2 wire tachometer/dwell gauge car stalls when connected

[LongR]

I have owned & used this gauge for 30 years without a problem.
It's only 2 wires red to negative side of coil & black to ground
Now my 1966 satellite stalls when connected......any ideas ??

 

[pnora]

Shorted internally.

 

[LongR]

Shorted internally.

Throw it away/buy new one ??????

 

[LongR]

Throw it away/buy new one ??????

Before I threw it away
I smacked the side of it a few time & now it's working fine......THX

 

[RemCharger]

Before I threw it away
I smacked the side of it a few time & now it's working fine......THX

Arthur H. Fonzarelli!

 

[pnora]

Before I threw it away
I smacked the side of it a few time & now it's working fine......THX

Take it apart and look. Most likely the red wire is grounding out.

 

[Don Frelier]

Arthur H. Fonzarelli!

 

[sam dupont]

if all else fails, kick it

 

[LongR]

if all else fails, kick it

I tried that

 

[66Newport]

You might have dust on the armature where the needle moves. I have seen it on a multi meter where the needle would move erratically and give bad readings. The needle would stick and it did take out the internal fuse on the meter once. Take it apart and blow some compressed air on the internals. After so many years it accumulates. May or may not work for you.. It worked for me. Be careful when you take the display glass/plastic out, I am sure it is super fragile now after so many years; the clips may break. I would tell you to check the dial too but you do not have one.

Good luck

 

[kiwigtx]

Not sure if it does, but if it has a battery inside, most likely cause is the battery has corroded up and the acid/alkaline has leeched out all over the circuitry inside and causing the short. The car coil is only exacerbating the problem when connected, hence the stall.