I read tachometers with a light have a ground. The light wire is red/grn/wht. Before risking taking the cover off. Is the ground homemade to one of the studs that holds the tach in place?
All tachs have a ground or the tach won't work. Ground, 12 volts and signal are needed. A light shares the ground. Did one of the studs have a ground attached?
Does the tach work and the light doesn't? Burned out bulb, maybe?
Or did you mean the light housing touching the tachometer housing shares a ground to the bracket and ground there? The light might have jumped over from the hours meter.
I had the red and signal hooked up. Getting a tach reading, but don't know if it's accurate if supposed to be grounded. The light wire is not connected.