Over the ages, people have cut trees for many needs, which have continued to grow. With the advent of the internal combustion engine came the chainsaw operated by it, which tremendously eased a woodcutters’ job.
The downside to this novel tool is the level of caution and expertise required to operate it. One wrong move and the cut could go very wrong, including to the point of harming the operator. Several features are included to use it with added safety and accuracy, including the chainsaw tachometer.
How To Get The Best Tachometer
The tachometer measures the rpm of the chainsaw motor, based on which the manner of cutting can be adjusted. There are many types of them in the market, with a slew of features for different users. Learning about some of the chainsaw tachometers’ features will help you select the right one for your needs.
Engine Compatibility
The internal combustion engine is of two types: two-stroke and four-stroke. Each has different ways of performing the same job. Due to this difference, the same type of tachometer can’t be used with them.
Separate two and four-stroke tachometers are available and must be added according to the type of engine in your chainsaw. Nowadays, electric motor operated chainsaws need a different type of tachometer made just for them. Electric motors have high rpm and instantaneous torque, so tachometers need to be tuned appropriately.
Display Type
Traditional instruments have been of the analog type, which has a fixed gauge in the front and a needle pointing to rpm’ real value printed on the outer edge. They are fairly precise and last long, but the accuracy reduces overtime.
The modern ones have LCDs and are battery operated. They can give precise measurements to many decimal points. The readout is digital. They can last long too but are sensitive and require replacement of batteries. A useful feature is the ability to save previous readings for later reference.
Range
Engines in chainsaws of different models have varied maximum RPM limits that they can be stretched to. The greater the RPM, the greater will be the power delivery. The RPM limit will be made available in the manual or on the machine itself.
Your tachometer of choice must be capable of stretching to that limit; else, it might suffer damage and show inaccurate readings.
Probing Method
Most tachometers measure the RPM using a probe placed near the engine’s spark plug. The number of times the spark plug activates depends on the rpm, which this probe detects and reads out as rpm. Traditional ones connect the probe directly to the spark plug. Newer ones have lasers that can do more precise measurements.
Cost
Costs vary by the model and features. They can also vary by the quality of the build. Waterproofing is a must-have feature as chainsaws are typically used outdoors, so that can add to the cost as well. Some research will net you one with many features at a reasonable price.
The chainsaw has added precision and ease to an otherwise strenuous job, and a chainsaw tachometer adds to both those qualities tremendously.
Related Posts
