Grey tach wire at motor

Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
12
What would be the reason for not leaving grey tach wire hooked to yellow send wire at motor per JReeves troubleshooting method? What would be damaged or at risk? Thats the only way my tach will work and opposed to replacing the rectifier AGAIN can I just leave it connected that way and invest in an alternative way to charge the battery?
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,089
Re: Grey tach wire at motor

Sure, That will work fine. The question is why you are blowing out VRs. Is it bad ground?
 
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
12
Re: Grey tach wire at motor

I was working on different mechanical issue earlier this year and possibly had ground to battery (wingnut) too loose. Only other thing is last time I replaced it (about 18 months ago) I put on a used aftermarket (CDI). Anyone else have insight to keeping grey wire connected to yellow at motor circuit. Will that put anything else at risk? I have the starting battery connected to a 3 bank on board charger. Hopefully it can buy me some time through the 4th of July camping trip.
 

Joe Reeves

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Feb 24, 2002
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13,262
Re: Grey tach wire at motor

Yes, Hopefully it can buy you some time for the 4th of July camping trip. But if not, the consequences are drastic.

I'm assuming that the tachometer does not function when connected normally but does if you simply transfer that gray sensor wire to a stator yellow lead. If so, the water cooled regulator/rectifier assembly is faulty. Following are the few last paragraphs of my test.

"If so, connect the gray wire you removed previously to that yellow/gray terminal. Start the engine and check the tachometers operation, and if the tachometer operates as it should, then the regulator/rectifier is faulty and will require replacing. If the tachometer is still faulty, replace the tachometer.

If neither of the yellow wires from the stator is yellow/gray, and neither is attached to a yellow/gray wire, then attach that gray tachometer wire to either yellow stator wire, then the other yellow wire, checking the tachometer operation on both connections.

I've found this method to be a quick and efficient way of finding out which component is faulty.... the tachometer or the regulator/rectifier. It sounds drawn out but really only takes a very short time to run through. "If the water cooled regulator/rectifier proves to be faulty, don't put off replacing it as they have been known to catch on fire with disastrous consequences."
 

GatorMike

Ensign
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Messages
902
Re: Grey tach wire at motor

Don't want to hijack your thread but I have a quick related question. In the original post you mentioned Joe Reeves troubleshooting method. I am struggling with a tach problem right now and have been searching for Mr Reeves method but can't find it. Can someone please direct me to it.....Thanks.









Never mind I found it......thanks anyway.
 
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