tach reading 6200, then motor died

[brother chris]

Okay, I went out for a boat ride and when it was idling in forward, I noticed the tach was at 6200, so I decided to turn the motor off and see if I started it up again, if it would reset. Well, needless to say the motor would not turn over. It seem to have blown a fuse in the back of the motor. <br /> I got the fuse replaced and did not hook up the tach this time before I started it. It ran fine. But why would the tach not go to "0"? <br /> I am nervous about hooking the tach up to it again as I do not enjoy rowing back to shore like yesterday. I believe the tach is the problem, but I am not sure why. I paid $175 for it and only used it a few times. I have never dropped it or abused it. So is it the tach, or is there another electrical problem I don't know about? <br />Thanks in advance....

 

[brother chris]

Re: tach reading 6200, then motor died

In addition, the motor is a 1978 55hp Evinrude

 

[mrc]

Re: tach reading 6200, then motor died

I can categorically state it is the tach or another electrical problem <br /><br />Tach's will typically have 4 wires:<br /><br />1) signal usually from the alternator/stator<br />2) +12V from ignition switch when in "on" position.<br />3) Ground<br />4) Backlight.<br /><br />If the tach does not have +12V supplied, it will typically not be at 0.<br /><br />Check the wiring to insure that the signal wire is not shorted to ANY other wire.<br /><br />Disconnect all wires but the +12V and ground, Needle should zero.<br /><br />175$ is ALOT to pay for a tach.<br /><br />Mike

 

[sho305]

Re: tach reading 6200, then motor died

Thinking mine was about $60 at US boats or so. It fits about all motors but the Force with its goofy alternator.<br /><br />Last post has it. A bad ground or power will hose it up. Mine goes to 0 when I turn the key on.

 

[kart33]

Re: tach reading 6200, then motor died

Don't give up on the Tach being the problem. My Teleflex tach has a ground in the light socket. If I put a bulb in the tach it shorts out the engine and blows the 20 Amp fuse. If I remove the bulb and put just the base of the light back in the Tach it shorts, if I leave the hole open everything is OK. 5 hours to find this and found it purely by accident. $60 will get me a new one at Boaters World. Good luck!

 

[rdh2059]

Re: tach reading 6200, then motor died

Different tachs need to be set up differently. Most of them need to be set for the number of coils on your alternator. If you don't set up this correctly, you will get bad readings on your tach. Have you verified that this is set up correctly?<br /><br />Rick