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  1. Silvertip

    Lost power to gauges and radio, ignition still works

    Gauges typically have +12 volts and ground daisy chained from one gauge to the next. Therefore if the +12v or ground connection is lost on the first gauge in the string the others drop out as well. As was advised -- follow the juice!
  2. Silvertip

    Erratic Tachometer

    There is a calibration adjustment on the back of the tach. Note its current setting. Then carefully turn the adjustment back and forth several times to burnish the internal contacts. Set the adjustment back to the original setting. Make sure electrical connections are clean and tight.
  3. Silvertip

    Keeping pontoon gates open

    There are all kinds of gate latches at your local hardware store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Check your gates and pick a latch that works.
  4. Silvertip

    Emergency (backup) trolling motor...

    There are several quick release trolling motor mounts that work well on pontoons. You stow the motor somewhere on the boat and use it when you need it. On a pontoon you definitely want a bow mount for best control. Whatever quick release setup one ends up with, the base of that mount stays...
  5. Silvertip

    Need help please

    Won't crank or won't start. There is a difference. If the starter is not "cranking" the engine that's one thing to look for. If the engine cranks but does not start that's a totally different set of potential issues. Not cranking can be starter, battery, battery cables, etc. Not starting is...
  6. Silvertip

    Need a new Battery for 24V System

    You use two dissimilar 12 volt batteries in a 24 volt system but performance will be limited to the capacity of the smaller of the two batteries. Likewise, if you installed a battery with higher capacity than the old one, performance will be limited to that of the smaller of the two batteries...
  7. Silvertip

    Looking for parts

    Replacement parts for boats is an exercise in frustration because as you found out, manufacturers just don't stock parts for low volume items. Decals and other trim stuff are generally not available even from the manufacturer. Dealers certainly don't want to get stuck with this stuff. Your...
  8. Silvertip

    fuse between battery selector switch and new fuse panel?

    I would use a circuit breaker (manual reset or auto reset). Like any circuit protection you need to compute the actual amount of power (amps) that breaker will be asked to deliver. #6 AWG is rated for 60A max. The ground bus must be wired with the same 6 AWG wire.
  9. Silvertip

    40 hp twin engines

    Your buddy may be able to weld paper thin material but can that thin pontoon aluminum handle the side loading, forward & reverse thrust, and tilting/trimming of an outboard hanging on it. Additional expense of dual throttle and steering must be considered. I had an 20 foot toon with a 40...
  10. Silvertip

    4 flat 7 wire trailer connector

    I'll take another stab at this if there is still confusion. You have one brown wire running up each side of the trailer -- right? At the front, tie those two wires together and then connect them to the single brown wire from the new four wire plug. You have white ground wires coming from all...
  11. Silvertip

    Stray current help!

    I take it this is an outboard powered boat? If so, the very fact that the engine is bolted to the aluminum hull means the negative battery terminal is also connected to the hull since the negative battery cable is bolted to the engine block. With the positive battery cable disconnected and you...
  12. Silvertip

    4 flat 7 wire trailer connector

    You can use a standard 4 wire connector. The connector shown in the picture is designed so half the wires go down one side of the trailer while the other half goes down the other. So from left to right you have three ground wires all of which terminate at far left terminal on the plug. You...
  13. Silvertip

    Mercury 60hp CT prop question

    It is common to suspect a given prop is the cause of poor performance so money is spent needlessly when the problem may be a good tune up is in order because the engine is simply not making full power. Things like the throttle being misadjusted so it's not opening fully. Check the cheap stuff...
  14. Silvertip

    Will this kill switch work for a Mercruiser 140?

    It should work fine. However -- a universal switch has NC (normally closed) and NO (normally open) pairs of contacts. For an auto style ignition system the ignition switch system like yours you would use the contacts that are "closed" with the clip installed on the switch plunger. This allows...
  15. Silvertip

    No power to fromt of boat

    If nothing works, including the trim, then the problem is likely right at the battery. Make sure all of the connections are clean (as in shiny clean and bright) and then tighten them securely. You have two electrical systems. The two large cables go the the engine and the trim and starter...
  16. Silvertip

    New Starter turns on when battery is connected

    There is no negative post. If there was and a positive wire was touching it you would have had smoke and sparks.
  17. Silvertip

    Charging trolling motor batteries

    $300 gets you an inverter generator. Charge the batteries at the storage facility when you get home (not before you leave). It is a bad idea to leave the batteries even partially discharged for long periods of storage. You can also charge the batteries from the tow vehicle on the trip home...
  18. Silvertip

    gas tank

    Can't you measure it?
  19. Silvertip

    boat battery fluctuating voltage!

    Disconnect the accessory feed wire from the battery. Make sure you have only the large red positive battery cable connected. Now start the engine and measure battery voltage. If it is still bouncing around you have a regulator/rectifier issue. If voltage stabilizes at 13-14V the issue is...
  20. Silvertip

    Boat switch panel and mystery button

    The safety lanyard has a clip at the end. The switch pulls out, you insert the clip which opens the switch (or closes it depending on what type of engine ignition you have) and therefore allows the engine to run. If you yank the lanyard (as in being tossed overboard) the lanyard pulls the clip...
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