lab!
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REW [Intials only as he didn't get back to me with permission to use his full name] asked in a posting: "Some in this group recommend the Pertronix electronic ignition. Got that installed and the car runs well. The problem is with my tach. Two mechanics are stumped about how to get the electronic ignition and the tach to function. Anyone else have and resolved this issue ?"
My response: "If Tach functioned as expected before installation of Pertronics, but doesn't function afterwards, I suggest you try other polarity of Primary current sensing wire! See: https://www.sw-em.com/Smith's%20Tachometer.htm... Please let us know how this works out for you. Good Hunting
His response after making this change: "...did work. Thanks for the suggestion."
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Additional Links:
Link to Brickboard Thread of subject of tach: http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1190301
...and a Link from that Thread, to an informative site mentioned: http://www.classictiger.com/techtips/motach.html
Links to UK Volvo Forum Thread: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=48795
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddZ0E2Wd6Ic John Twist of University Motors converts a positive earth MG Tach to negative (this video has much good info applicable to the Volvo Tach): Of note is that the MG version of the Tach is packaged in a bayonet case which can be opened relatively simply (hardened rubber O'Ring not withstanding) to work on the internals. In the Volvo version, the chrome bezel is permanently swaged-on, needing to be bent back carefully to allow disassembly.
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Tachometer Commercial Sites (I have no interest in these outfits, nor experience with them...this info is included as a reference only, anyone with first-hand experience working with them is invited to relate this to the author.):
http://www.volvosolutions.com/1800inst_tach.html This outfit, apparently in Canada, has excellent info on identifying the three models of Smiths Tach used in Volvo 1800s, as well as a good explanation of why they are not compatible with electronic Ignition conversions. I see no changes or updates to their site in years, so I don't know if they are still active...I have sent an e-mail inquiry (Update: I have spoken with Roger D operator of the site who says that he is keeping the site up, but is winding the site down.). Model info from this site:
'61 - '64 (to Chassis No. 125001) First Generation Model No. Model No.
RVI 1310/00, identifiable by
"4 Cyl Negative Earth" on Tach face, and a separate,
remote
sensor module for ignition pulses, containing the meter driving circuit, located in front of the vehicle radiator,
to keep the sensitive electronics out of engine compartment with its' wildly
varying temperatures.
Note: The remote module is NLA, so many of the first generation
Tachometers have been replaced by second generation type, because the form
of the gauge part in the dashboard is the same. Both are still
subject of age related problems described here.
PLACEHOLDER FOR ADDITIONAL INFO ON
TACH, GENERATION 1
'65 - '69 Second Generation Model No. RVI 3410/00, identifiable
by "4 Cyl" on Tach face. Ignition pulse
sensing and meter driving circuitry is integrated in gauge.
'69 - '73 Third Generation Model
No. RVI 3412/00, identifiable by black
face.
See also Reference Information: Comparison of Smith's Tachometer Versions as fitted to Sport Volvos.
Nisonger Instruments in New York. This outfit
specializes in rebuilding British Instruments such as the Smiths supplied
Volvo Tach. A gentleman there informed me on the phone that the
current (Mar 2015) cost of an Volvo Tach OE simple rebuild is $225 (note
that the result is not
compatible with electronic ignition conversions), and a rebuild with
conversion to make it additionally compatible with electronic ignitions is
$325:
http://www.nisonger.com/index.htm
“As most of you are probably aware
by now, during the early morning hours of Sept. 2nd [2021] Nisonger’s
facility was buried under 6’ of water as Hurricane Ida passed through the
New York area. A substantial portion of our irreplaceable repair parts
inventory along with numerous pieces of Test Equipment were damaged or
destroyed. After lengthy consideration, we do not feel that we will be able
to provide the level of repair and restoration service going forward for
which we have become so well-known and respected, thus:Effective October
15th, Nisonger Instruments will devote its full efforts to the Sale of
Classic Smiths & Smiths OEM Replacement Gaugers for the AC/Shelby Cobra’s &
GT40’s.”
UPDATE:
" FYI, Nisonger, the largest British
instrument repair facility in the US, is out of the repair business. From
their website:
Mr Olson's Company: Accutach Co. He has been
working on Tachs for a long time and in my
discussions with him, it was clear that he certainly knows his stuff!
http://www.accutach.com
See also a great info compendium on Smith's Tach on Mr. Olson's site:
A gentleman's Guide to Smith's Tachometers by Alex Miller
...info for the layman as well as the electronic engineer!
