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Thread: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

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    Racer Decade Plus User dazzle's Avatar

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    MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Hi all againI'm asking loads of questions lately but it will all become apparent Anyway, the rev counter in the 6 dial clocks seems to work by passing a wire through a sensor and I guess it senses the pulses, converting that to move the needle to correspond to revs?? So, If I'm running an ecu and want to use the output from that, what do I connect to?I have the little box of tricks as I was using it in a MK2 escort! Just don't know how to connect to the MK1 clocks??
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    i think you can not do it mate, as the rev counter will be set up to receive a different type of pulse from the old style coil not the digital one from the ecu or coil pack. I had this problem with mine zetec in my capri, tried all means and ways but just could not get it to work as not matter what I tried, I could not get it to read a digital signal as such. So what I am going to do is buy an after market one and fit it in the dash where the capri one was so still kinda stock looking. Hope that helps, if you find a way let me know please.

    MK3 Capri 2LT ZETEC

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    What type of ignition system are you using mate?

    If it's a normal coil or a single coil pack, all you have to do is pass the positive feed wire through the the tacho loop. I've done this myself with a Zetec conversion using a coil pack, and several electronic dizzy conversions, and it does work!
    http://escort.accelerator.org
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    Racer Decade Plus User dazzle's Avatar

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by exboyracer View Post
    What type of ignition system are you using mate?

    If it's a normal coil or a single coil pack, all you have to do is pass the positive feed wire through the the tacho loop. I've done this myself with a Zetec conversion using a coil pack, and several electronic dizzy conversions, and it does work!

    If the questions was for me, I'm running an Emerald ECU that connects to a coil pack.
    So, I should take the wire from the ECU, take it through the tacho loop and then to the coil pack??
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    So, I should take the wire from the ECU, take it through the tacho loop and then to the coil pack??
    i dont think that wont work as your ecu puts out a digital signal, the rev counter works on an analog pulse, and if you feed it through the coil positive feed wire if it may work but i got a feeling it will only read 50% of revs, mk1 rev counters are very inaccurate anyway probably a better bet to either replace it with a modern one or get someone like speedy cables to convert it so it will read like a modern tacho directly off the ecu

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    World Champion Decade Plus User exboyracer's Avatar

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    It depends on how the emerald works, if it switches to ground (like most ECUs) what you will need to do is run a feed from an ignition switched live through the back of the tacho to the coil positive.
    In terms of the signal the rev counter sees, the signal from a conventional points set up is digitial in that it is either on or off, so the signal from the ECU will be identical (if not slightly better as there is no ballast resistor to weaken the signal)

    Like I said, I have done this several times and it does work!
    http://escort.accelerator.org
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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    hi,

    i had the same thing when i fitted my Emerald system some years ago. mine's got an ecu inside the car and an amplifier under the bonnet which is connected to the coil - newer ones may be all in one box.

    i changed the rev counter for an aftermarket Yazaki which fitted really easily in place of the original, but i suppose i could have routed one of the amplifier to coil wires back into the car, through the rev counter loop and back out again.

    Graham,
    not sure if i get what you're saying, but both types work off digital pulses - more pulses = higher reading.

    Bernie

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    Racer Decade Plus User dazzle's Avatar

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Right then, I've printed this off then scanned it and saved as image (couldn't work out how to get it straight from PDF )



    As you can see, the power for the coil pack has nothing to do with the ECU, and as exboyracer says, it is earth switched.

    So, are you saying, take the power cable from it's ignition switch initiated relay, through the rev counter loop then to the coil pack??
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Seems odd that it would work but if exboyracer has done it and it works then great thats how I'll do mine
    When I grow up I will have a MK1 Escort

    I must be all growed up now then and paying for it!

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by dazzle View Post
    Right then, I've printed this off then scanned it and saved as image (couldn't work out how to get it straight from PDF )



    As you can see, the power for the coil pack has nothing to do with the ECU, and as exboyracer says, it is earth switched.

    So, are you saying, take the power cable from it's ignition switch initiated relay, through the rev counter loop then to the coil pack??
    it should work, although i would expect the rev counter to read slow, but hey you have nothing to loose trying it

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by Graham View Post
    it should work, although i would expect the rev counter to read slow, but hey you have nothing to loose trying it
    So, I'll give it a try
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Dazzle, you have got it spot on
    http://escort.accelerator.org
    1968 MK1 Escort 1300GT
    1969 'Big Wing' MK1 Escort
    1972 MK3 Cortina 1600XL
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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    You should put the RED marked wire through the revcounterloop:


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by Miniliteman View Post
    You should put the RED marked wire through the revcounterloop:

    Thanks Miniliteman, that's what we said/agreed on above
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by Graham View Post
    it should work, although i would expect the rev counter to read slow, but hey you have nothing to loose trying it
    not true if you think about it.

    the frequency of pulses seen at the + is the same. single coil pulses 4 times eg 1342 dual coil pulses 4 times 14 32 41 23

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    If everything fail and you want to use the original counter, this may be your answer.
    I rebuilt my MG 80 mm counter for voltage trigger using this board

    Ask the guy, he is a helpfull person

    Click image for larger version Name:	connections2.jpg Views:	20 Size:	82.7 KB ID:	52613

    http://members.shaw.ca/tsmit/tachmod/tachmod0.html

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    So, are you saying, take the power cable from it's ignition switch initiated relay, through the rev counter loop then to the coil pack??

    did you try this dazzle?

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by rsminter View Post
    So, are you saying, take the power cable from it's ignition switch initiated relay, through the rev counter loop then to the coil pack??

    did you try this dazzle?

    Just in the process of doing it

    Should be done by the end of this w/end so I'll report back
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    When I grow up I will have a MK1 Escort

    I must be all growed up now then and paying for it!

