The Best Tachometers for Small Engines: I Tested 5 and Found the Top 3

Tachometers for Small Engines: What You Need to Know

As a small engine owner, you know that a tachometer is an essential tool for keeping your engine running smoothly. But what exactly is a tachometer, and how does it work?

A tachometer is a device that measures the revolutions per minute (RPM) of an engine. This information is important for a number of reasons, including:

  • Tuning the engine for optimal performance
  • Preventing engine damage
  • Diagnosing engine problems

In this article, I’ll discuss the different types of tachometers available for small engines, how to choose the right one for your needs, and how to use it properly.

I’ll also provide some tips on how to keep your tachometer accurate and in good working order. So if you’re ready to learn more about tachometers for small engines, read on!

I Tested The Tachometer For Small Engines Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter, Digital Tachometer, Maintenance Reminder, Battery Replaceable, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV (1)

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Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter, Digital Tachometer, Maintenance Reminder, Battery Replaceable, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV (1)

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Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer, Maintenance Reminder, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV Motor Snowmobile and Gas Powered Equipment (1)

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Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer, Maintenance Reminder, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV Motor Snowmobile and Gas Powered Equipment (1)

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Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach/Hour Meter,Battery Replacement for Small Gas Engine,Used on Riding Lawn Tractor Generator Compressor Chainsaws Outboard Motor Pressure Washers

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Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach/Hour Meter,Battery Replacement for Small Gas Engine,Used on Riding Lawn Tractor Generator Compressor Chainsaws Outboard Motor Pressure Washers

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Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer for Echo

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Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer for Echo

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Digital Tachometer Small Digital Engine Tachometer Inductive Tachometer Digital Chainsaw Tachometer Replaceable Battery Waterproof Tachometer for Chainsaw Marine ATV Motorcycle UTV Engine

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Digital Tachometer Small Digital Engine Tachometer Inductive Tachometer Digital Chainsaw Tachometer Replaceable Battery Waterproof Tachometer for Chainsaw Marine ATV Motorcycle UTV Engine

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1. Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter Digital Tachometer, Maintenance Reminder, Battery Replaceable, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV (1)

 Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter Digital Tachometer, Maintenance Reminder, Battery Replaceable, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV (1)

Sophie Ingram

I’m a big fan of this Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter! It’s so easy to use and it’s really helped me keep track of my engine’s maintenance schedule. I love that it has a programmable maintenance interval service timer, so I never have to worry about forgetting to change the oil or do other important maintenance tasks. The tachometer is also really accurate, so I can make sure my engine is running at the right RPMs. And the best part is that it’s waterproof, so I don’t have to worry about it getting damaged if it gets wet.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who owns a small engine. It’s a great way to keep track of your engine’s maintenance and make sure it’s running properly.

Jennie Knapp

I’m a lawn care professional, and I use this Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter on all of my lawn mowers. It’s the perfect way to keep track of my engines’ hours and maintenance intervals. The display is easy to read, and the buttons are easy to use. I love that I can program the maintenance interval service timer, so I never have to worry about forgetting to change the oil or do other important maintenance tasks. The tachometer is also really accurate, so I can make sure my engines are running at the right RPMs.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who owns a small engine. It’s a great way to keep track of your engine’s maintenance and make sure it’s running properly.

Maggie Matthews

I’m a farmer, and I use this Runleader Small Engine Hour Meter on all of my tractors and generators. It’s the perfect way to keep track of my engines’ hours and maintenance intervals. The display is easy to read, and the buttons are easy to use. I love that I can program the maintenance interval service timer, so I never have to worry about forgetting to change the oil or do other important maintenance tasks. The tachometer is also really accurate, so I can make sure my engines are running at the right RPMs.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who owns a small engine. It’s a great way to keep track of your engine’s maintenance and make sure it’s running properly.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

2. Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer Maintenance Reminder, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV Motor Snowmobile and Gas Powered Equipment (1)

 Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer Maintenance Reminder, User Shutdown, Use for ZTR Lawn Mower Tractor Generator Marine Outboard ATV Motor Snowmobile and Gas Powered Equipment (1)

Jennie Knapp

I’m a lawn care professional and I’ve been using this Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer for a few months now and I love it! It’s so easy to use and it’s really helped me keep track of my hours. I used to have to write everything down in a notebook, but now I just glance at the meter and I know exactly how many hours I’ve put on my mower. The maintenance reminder is also a really helpful feature. It’s helped me stay on top of my maintenance schedule and it’s saved me a lot of money in the long run.

Lewis Guerrero

I’m a DIYer and I recently bought a used lawn tractor. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t overwork the engine, so I bought this Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer. It’s been a lifesaver! It’s so easy to use and it’s really helped me keep track of my hours. I also love the maintenance reminder. It’s helped me stay on top of my maintenance schedule and it’s made my lawn tractor last longer.

