Best Lawn Mower Tachometers

If you want your lawn mower’s engine to perform optimally and last longer, you have to keep an eye on the engine and check its status at regular intervals. What is the easiest way to do this? Get a tachometer.

A lawn mower tachometer is a handy tool that evaluates your mower’s engine performance and provides accurate data about the status of the engine, ultimately helping you take necessary precautions to avoid a total breakdown of your machine. 

In this article, you will learn about the best lawn mower tachometers, factors to consider when looking to buy one, and the simple steps to install a tachometer on your lawn mower.

Best Lawn Mower Tachometers: Top 3 Picks

1. AIMILAR Digital Tach Hour Meter Tachometer

The tachometer offers a revolution per minute (RPM) alert and 9 programmable firing patterns for different engines. If your engine needs frequent tuning, the RPM alert will notify you of this development so that you can tune it without delay.

The AIMILAR mower accessory comes with a programmable maintenance interval timer that will regularly remind you of the appropriate time to examine the mower for potential problems that may hinder its smooth operation.

When you identify such issues, you can fix them immediately and return the mower to its pristine condition.  

While in use, the tachometer will track the lawn mower engine’s RPM, calculate the total RPM and display the total run time when the lawn mower is off. You can reset the total run hours if you wish, although you can’t do the same for the total run time..

If you need a budget-friendly and efficient tachometer to keep your lawn in good condition, the AIMILAR Digital Tachometer might be a good fit.

2. Runleader Digital Hour Meter/Tachometer

Another feature you may find helpful is the programmed reminder time. You won’t miss the maintenance routine as the service timer keeps reminding you through its flash alert service icon that it is time to examine the machine and fix identified issues.

When the engine is working, the tachometer will give you accurate RPMs. The versatile tool is well configured to handle different engine firing patterns, a feature you may find helpful if you have more than one lawn mower with diverse working routines.

Its CR2450 replaceable battery ensures that you won’t lose valuable data when changing the battery. Even if you shut the engine down, rest assured that your data is safely stored by the machine so you won’t lose it.

The Runleader tachometer is waterproof with a rating of IP65 and comes with a 2-year warranty. The manufacturer will fix all manufacturing and other related issues that may arise when using the machine within the stipulated warranty period.

The tachometer displays from 0-25,000 revolutions per minute with 10 RPM with an impressive update time refresh rate of 0.5seconds.

Thanks to its simple and detailed installation instructions, you won’t have issues handling the installation. You can install the tachometer on your lawn mower without professional help.  However, if you sulk at handling such a task, outsource it to a competent technician.

3. Hardline Product HR-8061-2 Hour Meter/Small Engine Tachometer

The Hardline Product HR-8061-2 Hour Meter/Tachometer is one of the efficient monitoring tools that may help you create a practical maintenance routine for your lawn mower.

It is equipped with an hour meter that displays the accumulated hours while its hour/tach meter shows the engine’s RPM while running. When you switch the engine off, you can read the total hours accumulated on the meter.

Another important feature of the tachometer is its versatility. It can work with any gas engine up to 16,000 RPM and 2 cylinders. If you are using either a single or dual spark ignition system, the adjustable RPM input will help you choose the appropriate settings for your machine.

The tachometer comes with a logbook where you can keep your written service notes for easy referencing. It is a great place to store your maintenance activities such as valve service, oil changes, clutch service, chassis lubrication, and suspension setting for future use.

With these pieces of information at your fingertips, you can easily plan the best way to maintain your lawn mower for improved performance and a longer lifespan. 

4. Searon Digital Tach Hour Meter

With an RPM capacity of 25,000, it has an impressive range that you may find useful if your lawn mower produces such a high running figure.

It can read up to 999.99 hours and can work with a wide range of engines, making it one of the highest-rated tachometers for mowers on the market.

The Searon Digital tachometer is powered by a CR2430 battery. You don’t need an external power connection to run the tachometer.  It is an IP68-rated water-resistant tachometer.

In addition, you get a 2-year warranty from the time of purchase. The company will give you a full refund if you contact them as soon as you detect any issue with the tachometer before the warranty’s expiration.

5. Neiko 20713A Digital Tachometer –Wireless Tachometer

Distance is hardly a barrier when measuring your lawn mower’s performance with the Neiko 20713A Digital small engine tachometer.

