Thread: Bailey's tach

I bought a new tach from bailey's. I put it on my 660 that has only 1 tank of mix through it. It says that its only getting 11500 rpm. The saw is screaming at wot no blubbering at all if anything I think it's running lean. I have never used a tach on a chainsaw before. I just clip the alligator clip on the spark plug wire right? Any info is apprecciated.

I have the same model and same saw. I cut the alligator clip off and wrap the wire around the plug wire. I beleive the directions say 4 times. I wasn't sure if I could trust mine either because at 13000 my saw sounded too smooth too. I Just Installed a dp cover but I was going to post a similar thread so maybe we will both have the question answered.

Did it read higher after u cut the clip off?

Is the tach an inductive pickup type?

I never used the clip. I Figured I would run the saw like it would normally be with the filter cover on. I just wrap the wire around and replace the cover. Does yours seem hold a steady reading or does it bounce around by several hundred rpms

Originally Posted by funky sawman

Is the tach an inductive pickup type?

I dont know the difference.

If it is inductive pickup you wont need any wires to get a signal from the coil, to find out, dont use the wire and hold the tach close to the spark plug and if it is an inductive pickup it will show rpm if not, of course it will be blank.

ok now I understand. I'll try that tonight. It is an STS 5000 i believe. Should I trust it or just tune by ear. Plug is brown. I read somewhere else that when tuning with a tach the saw always sounds leaner than you think it is. I just dont want to scorch a $1000 saw. Dolmar 7900 seems much easier to tune to 13500 and still gurgling.

Be careful when tuning the Dolmar. It has a limited ignition module, but I am not sure of the cut-off point. You can lean the heck out of it and not realize it because the ignition will not allow it to turn faster than what it is regulated for. The gurgling you hear might be the saw hitting on the limiter.

Originally Posted by Urbicide

Be careful when tuning the Dolmar. It has a limited ignition module, but I am not sure of the cut-off point. You can lean the heck out of it and not realize it because the ignition will not allow it to turn faster than what it is regulated for. The gurgling you hear might be the saw hitting on the limiter.

thanks for the tip

Howdy,
The STS 5000 can be used with or without the wire.
Regards
Gregg

Originally Posted by Grande Dog

Howdy,
The STS 5000 can be used with or without the wire.
Regards
Gregg

Then why does it even have a wire and clip? All of these different readings and ways to hook it up is rather confusing and makes the thing kind of useless because it is'nt consistent on readings. I don't trust it and do not Know why bailey's would even sell the thing. Unless they get them dirt cheap and just in it for the money. Got me for 70.00

Don`t all the tachs used on single cylinder 2 stroke engines fluctuate a couple hundred rpm with the engine running? All of the ones I have used or seen in use fluctuate a bit, never seen one hold absolute steady. Just asking to get others feedback.
Pioneerguy600

Howdy,
Then why does it even have a wire and clip?
Not everyone has 3 hands.


All of these different readings and ways to hook it up is rather confusing and makes the thing kind of useless because it is'nt consistent on readings.
Comes with instructions.

I don't trust it and do not Know why bailey's would even sell the thing.
Year to date we've sold 245 of them. We had 5 returned. Two went back on the shelf unopened. Three were returned for warranty credit. Besides the manufacturer warranty, we have a satisfaction guarantee.

Unless they get them dirt cheap and just in it for the money.
I used these tachs in our shop for years. They've performed flawlessly.

Got me for 70.00
Like I said, Satisfaction Guarantee.

Regards
Gregg

I think this is the same one I got from Baileys, cost seems about right, mine says SenDec but I don't remember the model. It does not have an hour meter.

I like the alligator clip because it is fast and easy, I don't know if wrapping the wire would be better/more accurate or not.

To read and display the RPM the unit has to take a series of readings then average them over time, all this is built into the unit so when you speed up it take a moment or two for the display to update. If it were instaneous you would not be able to see the display since it would be changing so rapidly. The saw will have to run at a steady speed for a few seconds in order to get a good reading.

How accurate are they? I don't know as I haven't tried to compare with anything else. I think I will have one of the optical tach's (works off a piece of reflective tape) but it is a real pain to try and put a sticker on something you can see when the machine is turning. Maybe I'll try to dig it out and take it along to Grandpatractors this weekend as well. I probably should throw in the infrared thermometer as well, might be interesting to look at muffler and cylinder temperatures.

Mark