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Notes on Conversation with Mark Olson (Mar 2015), on the 1800 Tachometer . Mr. Olson was very forthcoming with information, and although he runs a Tach servicing/rebuilding operation, he specifically mentioned that since the Tachs as fitted to 1800 are permanently crimped shut, he does not like working on them because of the mechanical insult they must first be subjected to before gaining access to the internals...
Specific notes:
C2 always needs replacement, but with 0.25uF being a somewhat unusual value, 0.22 or 0.27uf Mylar type are OK to use. Indeed, some variations in the installed component values of C2 and R3 even occur from the factory, but when replaced with these values, the Tach circuit still operates as designed and within a calibrateable range.
The Thermister (T) crumbles into nothingness, resembling rust,
all on its own, resulting in loss of temperature compensation. [I doubt
therefore it was a quality component to begin with. I have asked him to supply
more detailed info as to resistance value and temperature coefficient so that I
can possibly cross-reference other components.]
[UPDATE 9/2022: Thanks to Mr.
Olson for forwarding very useful info on the Thermister: Email Excerpt:
"...I found a Gen 2 tach with a really good looking thermistor, disconnected it
from the circuit and measured it. It turned out that the temperature of the NTC
thermistor (measured with an infrared thermometer) was exactly 77 degrees F (AKA
25 Degrees C) which is where they spec them. The reading I got was 10.6 Ohms.
It appears that it is thus a 10 ohm NTC thermistor."]
Germanium transistors Q1, Q2 do degrade, but they cannot be replaced with less sensitive silicon replacements.
He does not agree with me that the calibration pot is a major source of problems, and should be replaced. He feels the number one source of problems is the C2. [I will defer to his expertise and experience on this, but I have made him aware of the benefit of a protective drop or two of CAIG's Deoxit D5 into the calibration pot.]
Placeholder for info on Internal his Permanent Magnets findings. Result is somewhat indecisive!...see below!
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Excerpt of e-mail Thread with M. Olson:
Ron,
Neither of the magneto repair guys had a gauss meter. They simply felt the magnetic force against a piece of steel before and after recharging. I have found a gauss meter for $50 and am about to try to order one so I can get actual data.
I can only speculate as to the cause of the generosity of the pre-repaired Tiger tach. The tach is a one-shot whose time constant is determined by the main timing cap and the calibration pot and the series resistor. The only thing that could increase the one-shot pulse would be if the capacitance increased as the main timing cap aged. The calibration was not a straight line, but an arc with the old cap, so it appears to also be frequency related.
Since I do not know the failure mechanisms of those old caps, it is very hard to predict the symptoms. However, most of the original caps I see are cracked and failing, I typically replace them as a matter of course and it solves a lot of strange problems. Bottom line is increased capacitance at lower frequencies is my guess for the cause of the generosity of that particular tach.
The "Balanced Magnetic Moving Coil" gauge you reference is also known as an "Air Core" gauge. Air core gauges replaced D'Arsonval gauges such as the ones in the Smiths tachs. Air core gauges have the benefit of not being dependent on permanent magnets. As air core gauges age, they simply take longer to point to the same angle. They were in use in automobiles of all kinds until they were replaced by stepper motors (in 2005 in the case of the Ford Mustang.) Early instrument clusters use microcontrollers to control the air core gauges, where the process or controls the current in the reference coil and the moving coil to point the needle very accurately. Stepper motors are accurate too, and they use a lot less power.
Probably a lot more than you wanted to know...
Mark
Ron,That Canadian Tiger tach has been an interesting adventure. The tach was completely out of calibration when it arrived. I had suspected that the input cap was allowing the one-shot to trigger on both edges of the input pulse, rather than just one edge as it should. But that was not the problem. Dialing down the calibration pot got it into the normal range, but the tach response to RPM input was a very curved line. The main timing cap was cracked ad looked bad, so I replaced it, and the tach instantly got linear up to about 4K RPM. At 4500 RPM it read 4400, at 5000 RPM it read 4700 RPM and at 5500 RPM it read 5K. It's like trying to work 5 simultaneous equations...
At this point I was suspicious that the permanent magnet was in need of a recharge.I had located a retired guy who can recharge magneto magnets about 45 minutes South of me, but the guy was pretty cagy about getting together to see if we could recharge my spare magnets. He kept saying he would call me back to schedule a time and place to meet, but it never happened. So I did some more internet searching and located a guy almost all the way up in Oakland who rebuilt magnetos. He was much more helpful, so I drove the hour up to his shop yesterday and he recharged my 4 spare magnets.
