Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

BigJ08

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I have a 1973 65 hp Evinrude. I was wondering how much trouble it would be to install a tachometer. Has anyone installed one on this vintage of motor? If so, what parts do I need. By using the search function I've found that I probably need the factory wiring harness for the tachometer, but I have no clue what that entails. Also, what's a good quality but inexpensive tachometer?
 

seahorse5

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

If you have the original control box for 1973, the grey tach wire is capped off inside it.

Depending on the tach make and model, you will need to wire in a purple wire for 12V positive, a ground, and the grey wire. Set the tach to 6 pulses on the switch on the back. Most new tachs come with directions.
 

ezmobee

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

I added one to my '73 85 doing exactly what seahorse5 described above. Works great. It also lets you know your charging system is working.
 

BigJ08

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

From looking at my shop manual, I don't have the original control box. Mine is a power pilot but not the style that came with the motor. I'll still check for the grey wire.
 

ezmobee

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

Power Pilot SHOULD be the same.
 

BigJ08

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

Okay, yeah it works fine, I just wonder what whoever switched the boxes did with that wire...... well off to look for it ;).
 

ezmobee

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

Mine was just a short little stub inside the box....but it was there!!!!
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

If you can't find a gray wire in the control box or the wire bundle from the motor, find the gray wire on the engine that runs from the terminal block on the starboard side of the powerhead, to the plug. Disconnect that wire and then do a continuity check between it and the wires at the other end of the wire bundle, until you find that correct one.

If the wire bundle is a stock OMC item, you should find a gray wire in it, but sometimes exposed wiring fades, gets coated with dirt, grease etc. The above should help you overcome that, but I recommend marking the wire once you have located it. Electronics stores sell identifcation tags/sleeves with numbers and letters on them, or you can just find some gray electrical tape and wrap a piece around the wire.

Also, your tach will probably have internal lighting, so don't forget to run a hot lead from the switched side of either your instrument lighting switch or the running light switch, to the post on the back of the tach for internal lighting.
 

BigJ08

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

Well I tried to get the control box apart, but I couldn't!! Kinda frustrating. Do the levers have to come off?
 

jay_merrill

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

I don't own a control box like yours, so I'm not sure how it comes apart. Usually, however, these sorts of problems are because one of the screws that hold it together is still in place. Give your box another look.
 

BigJ08

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

Well in the mean time, what brand guage do you guys suggest? Faria seems a little pricey with teleflex being a little more affordable. Any other suggestions for a good, affordable guage?

I also had one more question about the control box. It's obvious I don't have the stock one. The forward/reverse/throttle lever is really sticky especially on full throttle, you really have to jam it forward to get it wide open, as a result, it's kind of hard to fine tune the throttle while you're running. Should I look for one like the original, or is there something I can do to make this one work right? Sorry if this is off topic :).
 

BigJ08

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Re: Installing a tachometer on an old Evinrude.

Bump, for a good affordable tach?
 
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