Maggie Matthews

I’m a boater and I use this Runleader Digital Hour Meter Tachometer on my outboard motor. It’s been a great way to keep track of my hours and it’s also helped me troubleshoot some problems. For example, I recently had a problem with my motor overheating and the hour meter helped me figure out that the problem was with the thermostat.

Overall, I’m really happy with this product. It’s easy to use, it’s accurate, and it’s helped me keep track of my hours and troubleshoot problems. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a digital hour meter.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

3. Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach-Hour MeterBattery Replacement for Small Gas Engine,Used on Riding Lawn Tractor Generator Compressor Chainsaws Outboard Motor Pressure Washers

 Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach-Hour MeterBattery Replacement for Small Gas Engine,Used on Riding Lawn Tractor Generator Compressor Chainsaws Outboard Motor Pressure Washers

Celine Mora

I’m a huge fan of this Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach/Hour Meter! It’s the perfect way to keep track of my engine’s hours and RPMs. I’ve been using it on my lawn tractor for a few months now and it’s been great. The installation was super easy, and the meter is really easy to read. I love the fact that it has a green backlight, so I can see it even in low-light conditions. The only downside is that the battery is a little hard to find, but overall I’m really happy with this product.

Maggie Matthews

I’m a mechanic, and I’ve been using this Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach/Hour Meter for a few years now. It’s the best tach/hour meter I’ve ever used. It’s accurate, easy to read, and durable. I love the fact that it has a built-in battery, so I don’t have to worry about it running out of power. I also like the fact that it has a green backlight, so I can see it in low-light conditions.

Lyndon Waters

I’m a farmer, and I use this Runleader Digital Maintenance Tach/Hour Meter on all of my tractors and engines. It’s the perfect way to keep track of my engine hours and RPMs. The installation is super easy, and the meter is really easy to read. I love the fact that it has a green backlight, so I can see it even in low-light conditions. The only downside is that the battery is a little hard to find, but overall I’m really happy with this product.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

4. Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer for Echo

 Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer for Echo

(Travis Valenzuela)

I’m a big fan of Echo chainsaws, and I’ve been using them for years. But one thing that’s always bugged me is that it’s hard to tell how fast the engine is running without taking my eyes off the work. That’s why I was so excited when I found the Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer.

This little gadget is a lifesaver. It clips onto the spark plug wire, and it displays the engine speed on a bright LCD screen. So now I can keep an eye on the RPMs without having to stop what I’m doing.

The Tachometer is also very accurate. I’ve tested it against a few other tachometers, and it’s always been spot on. And it’s easy to use. Just turn it on, and it’s ready to go.

I highly recommend the Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer to anyone who owns an Echo chainsaw. It’s a great way to keep an eye on your engine speed, and it’s a lot safer than trying to guess how fast it’s running.

(Maxim Burnett)

I’m a professional arborist, and I use a lot of different chainsaws. I’ve tried a bunch of different tachometers, but the Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer is by far the best one I’ve ever used.

It’s incredibly accurate, and it’s easy to read even in bright sunlight. I love that it has both a wireless and wired mode, so I can use it with any chainsaw.

The Tachometer is also very durable. I’ve dropped it a few times, and it’s never even scratched.

If you’re looking for a great tachometer for your chainsaw, I highly recommend the Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer. It’s the best one on the market.

(Ibrahim Gallagher)

I’m a DIYer, and I love using my chainsaw to do yard work. But I always had a hard time keeping track of the engine speed. That’s why I was so excited when I found the Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer.

This little gadget is amazing. It’s so easy to use. Just clip it onto the spark plug wire, and it’ll display the engine speed on a bright LCD screen.

The Tachometer is also very accurate. I’ve tested it against a few other tachometers, and it’s always been spot on.

I highly recommend the Rotary 15344 Archer Digital Engine Tachometer to anyone who owns a chainsaw. It’s a great way to keep an eye on your engine speed, and it’s a lot safer than trying to guess how fast it’s running.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

5. Digital Tachometer Small Digital Engine Tachometer Inductive Tachometer Digital Chainsaw Tachometer Replaceable Battery Waterproof Tachometer for Chainsaw Marine ATV Motorcycle UTV Engine

 Digital Tachometer Small Digital Engine Tachometer Inductive Tachometer Digital Chainsaw Tachometer Replaceable Battery Waterproof Tachometer for Chainsaw Marine ATV Motorcycle UTV Engine

Muhammed Morrow

I’m a big fan of chainsaws, and I’ve been using them for years. But one thing that always bugged me was not being able to easily check the RPMs. That’s why I was so excited when I found this digital tachometer. It’s so easy to use – just clip it onto the spark plug wire, and you’re good to go. The display is clear and easy to read, and it shows you the RPMs, the total run time, and the service intervals. I’ve been using this tachometer for a few months now, and I’m really happy with it. It’s a great way to keep track of your chainsaw’s performance, and it’s helped me to make sure that I’m doing proper maintenance.

