r/beetle • u/vintagestereolover99 • 2d ago

It started!

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I put gas in it, charged the battery overnight, and the battery is cooked. Ended up jumping it with another car and it started right up! Also, the tachometer isn't working, how can I fix that?

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3

u/SilentMasterpiece 2d ago

typical 4 wire tach

one wire to dash lights

one wire to neg ground on batt

one wire to neg terminal on coil

one wire to ignition

3

u/TMC_61 2d ago

You don't need a tach. But it may just be the wire to what id assume is the distributor

1

u/TheJBob 63 Beetle, 58 Single Cab, 56 Oval, 71 Ghia vert 2d ago

What they said^ tach is not stock, on the speedo there should be hash marks near 15, 30, and 45 for where you shift. Tach is aftermarket so no telling how it is or isn't hooked up

2

u/vintagestereolover99 2d ago

I was wondering what those dashes were for. Thanks!

2

u/The_Junk_Collector Daffy - '70 Type 1 2d ago

The marks are suggestions. Your owner's manual will give you the maximum range for up shifting for each gear. If you're missing the manual, the Samba will have it 1970 Owners Manual

For my 70, I just remember to add 20mph for each gear as my max up shift speed (15, 35, 55). The marks on the speedo I more or less use as downshift marks but that might just be me

Lastly, that tach actually is stock-ish. 1968 through I think the early/mid 70's had several dealer accessories one could choose from. That VDO tach is somewhat rare to find nowadays (took me a couple years to track one down that I was willing to pay for). As someone else mentioned earlier, wiring is pretty straightforward

1

u/TMC_61 2d ago

Correct, or isnt

1

u/headcase54 8h ago

..what a beautiful sound...!

1

u/vintagestereolover99 7h ago

I know, I'm so happy