Hi Pagoda family….
Age has taken a toll on my agility. Nonetheless, I needed to get the tachometer out to properly ground my instrument lights. It was not too difficult reaching up from behind and unscrewing the nut securing the tach bracket. But reassembly was a nightmare! Definitely not easy getting the tach back in the hole, the “U” bracket aligned, and then the retaining nut back in place.
After it was all said and done, I’m thinking there is a way to assemble the “U” bracket onto the tach and even installing the retaining nut while the tach is out in front of the hole. Then…. just stuff the entire assembly into the hole. Here’s the thought……….
Using spring steel, make a new/different “U” bracket that will fit through the dash hole. Shape it so that the ends of the “U” spring outward, slightly wider than the hole. After installing on the tach, start the retaining nut. Once partially inserted into the hole, the bracket should be “springy” enough to where the sides can be compressed to slide into the hole ahead of the tach. Once inside the hole, the sides of the “U” would spring outward and hold the tach in position. All that would be needed from the backside of the dash would be to tighten the retaining nut with your fingers.
Tach removal would be no different than now; we have to reach behind the tach and remove the retaining nut. The “U” bracket is taken out through the hole after the tach is removed.
If I would have dreamed this up before my installation today, I would have cut the existing “U” bracket to reduce width, bend it slightly to get some spring action, and weld it back together as a trial. I might have had something positive to report. Also, I’m guessing the job would be easier if the threaded rod on the back side of the tach is longer. That would be no problem to change.
Too late now but maybe next go around.
