Re: Hand Held Laser tachometer
As a side note: On the use of a "reflector" for the laser tach to aim at (ie: the target).
Since you often have to stick the reflector tape (any common reflective white or red tape works equally well) and the tape doesn't always like to spin around fast and 'stick' to greasy engine parts ... well, I have had good luck using a dab (or thin line) of silver paint to mark a "spot" to aim the laser tach at; if the flywheel is darker and duller in comparative "shine", and your work area is not sunshine bright, the silver paint can often be 'counted' by the laser tach A-OK.
{I have even had some luck with typewriter "white-out" as a marker for the laser target, especially when I added a few glass beads from my bead-blaster to the wet paint!}
In short, the laser tach likes a defined *reflective* spot/line it can clearly (discreetly) count. BUT it can even pick up a bright shiny piece of anything nearby rotating ...so watch your target for false readings ... and hold the laser beam *safely* close to the rotating part to avoid beam scatter, while avoiding getting yourself grabbed/hit by moving engine parts. (my laser tach likes 6"-12" from target for good readings)
Finally, my cheap Chinese Laser Tach eats the life from batteries, and will give lousy readings when the batteries are running low. I keep the batteries fresher by removing them after use. Hope your new laser tach is accurate, and doesn't eat batteries too!
