evinrude alarm, why?

[biggwind]

i have a 1998 evinrude intruder that has an alarm going off, on the little row of lights at the bottom of the tach, it is the third one that looks like an exclamation point. this alarm did not go off when i first got the boat, two weeks ago. but the motor was at the max on the jack plate and it did run fast, but i had to lower it some because the steering torque would almost twist the wheel out of my hand. i installed a torque stabilizer on the skeg, and today i went back up on jack plate my speed came up and no torque to speak of. so i did a all out run and was triming up the motor, the boat was really feeling good. then the alarm went off. i slowed down ,and trimed motor down alarm went off. this is a carburetor motor, and i decarboned it and changed the lower unit oil. my manual has not arrived yet and i dont even know what that alarm is for. and maybe i did something to cause the alarm to go off. any help appreciated---biggwind

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: evinrude alarm, why?

sounds like you trimmed up too high, and the motor was not picking up cooling water.

 

[JoeCrow]

Re: evinrude alarm, why?

If you installed a stabilizer on the skeg, make sure you're not causing air to gather around the water intake on the motor
If you in any way restrict or divert water from the intake, the motor will overheat at higher speeds

 

[biggwind]

Re: evinrude alarm, why?

thought i may have damaged pump impeller when i decarbed the motor by not getting enough water thru the attachment. but you are most likely right about over trimming the motor. i was just trying to get 60 mph out of this antique,(85 hydra sport). thanks for the insight.---biggwind

 

[d.boat]

Re: evinrude alarm, why?

thought i may have damaged pump impeller when i decarbed the motor by not getting enough water thru the attachment. but you are most likely right about over trimming the motor. i was just trying to get 60 mph out of this antique,(85 hydra sport). thanks for the insight.---biggwind

You might consider putting a water pressure gauge on it. It's actually a pretty easy doityourself project, but might involve putting a hole in your dashboard for the gauge if you don't have an empty one.

 

[biggwind]

Re: evinrude alarm, why?

d.boat ,as good as done, when i get my shop manual. dont know where to tie it into motor. this motor only has about 80 hrs. but it sat for quite a while. thanks for the advice.--biggwind

 

[Dhadley]

Re: evinrude alarm, why?

If it went into SLOW (speed limit overheat warning) and the rpms wouldn't go over 2800 or so it overheated. If the horn went off but did not limit the rpm, the horn was for a fuel restriction.

The water pressure gauge picks up pressure from either head. There's a little plug in the hole where the fitting goes.

Correctly installed, a torque tamer will actually let more water get to the inlets. It goes on the trailg edge of the skeg behind and below the inlets so it's hard to imagine how it would affect water getting to the inlets in a negative way.