Do I need a diagnostic tachometer?

[cmartin]

I have a 2005 Glastron 175MX with a 3.0L Volvo i/o and it's stalling at idle. I'm thinking about a carb rebuild or at least idle speed/mix adjustments. The online SELOC manual makes it a point to say that I need to "connect a tachometer" and "do not use the tach on your boat!"

My tach is acting funny and I will get around to diagnosing that in time, but do I need to go buy a diagnostic tach for an accurate reading of rpm for setting idle and fuel mix?

If I need one, will any variety do? I've seen inductive types that pick up at a spark plug and conventional analog types too.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

 

[JustJason]

Re: Do I need a diagnostic tachometer?

My tach is acting funny and I will get around to diagnosing that in time, but do I need to go buy a diagnostic tach for an accurate reading of rpm for setting idle and fuel mix?

Here's the deal with tach's........ It doesn't matter if you have the $300 stevens, the one built in to the $500 fluke DMM, a sheffield labs... a vdo, or autometer... no 2 tach's read exactly alike.
The better ones will be close... but not exact.

How about starting with this.... when was the last time the boat had a full tune up? fuel filters, plugs wires etc????????

 

[Bondo]

Re: Do I need a diagnostic tachometer?

Ayuh,.....

Many of the digital Timing Lights have a Tach function......

 

[cmartin]

Re: Do I need a diagnostic tachometer?

How about starting with this.... when was the last time the boat had a full tune up? fuel filters, plugs wires etc????????

I can't say for sure. We just bought the boat from an owner who claimed to be meticulous about maintenance and he gave me a list of the preventive maintenance he just recently did.

However, the boat is in far-from-perfect condition. By no means neglected, but no babied either. A full tune up is probably in order...if for no other reason than to know for sure.