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Cat 3208 Question

Discussion in 'Engines' started by NorCalBoater, Feb 18, 2012.

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  1. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    Hi Guys,

    The boat I am buying is a a 1984 50' Kha Shing CPMY. It has 1984 375hp 3208s. One of the digital tachs has a couple of diodes that are not working making it hard to read the display. I found a guy on ebay that has 3 Cat digital tachs for sale and I am not sure if they will work on these engines.

    The description for the listing follows:

    -Caterpillar p/n 9X1116 Digital Tachometer - New in box

    -Selectable flywheel tooth count switch on back. Switch has 15 positions to accomodate a variety of teeth from 30 to 208.

    -Acceptable Tooth counts 60,136,151,156,183,113,134,132,126,84,30,130,140 & 208

    -Tach has 4 terminals, Signal 1 & 2 inputs and Batt + & Batt - terminals.

    -The tach requires no voltage to operate. The backlight connection needs 9-40vdc.

    -Tach includes mounting bracket (not pictured)

    Flywheel Tooth Count??? Other than counting very carefully, does anyone know where I might find the count or do you know if these tachs would work for me?

    Thanks,
    Shawn
  2. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Can you compare the setting on the one you are taking out?

    The Parts Book could well be your best source of info for tooth numbers n but rest assured it will be over 100.

    If the tach needs no voltage to operate how does it get the signal?
  3. CatTech

    CatTech New Member

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    That part # tach does come up for the most common serial # prefix of 3208 01z. I find two diferent flywheels available for the same. a 134 tooth and 126 tooth flywheel.

    The tach pick up is a magnetic pulse generator that generates a signal/voltage that the tech reads. Very little voltage/current is required to light the display thus no need for a power supply.
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    What make and model and information is currently on your current tach?
  5. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    Thanks for the info.

    The tachs on the boat are not Cat brand. I am going back to the Bay area today for some other information and I will try and get the make and model of the existing ones.
  6. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    Checked the tachs on the boat. They are Aetna Engineering out of Van Nuys, CA. No model # available.
  7. Freespool

    Freespool New Member

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    Need to look closely at your engine. Most 3208's have a pulse generator on the front of the engine just under the heat exchanger tank. Very rare to see one with a mag pick up on the flywheel.
    Some tachs can be set to run on pulse generator and mag pick up. Most older ones can not.
  8. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    They are no longer in Van Nuys CA... they are now owned by Fireboy in Grand Rapids MI.

    Aetna Engineering Digital Tachometers

    I have purchased replacement tachs from them and also have sent tachs in for repair... they have been very helpful and a good company to deal with in each case.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Yes, great to work with and they can answer allot of installations questions also.
  10. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    To update....
    I called Aetna Engineering this morning and was told they can repair my faulty tach for $40 plus the shipping. He said their turn around was only a couple of days.

    Now that's what I'm talkin' about....

    Thanks to all for the assistance.
  11. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    That is good and bad news.

    Good News that they can fix it so cheaply and turn it around quickly.

    Bad News is that this is probably going to be one of the cheapest repairs you will have done whilst owning the boat ;)
  12. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    I appreciate the response and I understand. But boating is the drug my wife and I have chosen. We don't buy into that "....2 best days..." crap. We love every part of it.

    I had my first boat at 16 and I'm now 62. I'm a boater and I define people with boats as either, people who own boats, or boaters.

    People who own boats have the boats you see at the marinas that are dirty, and neglected and only used 3-4 times a year. They're the ones who don't understand why it won't start on Memorial Day weekend when it ran good last Labor Day. I define "Boaters" as those of us that can't wait to be on their boats even if it's to repair, refine or just tinker.

    Oh yeah, I'm a boater and I am seriously addicted. Some of my best weekends are spent just being on the boat and tinkering. This is my first oil burner and the largest boat I have ever owned and I can't wait. Having an engine room that's barely big enough to fit the engines in was not fun (past boat) and I am really looking forward to all the space on the new one.

    Hi, my name is Shawn and I'm a Boater
  13. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Good on ya. My comment wasn't meant in a nasty way.

    It is great to see an Owner who enjoys his boat through thick and thin.

    So many don't get that level of involvement or satisfaction from it.

    Enjoy your boat as much as you can while you can and please keep us abreast of your Ownership adventures if you feel so inclined.
  14. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    Your comment was not received in a nasty way.

    When I owned my Sea Ray I was active on the Club Sea Ray forum site. I enjoyed it very much. But now it just doesn't feel right to continue to participate on that forum. And Sea Ray owners can be a bit snobby towards non-Sea Ray people.

    I will be continuing to post on this forum and I will share the progress in making an already really nice boat into an even better one.
  15. CaptTom

    CaptTom Senior Member

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    Hi Shawn, welcome to BA, Boaters Anonymous. We don't try to break boaters of their addictions to things that float, no. We help them enhance their experience and knowledge so they clamor for more. It's a powerful drug, only to be used by capable sea going persons. Dock sitters need not apply.
    A sure sign of your addiction is the flush feeling you get when you start the 3208's and feel the rumble resonate through your feet into your body. Some claim it's a rush better than sex. You decide.
    Welcome to BA.
  16. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    I do get that feeling when I start an engine on a boat and it only gets better when I start the second one.

    For those that say it's better than sex.... My only response is they're not doing the sex part right. ;)
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2012
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I cannot see why, most Yachters don't regard Sea Ray's all that highly.......They're an average boat, for an average usage, at an average price.
  18. NorCalBoater

    NorCalBoater New Member

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    I agree. Our Sea Ray was an older boat and styled to still look like a boat. It was a good boat and well taken care of. Exceptional? Naahhh.

    It worked well for us at the time but we out grew it. But there are Sea Ray owners that truly believe that if you don't own a Sea Ray you don't belong on the water. I never agreed with them when I owned one and I still don't.

    They are entitled to their opinions. I will take this 28 year old Taiwan boat that I just bought over many, many of the newer Sea Rays that are out there. But I doubt I would ever convince many of them of that fact.