Use your GPS to tell you your road speed. Even an old GPS with outdated maps that someone has thrown away will do as a dedicated speedo. In fact my old Aldi GPS has a speedo application that fills the screen with a digital speed readout. Your GPS is more accurate than any speedo could hope to be.
I also have an old Uniden GPS301 with an LED display that shows the compass heading and the road speed.
-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 25th of May 2013 07:59:40 PM
-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 25th of May 2013 08:13:00 PM
GaryKelly said
02:41 AM May 26, 2013
G'day g'day g'day assorted geniuses and smartie pants. I have a sticky speedo needle in my '94 2.6 petrol Ford Courier. It's fine around town but sticks at 70 or 80km/h on the freeway and won't go any further. Ford says the speedo cluster will need to be removed and sent away for repair. Or they suggested finding a second hand one to install.
Alternatively, a friend suggested installing a tacho to judge freeway speed using the rpm. I've done a Google and found only one reference to km/h per 1000rpm - an NRMA report on the 2.5 diesel Courier in 2003. It's a 5-speed transmission with the same gear ratios as mine. The NRMA said the speed was 38.5km/h per 1000rpm in top gear. So, what is top? 4th gear is 1.0 and 5th is .085 which I thought was called overdrive.
Maybe Bill12 has a tacho in his 1996 Courier and can tell me what rpm it shows when he's doing 80 or 90km/h. At the moment I'm guessing that 90km/h is about 2500rpm but that seems a bit low for a petrol engine capable of over 4000.
Yuglamron said
03:19 AM May 26, 2013
Another Hi Tech Option............ Check out the Polaris Australia website for a Heads Up Display. In built GPS driven but not a full GPS. Projects your speed in KPH or MPH on the windscreen in front of you. Plugs into a cigarette Lighter socket.
GaryKelly said
03:32 AM May 26, 2013
Well, well, well, I never would have thought of a GPS. I don't have one yet but will have before I hit the road.
bill12 said
04:59 PM May 26, 2013
90kph is about 2750 revs ,in my diesel courier, but depends on load and weather conditions. A head wind will make a big difference.I am interested to see your fuel figures from the petrol courier.Gps is quite a lot more accurate than thespeedo on my courier, up to 15 % difference, If fact. Keep in touch. Bill
dorian said
05:09 PM May 26, 2013
bill12 wrote:
90kph is about 2750 revs ,in my diesel courier, but depends on load and weather conditions. A head wind will make a big difference.
The relationship between road speed and RPM is fixed. It doesn't vary with the weather, nor with the load. It only varies when you select different gearing, or if your clutch is slipping, or perhaps if you have an automatic transmission.
bill12 said
06:59 PM May 26, 2013
Well,I will give you a tip- its harder in the real world to push a box thru the air with the wind against you than downwind,and it shows on your fuel consumption and speed.I was only commenting in general terms.I have a similar setup to Gary, and is easier to have the wind behind you.And being an old sailor, I can tell you that gentlemen do not go to windward(against the wind), not that I am a gentleman. Bill
GaryKelly said
01:26 AM May 27, 2013
Hehehe. Yep, Bill's an old salt. But a mate of mine in Merry Cah said that road speed is a bit like air speed in a plane. Headwinds and tailwinds can make a helluva diff as passengers will note in the departure lounge. So, Bill, if I do the Big Loop with a tail wind, which way should I go? Clockwise or anti-clockwise? :)
DeBe said
01:53 AM May 27, 2013
Hi Gary, I use an old cheep GPS for keeping an eye on my speed when traveling, its more acurate than my speedo.
bill12 said
02:36 AM May 27, 2013
There's a good old saying"where ever the wind blows, it blows for you". I did a clockwise lap last time , and recommend that you go north in the winter, and south in the summer. Even then you will have headwinds at times. Keep an eye on the weather, and move when the going is good. I remember waiting in Esperance,til the wind was behind me to cross the Nulabor.It worked, and it was worth waiting.When is the camper going tobe loaded? Bill
PeterD said
08:09 AM May 27, 2013
dorian wrote:The relationship between road speed and RPM is fixed. It doesn't vary with the weather, nor with the load. It only varies when you select different gearing, or if your clutch is slipping, or perhaps if you have an automatic transmission.
Sounds like he has an auto.
GaryKelly said
04:44 PM May 27, 2013
The perennial question, Bill. Every time I mention loading the camper, my mates disappear. Funny about that. But I'll need to do it soon cos I want to take it to an auto sparky and work on a few other things. If push comes to shove, I guess I'll have to do it myself.
bill12 said
05:58 PM May 27, 2013
If I was down there ,I would come and help you, but I,m in the deep north, and can,t come at the moment.Just take it easy , and don't rush and it shouldn't be too hard to load.See You on the road, Bill
Use your GPS to tell you your road speed. Even an old GPS with outdated maps that someone has thrown away will do as a dedicated speedo. In fact my old Aldi GPS has a speedo application that fills the screen with a digital speed readout. Your GPS is more accurate than any speedo could hope to be.
I also have an old Uniden GPS301 with an LED display that shows the compass heading and the road speed.
-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 25th of May 2013 07:59:40 PM
-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 25th of May 2013 08:13:00 PM
G'day g'day g'day assorted geniuses and smartie pants.
I have a sticky speedo needle in my '94 2.6 petrol Ford Courier. It's fine around town but sticks at 70 or 80km/h on the freeway and won't go any further. Ford says the speedo cluster will need to be removed and sent away for repair. Or they suggested finding a second hand one to install.
Alternatively, a friend suggested installing a tacho to judge freeway speed using the rpm. I've done a Google and found only one reference to km/h per 1000rpm - an NRMA report on the 2.5 diesel Courier in 2003. It's a 5-speed transmission with the same gear ratios as mine. The NRMA said the speed was 38.5km/h per 1000rpm in top gear. So, what is top? 4th gear is 1.0 and 5th is .085 which I thought was called overdrive.
Maybe Bill12 has a tacho in his 1996 Courier and can tell me what rpm it shows when he's doing 80 or 90km/h. At the moment I'm guessing that 90km/h is about 2500rpm but that seems a bit low for a petrol engine capable of over 4000.
Another Hi Tech Option............ Check out the Polaris Australia website for a Heads Up Display. In built GPS driven but not a full GPS. Projects your speed in KPH or MPH on the windscreen in front of you. Plugs into a cigarette Lighter socket.
The relationship between road speed and RPM is fixed. It doesn't vary with the weather, nor with the load. It only varies when you select different gearing, or if your clutch is slipping, or perhaps if you have an automatic transmission.
Hi Gary, I use an old cheep GPS for keeping an eye on my speed when traveling, its more acurate than my speedo.
Sounds like he has an auto.