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Yes!
    You might have to experiment with which direction it passes through the rev counter (north-south or south-north) but it does work.
    http://escort.accelerator.org
    1968 MK1 Escort 1300GT
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    1972 MK3 Cortina 1600XL
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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    It works
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    http://escort.accelerator.org
    1968 MK1 Escort 1300GT
    1969 'Big Wing' MK1 Escort
    1972 MK3 Cortina 1600XL
    1984 Sierra XR4i
    And other junk I don't like to talk about!

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by exboyracer View Post

    Many thanks bud, appreciated
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    This is exactly what i need to do with my zetec mk1 but slightly confused how you did it....

    Mine is running a weber alpha ecu. Do i break into the loom and take the feed from one of the coil pack wires, loop through the rev counter and then back to the coil pack?? How do i know which wire to take? (middle one on the plug ?!?)

    The car is running a standard ford coil pack.

    Sorry to repeat what is already laid out above but ive read it a few times and still cant get my head round it!! Cheers!

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    Racer Decade Plus User dazzle's Avatar

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by GAZZAMK2 View Post
    This is exactly what i need to do with my zetec mk1 but slightly confused how you did it....

    Mine is running a weber alpha ecu. Do i break into the loom and take the feed from one of the coil pack wires, loop through the rev counter and then back to the coil pack?? How do i know which wire to take? (middle one on the plug ?!?)

    The car is running a standard ford coil pack.

    Sorry to repeat what is already laid out above but ive read it a few times and still cant get my head round it!! Cheers!

    Gaz, you need to take the wire from the middle of the coil pack, back into the car and through the rev counter loop, then to the ECU(wherever the power for the coil comes from )
    This is the power line to the Coil pack and it's the other 2 wires that are switched earth's, causing the spark.

    I'm guessing the Weber alpha ECU does power the coil pack or at least has a power take off in the loom?

    Let me know if that helps?

    Many thanks
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by dazzle View Post

    Gaz, you need to take the wire from the middle of the coil pack, back into the car and through the rev counter loop, then to the ECU(wherever the power for the coil comes from )
    This is the power line to the Coil pack and it's the other 2 wires that are switched earth's, causing the spark.

    I'm guessing the Weber alpha ECU does power the coil pack or at least has a power take off in the loom?

    Let me know if that helps?

    Many thanks
    Lol - sounds simple when you put it like that!

    Cheers Dazzle, i am definately going to do this. The Weber Alpha does power the coil pack but i just wanted to make sure i knew what i was doing before i started breaking into the wiring harness!

    Thanks again bud

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    Racer Decade Plus User dazzle's Avatar

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by GAZZAMK2 View Post
    Lol - sounds simple when you put it like that!

    Cheers Dazzle, i am definately going to do this. The Weber Alpha does power the coil pack but i just wanted to make sure i knew what i was doing before i started breaking into the wiring harness!

    Thanks again bud

    One thing which was mentioned above, it might make a difference which way it passes through the tacho loop!!
    Mine worked first time but that might have been because I used the cable that was already being used!
    So didn't need to thread any wire through!

    Good luck bud
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by GAZZAMK2 View Post
    Lol - sounds simple when you put it like that!

    Cheers Dazzle, i am definately going to do this. The Weber Alpha does power the coil pack but i just wanted to make sure i knew what i was doing before i started breaking into the wiring harness!

    Thanks again bud

    One thing which was mentioned above, it might make a difference which way it passes through the tacho loop!!
    Mine worked first time but that might have been because I used the cable that was already being used!
    So didn't need to thread any wire through!

    Good luck bud
    Cheers

    Dazzle


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Right i might sound stupid for asking this again but i can't see that the ve+ wire on my set up will work as it is a constant live therefore it wouldn't pulse would it? As the coils are activated via the ve- as the ecu earths them i thought you would have to run the two ve- wires through the revo to get a signal? Feel free to tell me i'm stupidly confused if i'm wrong. But if i am wrong i understand the other way of wiring it up just not how it works.

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    The MK1 tachometer is a current sensing device, it picks up the pulses in current caused by the points (or ECU, or whatever) switching the supply to the coil on and off.
    Yes, the ECU switches the coil packs to earth, but don't forget that's just half of the complete circuit.

    Trust me, it works!
    http://escort.accelerator.org
    1968 MK1 Escort 1300GT
    1969 'Big Wing' MK1 Escort
    1972 MK3 Cortina 1600XL
    1984 Sierra XR4i
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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by exboyracer View Post
    The MK1 tachometer is a current sensing device, it picks up the pulses in current caused by the points (or ECU, or whatever) switching the supply to the coil on and off.
    Yes, the ECU switches the coil packs to earth, but don't forget that's just half of the complete circuit.

    Trust me, it works!
    Yeah thats why i said run both the earthing wires through the clocks As that makes more sence to me lol, but i will run the ve+ through there and that will work then. Thanks guys!
    Last edited by freddy686868; 17-05-2012 at 00:00.

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    did mine last week and it deffo works.

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Quote Originally Posted by rsminter View Post
    did mine last week and it deffo works.
    +1 i done mine on the weekend too and it is really accurate so i'm rally happy as that is all my 6 dials working now. Thanks guys!!!

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Just to confirm is the below diagram correct





    Sorry Pics wont up load
    Last edited by zetecmk1; 11-09-2013 at 22:25.

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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Try again !!

    Just to confirm is the below diagram correct?


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    Re: MK1 Escort 6 dial clocks - rev counter

    Resurrecting an old post here and hoping someone might be able to help
    I would like to use my 6 dial dash rev counter with my megasquirt ecu but I don't think this would work for me.
    My coil pack isn't driven directly from the ecu. It only supplies a ground to operate a Relay which then goes to the coil pack.
    Would this work?��

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