Tachometer Mounting Pod Making and Installation in Maruti 800

[sreejeshtpl]

Hi friends, thought will do a separate thread for it as it will be useful for people to search and find.

I have bought an Autogauge tacho for my 800, a very base model. The bare metal was showing and the clamp to fix the tacho was like a c shaped and not good. So thought, will make one pod and stand for it. Decided to do it with acrylic sheet because it is easily bendable and I can make a cylinder out of it. So went to SP road and bought materials for the DIY.

Its not such a big DIY but just to show you that the acrylic plastic is an awesome thing to work on and wish it may be helpful for someone.

Materials and Tools used are:

Acrylic sheet black 3mm- Rs.30 (less than one Sq feet)
Anabond (cyano 777p) acrylic to acrylic glue- Rs. 30
Rubber bands- thicker ones (I used slices of cycle tube)
One bottle or can with the same diameter of the Tacho
Masking tape
Dremel 300 rotary tool
Different types of files
Emery paper 600, 1000 grit

For the Tacho light replacing:

One big sized LED white
One 470 ohm resister

 

[Varun560061]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

Thanks for sharing the info, it would be great if you put up some photo's..

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

The black acrylic sheet


Cut desired size sheet. This stripe is going to be a cylinder.


Boiling in water progress. Slowly the sheet will become very flexible. Then you have to take it out and wrap it cylindrical on the
can or bottle with the same diameter as the tacho. It will be hot and you have to take proper precautions.

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

I couldn't take the wrapping photos as I was struggling with the hot sheet to wrap on the bottle

After wrapping the sheet, will get the new cylindrical shape and you can check the tacho fits or not.
Not much grinding is needed if you take proper measurements. In my case the cylinder was bit more in diameter.
Before gluing two ends, make sure they joint well without gap. This is very important.

After that, stick masking tape on the outside where two ends meet.
Put the rubber bands around the cylinder and this will make the joints close together.
Have a final check and apply the glue in between the two ends by holding the cylinder in a 30 degree angle and this helps the excess glue flow down.

This photo has taken after the gluing.


Tacho sits well.

 

[ss80]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

Thanks a lot, good DIY, clear pictures. One pic of the clamp plz :)

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

Thank you SS80

The outer ring having the gap, and its not looking good. I filled it with a piece of acrylic sheet and glued the entire ring to the body.
Sorry, don't have the photo of that.



I was confused about the hood design. So one of my friends quickly did some design options in 3ds Max.
From those i chose one slope curvy design.


Removed the rubber bands and tapes. The hood is not attached to the body now.

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

 

[Varun560061]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

You have put in great effort, output is 100 % very nice..

Also can you post the photo how the tacho is mounted to the speedo console.. (closeup pic pls)

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

Now the lighting part. The tacho had normal incandescent 12v bulb.

You can see the black rubber made thing is the bulb holder. You can just pull it out.


This one goes to replace the yellow incandescent dim light to bright white light. This LED is bit bigger than the normal ones
and cost Rs.5. This was with me from past 2 years when I have replaced my meter lights.
Used the 470 ohm resister to limit the voltage to 3v.
For calculating resister value and creating series/parallel arrays this link will help you.


Replaced the light. Sorry, didn't take the previous stage for comparison.

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

Made the stand out of clear acrylic sheet. Sorry again, no step by step photos.
It was made after I have reached my hometown in Kerala and I was in a rush to finish it
and fit in my car before I came back to Bangalore.
Using 1000grit paper sanded the whole body and given a matte finish.


The tacho was fitted to the meter console body by double side 3M tape.
I know that isn't looking good, even the nut and bolt. Later I will change it.


The hood is not finished yet. So fitted it without hood and some more finishing touches have to be made.
The cables are now put through the blower(?) vent.

Varun, don't have more photos of the stand. I will update it later. Friends one question, any tips to remove double side tape?

 

[deville_56]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

That looks neat, clean and cool.

At first, I was thinking what this guy is gonna do with all these sheets and how back it look with acrylic sheets. Now that's a commendable job

 

[Varun560061]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

For removing double side sticker just pluck it off, if any sticky (gum) thing stays back use thinner, kerosene..

 

[sreejeshtpl]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

That looks neat, clean and cool.

At first, I was thinking what this guy is gonna do with all these sheets and how back it look with acrylic sheets. Now that's a commendable job

thank you deville!!

For removing double side sticker just pluck it off, if any sticky (gum) thing stays back use thinner, kerosene..

Thank you Varun for the tip.

 

[ss80]

Re: Tachometer mounting pod making and installation in a maruti 800

That is awesome work Sreejesh, Cant believe this is an output of DIY!
Amazing, i wonder if I can replicate that with that kind of finish. Thanks a lot

 

[Mr.Boss]

Very near DIY. Congrats dude.
BTW why did you take off the Hood portion?