It has a large and easy-to-read liquid crystal display screen that may enable you to read values from the tachometer easily. It can store a wide range of readings such as the minimum, last, and maximum reading.

The Neiko 20713A is lightweight and compact. This may help you handle the machine easily. It is designed to operate for hours on its long-lasting AA batteries.

This model is made of high-quality materials that ensure its safety and long lifespan. In the package is a 24-inch reflective tape. It may come in handy for non-contact measurements and diagnostics.

6. Timorn Inductive Hour Meter

The tachometer’s versatility is an attractive feature you may consider when looking for a model that is compatible with 2 and 4-stroke engines.

Maintaining the tachometer is pretty simple; thanks to its ability to record working hours and alert you whenever you need to change the mower’s valve or oil. It also notifies you about the spark plugs’ working conditions and when the machine needs adjustments, making it easier for you to keep the engine in a perfect state.

The waterproof tachometer can read up to 99,999 RPM and can auto-reset the maintenance time and total hours, thereby reducing the amount of time you spend adjusting and resetting the machine.

Its large Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) supports easy reading so you won’t struggle with seeing the lawn mower’s performance.

The easy-to-install tachometer is designed to auto change its internal battery that can handle up to 35,000 hours of operation.

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the  AIMILAR Digital Tachometer. It has an IP67 waterproof rating and comes with programmable options. It is loved by many users for its accurate readings, versatility, and durability.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Lawn Mower Tachometer

Choosing the right tachometer for your mower can be challenging because of the different options available on the market. Here are a few key things to pay attention to guide your choice:

Power Capacity

A tachometer’s power capacity or battery life is the first thing you should consider before making a buying decision. 

Please note that tachometers are powered by AAA and lithium batteries. These are tested and proven battery types. If the tachometer comes with any other battery type besides these two, stay away from it.

Digital Memory

A tachometer’s memory provides a record of its minimum and maximum RPM while working at a specific period.

When looking for the right tachometer for your lawn mower, consider one that can save data automatically even if the batteries run out of power. If a tachometer doesn’t have this feature, you might want to consider other options.

Revolution per minute

A machine’s RPM is a measure of the rotations of the engine while working. The range of a tachometer is its limitation to read the RPM. Some tachometers can read up to 10,000 rotations per minute while some engines can rotate more than 10,000 times per minute.

A tachometer with 10,000 RPM capacity is a misfit for a machine that can produce up to 12,000 RPM.  So, choose one that can measure up to the mower engine’s rotational ability.

Quality

The quality of a tachometer is another important factor you should consider when buying one. The tachometer will be exposed to some foreign objects such as the weather, dust, woods, and debris. You should purchase one that can withstand these objects without breaking down.

A top quality tachometer  should be strong enough to withstand the vibration a lawn mower will produce while mowing.

How to Install a Tachometer for Small Engine on a Lawn Mower

Tachometers are easy to install if you follow the right process. Here’s a step by step guide to install one on your lawn mower in no time:

• Go through the user manual and identify the wires- signal and ground. Fortunately, for easy identification, the wires are color-coded. If you mix the wires up, the tachometer won’t work.
• Pull the spark plug boot out for personal safety. You don’t want to be hurt by a tachometer that accidentally starts.
• Check the spark plug boot for the spark plug wire. Wrap the tachometer’s signal wire around the plug wire. Use an electrical tape to secure the wires.
• Loosen any bolt from the engine’s body and wrap the ground wire underneath it. Tighten the bolt.
• Place the tachometer in a good place on the mower’s handle and use a zip tie to secure it well. If you notice wires hanging on any part of the mower, tie them together away from its engine.
• Put the spark plug boot on the spark plug and start the engine. If the display unit starts working, the connection is okay. Otherwise, check the wire connection and make necessary corrections.

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Safety Tips to Observe when Using a Tachometer

• The following safety tips will keep you safe while using the tachometer and extend its lifespan too:
• Check the wire if they are properly and tightly connected. If they are not, that may result in wire sparking or low power that may damage the tachometer.
• Don’t allow wires to hang loosely around the tachometer. Zip tie them to prevent any accident that may arise if the loose wires come in contact with any object.
• Ensure that the engine’s RPM is correctly set within safe limits. Otherwise, overheating may result from improper setting and burn the engine.
• Check the tachometer’s range whether it matches the engine’s required RPM or not. If it does, it will work well with the mower. If not, replace it with an appropriate one.  

Frequently Asked Questions