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MG MGA - Jaegar Tachometer Face

I have an MGB electronic tachometer fitted with my 1800 5-bearing engine. I have my MGA Jaegar tachometer in my store of bits. I do not want to tamper with this instrument so I am looking around for a supplier of a Jaegar instrument face that I can transplant into the Smiths instrument. I contacted Speedy cables who say they will do the job for me but they want a whopping £140 + vat which I think is extortionate. Can anyone point me in a suitable direction?

Steve
Steve Gyles


Hi Steve,

On eBay is a guy selling MGA Twin Cam tacho's. Obviously these are 7500 RPM. they were £135 until recently.

I'm sure he's simply had the faces made.

Mark Hester

Hi Mark

Since writing that post I have found a supplier who may be able to help: http://www.chronometrics.co.uk/ At first glance he seems to be a motorcycle instrument specialist, but you never know until you ask the question.

I have emailed him. I will see what he has to say.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve
Try Dave Hodgson at Speedoheads - a most helpful chap. He sorted my Speedo brilliantly.
Pete
P N Tipping

Steve - Are you intending on changing the needle hub as well? I also have an 1800 5-main engine in my car, and I decided to keep the electric tachometer original (ie, original MGB design) rather than make it a simulation of the original. The engine was in the car, along with the disconnected MGA tach, when I bought it.
David Breneman

Hi Steve
Try John Ostick at JDO Instruments. 01535 662701 www.jdo1.com
He repaired my speedo and I was very pleased with the service.
I think he was recommended to me by this forum

Graham
g Victors

David

I have just realised what you meant. Of course, the needle hub is a different design so if I go to the trouble of refacing the MGB tachometer I will need to have a Jaegar needle transplanted as well. Thanks for the reminder. I too have lived with the Smiths dial for 12 years. I just thought it would be a nice cosmetic touch, not that my car is anything like original after all these years, but it is one of those items that stares you in the face.
Steve Gyles

Steve,

I'm unable to recall what the exact issue is but it may not be as simple as just swapping the needles. On my car I ended up using part of the Jaegar needle hub over the existing Smiths pointer.

Regards...John
J Bray

I don't know what your sensitivity is the authenticity...but I have built a few deskclocks out of otherwise unservicable MG speedos & tachs. For the Jaeger tach face, I did a high density scan of a good face, and printed it to a vinyl label stock. I can attach this to old speedo and tach dials (MGBs typically) to provide the 'look' of a vintage MGA tach. The vinyl is pretty friendly to work with...not unlike the stuff that is used for vinyl car wraps. A little low heat allows the vinyl to conform to the changes in surface of the face. There are some small details that do not align across the various styles (like screw attachment points) It would be a challenge for someone to notice, though, once the instrument is reassembled and put back in the dash.

Also...I know, it is sacrilege...but just to see if I could do it, I mounted a small modern Sun tach electronic tach works in a Smiths can...not bad looking. I wused the same printed face 'label' approach. The sweep is accurate to maybe about 10%, as the Sun tach range was 8k rpm over 270 degrees, rather than 7k. I have an 1800 MGB engine, and my MGB electronic tach is in parts on my bench awaiting a rebuild. A winter project...

rpb bunch

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2012 and 13/01/2013

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