After I got home, I loosened the bottom tach board and swapped in one of my recharged magnets. When I put it back together and tried it, the meter movement acted like it was binding on something. I tried repositioning the new magnet different times, and finally got it to work again. It raised the linearity falloff point a bit, so I decided to try a different recharged magnet. ...question is: To what strength...I would expect there to be levels of magnitude, and getting them "recharged" does not guarantee their strength is as it was when Smiths installed them...is there any way to quantify their strength...can you think of a Gauss measurement fixture? ...how about a "one variable at a time method" perhaps using a "Standard Tach" and installing the magnets (precisely positioned) with a known range of gauge rpm inputs, then reading /graphing the indicated values.
I had the same problem getting it to work again after swapping magnets, and was worried that I may have destroyed the tach. I finally got it working again, and it raised the linearity falloff point a little more.
As an experiment, I decided to replace the original magnet from the tach to see what would happen. I was very surprised to see that the linearity was now even higher with the old magnet than it was with the recharged magnets. Very curious. But the guy wants me to ship his tach soon so he can hand carry it back to Canada on his business trip, so I had to quit screwing around with it. It is now linear up to red line. At 5K RPM it reads 4900 and at 5500 RPM it reads 5200. I am recommending he accept that, although I could reduce the Thermister linearizing resistor to get it up to the top. But that compromises thermal compensation.
So the results are somewhat encouraging, but also a bit confusing. I suspect I will have to dig out my old electro-magnetics books to get this truly figured out. But my differential equations are VERY rusty. :) I would prefer to stay away from those too...you are certainly the most experience on these instruments at this point. What would you suggest was the root cause of the "generous tach" at this point...multiple issues?...I would like to include a one-liner explanation for it in my article...age components, aged magnet...?
I also invite you to see my notes on the VDO supplied "Balanced Magnetic, Moving Coil Indicator" as used in the Fuel Gauge. (http://sw-em.com/Fuel%20Gauge%20Notes.htm) Its' design balances the vector interaction of coils at right angles for a supply voltage independent indication...pretty brilliant IMO.
Stay in touch! Regards, Ron
Mark
Mark OlsonAccutach Co.5467 Glennan Ct.San Jose, CA 95129+1-408-357-3541
From: Ron Kwas
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 6:33 AM
To: Mark Olson
Subject: Fwd: Re: Tiger Tachometer Tech ArticleMark;
I am still very interested in cause of the "generous Tiger tach", and would like to include this info in my article...can you shed any light on this yet?
Regards,
Ron
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Comparison of Smith's
Tachometer Versions as fitted to Sport Volvos.
Note: Although they look very similar, it is not possible
to interchange Gen 1 and Gen 2 Tachometers in any way! The Gen 1
dashboard instrument really only contains a meter movement and no support
electronics, whereas the Gen 2 Instrument has sensing and meter driver
self-contained.
Generation 1 Model No. Model No.
RVI 1310/00
[Info added!
See below!]
Fitted from 1961-1964 |
Generation 2 Model No.
RVI 3410/00
Fitted from 1964 - 1969 |
Generation 3 Blackface No. RVI 3412/00 Fitted from
1969 - 1973 (Injected Cars) |
"Smiths, Made in England" on Blue/Green Gauge face. Redline caution area starts at 5500RPM. |
"4 Cylinder, Negative Earth, Smiths" on Blue/Green Gauge face. Redline caution area starts at 6000RPM. |
Black face. |
Meter positive at Yellow, from remote Tach Sensor/Driver Module, Negative at Green, Instrument Lighting wiring, plus an intermittent connection in waiting in Blue! |
Integrated instrument, with an Ignition Primary Current Sensing provision directly on the back of the gauge. |
Gen 3 Tach also uses the current sensing, but T1 Primary is internal to housing, and instead of unusual external sensing loop as on Gen 2, it uses more common connectors to bring connections into the housing. Current polarity still matters! Note color code change below! Thanks to J. Knapp for pix and details! |
Remote Ignition Voltage Sensing Module located in front of the Radiator (where it's a lot cooler than in the engine compartment!). |
|
Gen 3 connector area detail for Primary current sensing (unlike Gen 2, T1 Primary winding is inside housing!). This allows two different colored wires to make connections and removes questions of polarity of the input pulse. Unused connector is for Ignition Power. Info to be confirmed! |
Ignition Voltage sensing is remote from Tach Instrument. Ignition Primary Current Path is not routed by way of sensing circuit. Excerpt from chassis No. under 10,000 Wiring Diagram. | Ignition sensing is local at Tach Instrument. Ign Coil Primary Current must be routed to Dashboard Instrument Current Sensing Loop. Excerpt from chassis No. over 10,000 Wiring Diagram. | Ignition sensing is local at Tach Instrument as with Gen 2. Ignition Power is supplied from Fuse Panel, not armored cable as in earlier versions. Also, note White and Red wiring colors for Primary current sensing. |
Instrument negative connection: For Gen 1, a separate wire is used and shown on wiring diagram. For Gen 2 and 3, Instrument negative return current path is by way of Housing and securing bracket. For Gen 2 a connection is shown, but this is not a wire(!), for Gen 3 no chassis return connection is shown. See also: Non-working Tach above!
