Has anyone fitted a replica Smiths tacho and if so did it work ok. Also where did you purchase it?
I believe this is the original part number for the Smith's unit 19-2189
Also need to know if I need 3:1 or 4:1 for a 1967 engine
Do you mean the Indian magnetic ones? They are about £20 and they sort of work.
In the end I got a Chronometric speedo and converted it to a tacho, you can get the faces for about £12, the trick is getting the right speed range for your tacho cable revs and then you have to add or remove weights on the balance wheel.
BSA with Chronometric Tachos are usually 4:1 or 2:1 if the drive is off the mag, and 3:1 if its off the oil pump.
If its a mag drive its best to turn the engine and count the cable turns as there are so many variations of gearboxes and now 60 years on you can't assume its the right one. Mine was the wrong ratio and the wrong rotation! Luckily it turned out to be rarer than the right one so I could do a swap.
No I'm referring to the replica tachometers on Ebay.
1967 A65 alternator not magneto
Quote from: chrisx1 on 26 Jan, 2026, 20:21 No I'm referring to the replica tachometers on Ebay.
Guaranteed...to last until the end of the street. ;)
'67 A65 is oil pump drive 3:1. Are you sure its Chronometric? Roy Bacon's book shows the Smiths magnetic gauges on the 1967 A65. There are copies of these too but there are also originals about. Are you trying to match a speedo?
I'm looking at the parts book for 1967 which gives the item number that I stated. I have no idea if its Chronometric or magnetic. I will take a look at the manual and see if it gives any more info. I'm not trying to match a speedo I just wanted to get a tachometer that works; Without spending original item money.
OK 19-2189 is a Smiths Magnetic 3:1 tacho with a grey circle on the face. This is not a Chronometric, this matters because Chronometrics are completely different mechanisms and much more expensive.
So yes the copy should work, but this is quite a common instrument so you may get a good used one.
My experience with copies is mixed and I would only buy from a UK dealer so you can send it back if it doesn't work. I have a copy Chronometric and it is so slow to respond to RPM changes it near useless. The copy is a magnetic type.
From the Smiths catalogue the part number for the 1967 A65 tacho is - RSM3003-06- the number you see on the face of an original instrument.
M for magnetic. That number also appears in the 1967 A65 parts catalogue with the 19 prefix number.
19-2189 is the number I got from the 1967 parts catalogue
19-2189 is the BSA part number, RSM3003-06 is the Smiths number for the same part.
The BSA numbering has some logic with each model having a 2 digit start - "19"
The Smiths number tells you more about what it is, I think the last 3 in 3003 tells you its 3:1, the M magnetic, one of the codes is rotation. Somewhere there is a list of all the variations and a cross reference to the BSA numbers..
Because the Smiths number is on the face and the BSA number is not on the unit most adverts and sellers will quote the Smiths number. The BSA number was on a card tied on with string.
The 19 prefix part numbers are found on non BSA made parts such as Lucas electrics, Amal carbs and Smiths Speedos, tachos,gearboxes and cables. Later factory parts books usually include the manufacturers part number as well as the 19 prefix BSA number. Lucas, Amal and Smiths issued catalogues including the applications of their products which did not include the 19 numbers.
Do we have a link to the Smiths cross reference list? I've seen it somewhere.
Hi from the Antipodes! Interesting discussion regarding Smiths instruments, thank you. My 1970 A65 is very original in most respects, but I think it has the incorrect tacho, which optimistically asserts that the engine is operating at a higher RPM than it really is. The ratio marked on the tach is 4:1, but it seems that 3:1 is the correct ratio? It doesn't bother me too much as my focus is listening out for nasty engine noises, but I assme that the remedy would be to look out for a 3:1 item?
BTW, I have been able to install a positive fixing for both the tacho and speedo using SS coupling nuts, M5 bo;ts & 'top hat' grommets. This has probably already been done by others, but happy to provide more detail if required.
Yes you need a 3:1. This was a common error as the Triumphs used a 4:1 and people would get a used tacho and assume it would be OK.