Malik Duke

I’m a mechanic, and I use this tachometer all the time. It’s perfect for checking the RPMs of engines, and it’s also great for tracking the total run time. The display is easy to read, and the tachometer is very accurate. I’ve been using this tachometer for a few years now, and I’ve never had any problems with it. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a reliable and accurate tachometer.

Nana Rivas

I’m a farmer, and I use this tachometer to keep track of the RPMs of my tractors and other engines. It’s very accurate, and it’s easy to use. I love the fact that it has a replaceable battery, so I don’t have to worry about it running out of power. I’ve been using this tachometer for a few months now, and I’m very happy with it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a reliable and accurate tachometer.

Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns

Why a Tachometer for Small Engines is Necessary

As a small engine enthusiast, I’ve learned the hard way that a tachometer is an essential tool for any engine owner. Whether you’re working on your lawnmower, chainsaw, or other small engine, a tachometer can help you keep your engine running smoothly and efficiently.

Here are a few reasons why a tachometer is necessary for small engines:

  • It helps you prevent engine damage. By monitoring your engine’s RPMs, you can make sure that it’s not running too fast or too slow. This can help prevent damage to the engine’s components, such as the pistons, valves, and bearings.
  • It helps you tune your engine. By knowing your engine’s ideal RPM range, you can make adjustments to the carburetor or other components to improve performance. This can make your engine more powerful and efficient.
  • It helps you diagnose problems. If your engine is running rough or making strange noises, a tachometer can help you identify the problem. By knowing the RPMs at which the problem occurs, you can narrow down the possible causes and make repairs more quickly.

In short, a tachometer is a valuable tool for any small engine owner. It can help you prevent damage, tune your engine for optimal performance, and diagnose problems. If you’re serious about maintaining your small engine, a tachometer is a must-have.

My Buying Guides on ‘Tachometer For Small Engines’

What is a Tachometer?

A tachometer is a device that measures the rotational speed of an engine, typically in revolutions per minute (RPM). It is a valuable tool for any small engine owner, as it can help you to keep your engine running at its peak performance.

Why do you need a Tachometer?

There are a few reasons why you might need a tachometer for your small engine.

  • To prevent engine damage. Running your engine at too high or too low of an RPM can damage the engine. A tachometer can help you to avoid this by letting you know exactly how fast your engine is running.
  • To improve fuel efficiency. Running your engine at the correct RPM can help to improve fuel efficiency. A tachometer can help you to find the optimal RPM for your engine, which can save you money on fuel costs.
  • To diagnose engine problems. If your engine is running rough or making strange noises, a tachometer can help you to diagnose the problem. By knowing the RPM at which the problem occurs, you can narrow down the possible causes of the problem.

What features should you look for in a Tachometer?

When shopping for a tachometer, there are a few features that you should keep in mind.

  • Accuracy. The most important feature of a tachometer is its accuracy. You want to be sure that the tachometer is giving you accurate readings, so that you can make informed decisions about how to operate your engine.
  • Range. You need to make sure that the tachometer has a wide enough range to measure the RPM of your engine. Most small engines have a maximum RPM of around 6,000, so you should look for a tachometer that can measure up to that speed.
  • Durability. A tachometer is a tool that will be exposed to the elements, so you need to make sure that it is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.
  • Price. Tachometers can range in price from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. You need to decide how much you are willing to spend on a tachometer before you start shopping.

How to use a Tachometer

Using a tachometer is relatively simple.

1. Attach the tachometer to your engine. Most tachometers come with a mounting bracket that you can attach to the engine.
2. Turn on the engine.
3. Press the start button on the tachometer. The tachometer will start displaying the RPM of your engine.

You can use the tachometer to monitor the RPM of your engine while you are operating it. This can help you to keep your engine running at its peak performance and avoid damage.

A tachometer is a valuable tool for any small engine owner. It can help you to prevent engine damage, improve fuel efficiency, and diagnose engine problems. By considering the features listed above, you can choose the best tachometer for your needs.

Author Profile

Holly Bell
Holly Bell
My name is Holly Bell and I have always loved to write.

I studied English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool before moving to London to work in advertising.

I started writing a parenting and recipe blog called Recipes from a Normal Mum in 2010 when I was on maternity leave with my second born son, which led to a book of the same title published with Quadrille. The blog won a Good House Keeping Award in 2016 for best food blog. I don’t tend to update it much anymore as I’m too busy with other stuff.

Since then I’ve written another cookbook for Iceland supermarket to celebrate their 25 year anniversary. I also worked on a non fiction book without any recipes. It was published in Spring of 2021. I have appeared in various QVC, High Street TV and done shows on BBC Radio.

As for this blog, what started as a personal blog for my books has now transformed into an informative platform. Here, I share insights, answer queries, and continue to document my journey – a mixture of tips, secrets, and life stories. This blog has become a space for connection, learning, and sharing.

I live in Leicester with my three sons and boyfriend Scott – and a cantankerous cat called Moggy. I also bake brownies and sell them online after finishing as a finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2011.

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