bearcat55hp/telltale

[horsefly38425]

I notice that at idle my 68-72 yr bearcat will steam/pee/steam/pee///but it is only at low idle/vary low 500rpm or less "normal or not" I love to show her off by dropping down to 250 -400 rp's. I have eng temp gauge in the helm, but don't know how to hook it to this motor

 

[steelespike]

Re: bearcat55hp/telltale

There is a Bearcat site www.4cyclemarine.com<br />They can probably help you.Some Bearcats use metered water flow and others have a thermostat.<br /> My guess is that at very low idle the back pressure restricts the flow to the telltale.lack of flow to the telltale doesn't necessarily mean a lack of cooling.<br /> Did you know that your basic engine was designed Circa 1949 for the Crosley car?

 

[horsefly38425]

Re: bearcat55hp/telltale

yes, i know of a couple of good bearcat sites.still i am having trouble finding someone who has info on how to hookup some water temp & oil pressure gauges these motors had a light that would show HOT which is hooked to both water & oil send units and i have tryed to get readings with volt/ohm meter but have not had much luck. 2 wires come out of water unit. 1 comes off oil unit. I think auto type gauges should work

 

[steelespike]

Re: bearcat55hp/telltale

In looking at my after market ser. manual it appears these senders are simple switches when the motor is off the oil pressure switch should read closed between the terminal and ground.(switch closed)Un hook the wire first.With the motor running the switch should check open to ground.The switchs simply turn the bulb on when no oil pressure by taking one side of the circuit to ground.The temp switch does the same thing using temperature.These switches appear to be hooked to the same bulb which indicates to hot water temp or low oil pressure.The only wires I see are a wire from the temp switch that<br />is jumped to the oil pressure switch and then to the bulb circuit.Thus 2 wires on the oil pressure switch.You can check the bulb circuit by simply taking the wires and touching them to ground.The bulb should light.You could buy a automotive type after market Themperature/oil pressure setup and simply put the senders in the spots where the original switches are.Be sure you put the senders in the right spots as one is for oil pressure and the other water temp.And run wires to the new gauges as described in the instructions.You could put the new gauges in a panel back by the motor to simplify installation.

 

[horsefly38425]

Re: bearcat55hp/telltale

thank's steelespike, the oilsend unit that comes in them is auto/type and should show ground when no pressure is present-thus 12v to one side of my gauge with other side to the send unit to the send unit should work just as if the engine were in a car/high rpm less ground /lower rpm more ground. maybe i'll pull send unit put air pressure to it 60lbs then drop pressure off to see what readings i get. I going to have to think about pulling temp send unit/might be hard to find lock ring that keeps it in place.I will be hooked up to new S/W marine gauges on the helm