L series tacho set up

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sat May 26, 2012 9:59 am

Can anyone please guide me how to hook up a tacho to an L series.
I dont mean to fit one permanently but to set one up to check idle speed so I can set the timing.
As the L's coil is all electronic and encased it is not like an MY where you can get to the coil terminals easily.
After the timing belt change I am only guessing what the RPM actually is so I cant set the timing accurately.
I have both an anolgue and a digital tacho at my disposal but dont want to do any harm to the electronic ignition so need to set it up correctly.

sven '2' · Post by **sven '2'** » Sat May 26, 2012 12:21 pm

I recall the coil just has plastic cover over the terminals?

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Sat May 26, 2012 1:08 pm

yep hinges open and closed I think.......

grrr just had a look at mine and its not there anymore

olddog642 · Post by **olddog642** » Sat May 26, 2012 3:10 pm

grrr just had a look at mine and its not there anymore

[/QUOTE]

What the ford gremlin took the whole coil ehehh

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat May 26, 2012 7:06 pm

neg side of the coil from memory , yellow wires. I've hooked up my old analogue to pos side and done no damage ......

Cliff R · Post by **Cliff R** » Sun May 27, 2012 3:27 pm

I will have a look at taking off the coil shroud.
It makes sense it would come off I just havent had to do it before
I will look at it tomorrow after I have put the MY back together with its new (old out of Brumby) ignition which should see it go through rego now for its 30th year.
Just out of curiosity, the factory settings for the timing on an L series is 8 deg at 800 RPM but is it the same situation as with the EA81 in that you can put the timing up to about 12 deg with a higher octain fuel, eg, Shell V power 98.
After I changed the timing belts I put a timing light on the car and it was at 12 deg.
Now allowing for any changes in timing due to the belt change I have either put the timing back to 8 deg or if the RPM were out it is less that this.
DOH, DOH, I just remembered when I reduced down from 12 to 8 I DIDNT disconnet/plug the vacuum. D!@K head.
Its gotta be out now thinking about this !!