Tachometer problems in cold weather

[DJRussell]

Hello all.

I have a GC 2610, approximately 450 hours. Have owned it since Spring 2013. Tachometer worked flawlessly in the spring and summer months. First cold day this fall, it acted up and the rpm's indicated over 3000, even when barely above an idle. Shut it down, and it worked fine. That was with the temperature about 45 F. Today the rpm's indicate over 3000, actually the needle was buried, and made a whirring sound.

Has anybody out there had this problem, and how did you solve it?

If I have to, I would be willing to disconnect the Tachomter for the winter, to save it for the summer when I really need to monitor the rpm.

Problem is, I don't really know how to disconnect the tach.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Jim

 

[DJRussell]

Apologies to all. I have now searched the forum and saw a thread by rjmack, describing exactly the same symptoms. I will simply cover the vent holes in the hood, and if no joy, then disconnect the cable for the winter. I don't want to destroy the tach. Don't really need it for pushing snow, but sure need it for mowing and backhoe work.

Regards

Jim

 

[lobsterman1]

Yes mine was doing the same thing last year. I covered the vents on the hood above the thach and it has not done it since .Many on here have mentioned the same problem .

 

[Egon]

Oil the cable.:

 

[rjmack]

Apologies to all. I have now searched the forum and saw a thread by rjmack, describing exactly the same symptoms. I will simply cover the vent holes in the hood, and if no joy, then disconnect the cable for the winter. I don't want to destroy the tach. Don't really need it for pushing snow, but sure need it for mowing and backhoe work.

Regards

Jim

I tried covering the holes, doesn't really do much. the problem still exists and I am wondering how long it will be before the spinning end of the disconnected cable wears a hole through something important in the dash.

massey ferguson obviously doesn't give a hoot about their name anymore. if there are any lawyers in the crowd, I would be happy to sign up for class action.

Oil the cable.:

you obviously don't own one of these.

 

[Egon]

I tried covering the holes, doesn't really do much. the problem still exists and I am wondering how long it will be before the spinning end of the disconnected cable wears a hole through something important in the dash.

massey ferguson obviously doesn't give a hoot about their name anymore. if there are any lawyers in the crowd, I would be happy to sign up for class action.



you obviously don't own one of these.

No I don't.

Long time ago when vehicles had speedometer cables they used to act up as described. Oil did work for them.

 

[ray66v]

No I don't.

Long time ago when vehicles had speedometer cables they used to act up as described. Oil did work for them.

Graphite would be much better than oil on a spedo or tach cable.

There is a design defect here, and lubrication has been tried.

 

[rjmack]

No I don't.

Long time ago when vehicles had speedometer cables they used to act up as described. Oil did work for them.

this is the problem.

Massey Ferguson Tachometer problem - YouTube

you can see in the video that I have the vent cage stuffed with plastic grocery bags to try minimize the cold air across the tach. I just thought today of taking the radiator screen out and putting a piece of cardboard or plastic in there and try that.

This problem does not occur in warm weather, but it was barely below freezing when I took this video, when it gets cold you can hardly bring the rpm's up at all.

 

[ray66v]

Still glad mine doesn't have a tach. :thumbsup:

 

[Egon]

Finally switched computers and watched the video.

Sound just like the old speedometer cables and acts about the same but with much less swinging.

Suggestion if possible: run tube back from front of engine and use a 12 volt computer fan to blow on the tack????

 

[rjmack]

Finally switched computers and watched the video.

Sound just like the old speedometer cables and acts about the same but with much less swinging.

Suggestion if possible: run tube back from front of engine and use a 12 volt computer fan to blow on the tack????

still not entirely sure whether it is a freezing problem in the cable or the head. tried spraying lock de-icer in the tach, didn't do anything, so I squirted some 3n1 oil in there because the methyl hydrate is so dry, really didn't make any difference.

just in case there is any question, this problem showed up the first winter and every one since. I just disconnected the tach cable first winter thinking mf would figure out the problem and release a fix. now on to 4th winter, absolutely no help from massey ferguson other than to tell me, the first winter, that it was a drive cable routing issue, which they solved by rerouting the cable, which had absolutely no effect. :confused3:

 

[lobsterman1]

Mine seems to be worse at 0 to -3 and not as bad in colder temps . Running at lower R.P.M. helps but not good if you're running a blower .

 

[Egon]

Can you get a heat gun in there and see if things change?

 

[The kid]

Unless this is an electronic tach, then there is moisture inside the cable. A tach just like speedometer has centrifical weights that sling outwards to pull up a clutch to move the needle. if the cable is turning wich can be verified by disconnection the cable at the tach. Start the engine to see if it had rotation. at this point it would indicate the tach itself is the fault. if moisture is in the tach which is not impossible would freeze and slow down the internal weights. To rememdy this. One would have to remove the tach and carefully take it apart. There are Youtube videos showing how. clean the entire mechanism, blow dry and use graphite powder to lubricate all moving parts. Reassemble and make sure everything is tight and waterproof.

One could also spinup the tack with a drill on the other end of the cable during cold weather to see how it reacts before dismantling it for cleaning. Simply oiling (a no non) attracts and traps moisture or graphite only compounds the problem if moisture exist in the cable. It makes sense it applying heat to the tach head that it corrects the problem. Simply service the tach head , dry out the cable with mild heat from a heat gun and seal it up good. That should solve the issues. MF mentioned a cable routing issue. If the cable is elevated going to the tach it's allowing moisture to roll right into it. That's just my two cents.

 

[DJRussell]

Thanks everyone for your input. My symptoms are exactly like the video posted by rjmack. My tach works fine in the summer months, only acts up when the temperature is cold, 0 Celsius, or 32 F or colder. I have taken apart old speedometers, 56 Ford comes to mind, and there is a lot of chance to mess up the workings when taking it apart, and also when cleaning it. Since mine works well in the summer months when I need it the most, I will simply unhook the cable for the winter. I have tie wrapped it where it will not spin into anything, and have closed off the attachment hole to the tach body. Electical connector was a good friction fit over the outside of the attaching point.

Once again, thanks everyone for your input.

Jim

 

[rjmack]

Once again, thanks everyone for your input.

Jim

you're welcome, and sorry 'bout the hijack

 

[bakerg]

Had my first squealing tach yesterday. Started loosening cable nut from tach and the squeal stopped and worked fine the rest of the day.:confused2:

 

[kube1]

I have had my GC2600 for 4 years now. The tach has had this problem since new. My wife's father has the same machine and his has the same trouble. We solved the problem by pulling the cable and making sure it was free of moisture and then loading it with light grease. The rear of the tach has a couple of opening into which we sprayed dry graphite lubricant and then reconnected the cable. I moved snow this winter in below -30*c temperatures and the tach never acted up again. I'm confident this fixed the issue.