motor "eats" tachometers

creekster

Cadet
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
28
My 1995 Johnson 200 Oceanrunner tach stopped working. Replaced tach and all was fine for about 30 hours use, then tach quit again. Could it just be bad tachs, or what else. Appreciate your advice.
 

angus63

Captain
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
3,726
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

How's the charging system? Still have 14.75 VDC when up on plane?
 

creekster

Cadet
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
28
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Charging system is o.k. and when I purposely left battery switch in on position overnight, battery did not lose power. (I thought this would show me that rectifier/regulator was o.k.) Could it really be bad tach?
 

kirkland

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 2, 2003
Messages
195
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Could it be a bad connection....does tach respond in any way when key is turned on??....does it display any reading at any time...any other gauges installed other than tach...
 

creekster

Cadet
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
28
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Tach needle moves very slightly (just a twitch) when key turned on. Other gauges are o.k.
 

kirkland

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 2, 2003
Messages
195
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

do the lights come on the tach...what setting do you have the tach set at....6P?? ...check connections at the controller plug. check grey wire for continuity...could be intermittent short in wire...maybe...
 

creekster

Cadet
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
28
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Well now I'm really puzzled! Tach is working again--- all I did was LOOK at the wiring to it! Magic gremlins I suppose? How can I check engine sending end of tach circuit?
 

jy118lfd

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 18, 2004
Messages
497
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Sounds to me like a rectifier going south. Have you turned off the batteries with the engine running lately? :D :D
 

angus63

Captain
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
3,726
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Bad connection or rectifier. Next time this happens use a voltmeter across the battery terminals while running to verify charging system operation. In the mean time, remove,clean,and tighten all of the connections.<br />Good luck
 

Barnacle_Bill

Admiral
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
6,469
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

Check the ground lead to your tach. For some reason, grounds are those most overlooked connections on a boat. I guess its because its more convenient to hook the ground of the test equipment to anything close
 

creekster

Cadet
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
28
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

I checked all connections, they look solid. Newest symptom: engine starts, tach doesnt move at all, until engine runs a few minutes and then tach works fine rest of the day. baffled!!??
 

creekster

Cadet
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
28
Re: motor "eats" tachometers

I checked all connections, they look solid. Newest symptom: engine starts, tach doesnt move at all, until engine runs a few minutes and then tach works fine rest of the day. baffled!!??
 
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