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Additional variations of the Gen 1 Tach
Thanks to J Graham Coutts for researching this information, and permission to repost picture showing difference between Gen 1a and Gen 1b versions!
A rearview of both Gen1a and Gen1b shows no discernable differences, but the b
version was given the higher Redline area, (similar to Gen2 units).
Gen 1a - RIVSM - Ch No 0001-6000 5408-
Valve Springs (weaker) Smiths PN (RV1310/00) -
Tach Face 5500RPM starts Redline area ( "Smiths, Made in England" in turquoise
area)
Gen 1b - RIVSM - Ch No 6001 5409 10000 - V
Sp (stronger) Smiths PN (RV1310/02) - Tach
Face 6000RPM start of RL area. ( "Smiths, Made in England" in turquoise area)
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Link to an informative document published in 1966: Smiths - The Care of Instruments
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Data for NTE158 Germanium Transistors: Source: http://www.nteinc.com/specs/100to199/pdf/nte158.pdf
This would be a good Germanium replacement transistor for Q1 and Q2 of the Smith's Tach.
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In-depth video presentation of Smiths Tach:
The following are screenshots from Steve F. in Belgium, who has taken lots of time and effort to study the Smiths Tach in-depth. He is electronically qualified, so knows of what he speaks when he explains the theoretical operation, including oscilloscope waveforms, showing function at the component level, and has produced a very informative two part YT video series. Some of the material may be beyond the capabilities of a typical owner, but watching these vids sure beats watching the Golf Channel if you ask me!
Excerpt of my e-mail to him: "I do notice one minor difference in the circuit between the MG you describe and the Volvo configuration I am familiar with...in the MG, the Tach pickup loop is on the supply (high) side of the Ignition Coil Primary circuit...in the Volvo installation, it is on the Points (low) side [necessitated since there is no access to the power side in the Volvo application because of the Armored Ignition System!]...but since the induction pick-up transfers the pulses of ignition current, technically it obviously does not matter, so this is clearly just an installation difference between MG and Volvo.
The other, more major difference in the Volvo version is that the larger chrome case is (unfortunately!) permanently swaged/curled over, making it necessary to gently bend this formed metal away to allow the unit to be taken apart...the versions as used in the British cars have an advantage here, as even though it may be difficult because of the deteriorated O-Ring, they can be disassembled and reassembled without such doing damage to the case! "
Screenshots presented with Steve F's kind permission. https://youtu.be/w5auLGtzTqY
C2 after replacement of the original dried out one, with a nice new one.
This likely corrects many of the symptoms of non-function.
Video author demonstrating function, and checking calibration with Signal
Generator and Oscilloscope.
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Smith's Tach Related Discussions:
My response to question of Tach (Smith's add-on) in a 140 not falling below 1100RPM (even when Ign was OFF!).
