Hey guys, so my tach needle (86 z28) points straight up when the car is off, as opposed to down where zero is. When I start the car, the "back" of the needle points right where my idle would be, 1000-1500. Front of the needle is pointing in the opposite direction.

It's turning in the right direction when I hit the gas, and appears to be turning in relatively the right motion for how much I hit it.

Is it possible someone had the gauges out and stuck the tach needle on backwards? Is this something I could fix by opening up the cluster, pulling the needle off, and reversing it? Is the polarity backwards on something behind the cluster?

Thanks.

 

Instrument pointers usually go on ONE way, if it was positioned incorrectly during re-assembly, it could be positioned correctly by removing the tach and having the pointer positioned in the correct orientation. If this is something you did not screw up yerself, take it back to where it was screwed up, and have them fix it.
Otherwise, yes, the cluster comes out and the tach pointer can be removed and repositioned.

 

Instead of ruining it any more than it is, take it to an instrument repair shop.

The tachometer is easily removed from the carrier (unplugs) once the bezel/lens/reflector is removed.

 

Are you sure about that ???

That hing isn't like the stepper motors in the newer clusters. I know I've pulled the needle off a thirdgen Tachometer before and for some reason I seem to remember that being a bad idea.

 

[QUOTE=John in RI;6358524]Are you sure about that ???

That hing isn't like the stepper motors in the newer clusters. I know I've pulled the needle off a thirdgen Tachometer before and for some reason I seem to remember that being a bad idea.

Done it many times, but never in a Camaro. I have several Firebird clusters both cable and electronic laying around. The needle just pulls straight off the end of the pin, friction fit. I see now that this is an 86 Camaro, and - unlike the firebirds - I think they had cables though 87. If it's not electronic, I gotta say I dunno….

 

I do have a 140mph speedo, if that helps determine what my cluster and tach setup is. It's my understanding those starting showing up in Z28's late in the 86 model year.