If this was not an issue before installation, and needle went to zero before, it may simply be a mechanical problem with the precision meter movement...a grain of dust or debris is all it takes!...does it seem to be accurate otherwise, and the problem is just that the needle never drops below 1100? First, I'd disconnect all power to assure needle was not being electrically driven there (unlikely, but should be checked first!), then I'd demount and turn the housing suddenly in axis of needle and against its inertia, to see action of the needle...any mechanical binding of the needle will be able to be verified then...if it still doesn't want to drop below some point, I'd still suspect a mechanical issue like debris in the movement (these are precision, even sometimes jeweled movements)...opening it up and ULTRA-CAREFULLY checking the D'Arsenval meter movement is probably the next step. This is watchmaker level work, so if you are not confident or equipped, or capable of ultra-fine work, you might need to leave this work to a watchmaker or an instrument specialist like Nisonger [UPDATE: Apparently, their shop was damaged by a flood, and they are no longer able to supply some Instrument repair services...better contact them and ask specifically!] or Mr. Olson (no relation, for their contact info, see: https://www.sw-em.com/Smith's%20Tachometer.htm... )
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My response to a generous Tach question (Deutsch) thread on the Volvoniacs Forum: 1800S Drehzahl x 2 (http://www.networksvolvoniacs.org/index.php/Spezial:AWCforum/st/id10229/1800S_Drehzahl_x_2.html):
Eine großzügige Anzeige ist bei diesem Instrument eine
wohlbekannte Alterserscheinung, durch ausgetrockntete Elektrolyt Condensatoren
C2 und C3 der Schaltung (siehe:https://www.sw-em.com/Smith's%20Tachometer.htm#Age_Related_Problems
). Bei den in Britischen Fz verbauten koennen diese Komponenten zur Behebung
nach Ausbau und relativ einfachen Oeffnen des Instruments erneuert werden, aber
bei im Volvo am Rand zugebroeddelte Instrumente erfordert das Oeffnen ein etwas
gewaltiges aufbiegen, was an Schaden grenzt...dies schuechtert natuerlich viele
Werstatten ein, und sie wollen deswegen wenig mit Volvobesitzern zu tun haben...
Wenn die von dir aufgesuchten Werkstatt nicht weiter weiss, dann muss ich deren
Erfahrung mit den Smiths DZM Type RVI, die im Volvo Sport sowie unzaehlige
Britische FZ im selben Zeitraum hergestellt wurden, verbaut wurden...also deren
Kompetenz bezweifeln (nichts boesen dabei gemeint, aber Erfahrung ist hier
wichtig!). Ich wuerde, wenn du selber ueber keine elektronischen qualificationen
und Resourcen verfuegst, eine Instrumentenwerkstatt die mit den Britischen
Oldtimer zu tun haben, aufsuchen...die werden bestimmt die RVI Tachos gut kennen...!
...aber wenn du selber qualifiziert bist, und weisst welches Ende des Loetkolben
zu halten...:
Vorgeschlagene Loesung 1. Als Versuch ohne einer mechanischen Beleidigung des
Instruments, koenntest Du Versuchen die Filterfunktion des C3 durch einen
externen 100uF Condensator wieder herzustellen, wie hier in Gelb geschildert:
https://www.sw-em.com/1800_tach_markup2.jpg
...aber um ein Soufflé zu kochen, muessen auch Eier gebrochen werden...:
Vorgeschlagene Loesung 2. ...aber mit etwas Gefuehl und Einsatz mindest dafuer
benoetigte Gewalt ist es moeglich in das Innenleben des Instrument vorzudringen
(Rand vorsichtig aufbroeddeln!), wo ein electronic Spezialist beide C3 und C2
erneuern kann...das Instrument sollte nach C2 Umtausch wider Kalibriert werden
um akkurate zu sein...
Ich hoffe dies gibt dir einen guten Hintergrund und Behebungsmoeglichkeiten...die
Hypersensitivity von deren Jean spricht ist ebenfalls durch die reduzierte
Filterfunktion des C3 verursacht...also koennte VL1 hier wirklich Abhilfe
bringen! (...hat es hier:
https://www.sw-em.com/electical_circuit_interaction.htm#Headlight-Tachometer_Interaction_o...!
)...ich wuerde erstmal hiermit anfangen...
Referenz:
https://www.sw-em.com/Smith's%20Tachometer.htm
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External material sources are attributed. Otherwise, this article is Copyright © 2008-2023. The terms Smiths, CAIG, Accutach Co., and Volvo are used for reference only. I have no affiliation with any of these companies other than to present my highly opinionated results of the use and care of their products here, for the purpose of helping other owners keep their vehicles on the road, safe and reliable. The information presented comes from my own experience and opinion, and can be used or not, or ridiculed and laughed at, at the readers discretion. As with any recipe, your results may vary, and you are, and will always be, in charge of your own knuckles!
You are welcome to use the information here in good health, and for your own non-commercial purposes, but if you reprint or otherwise republish this article, you must give credit to the author or link back to the SwEm site as the source. If you don’t, you’re just a lazy, scum sucking plagiarist, and The New York Times wants you! As always, if you can supply corrections, or additional objective information or experience, I will always consider it, and consider working it into the next revision of this article...along with likely the odd metaphor and maybe wise-a** comment.