Ill start off by saying that im am not a outboard mechanic and have never claimed to be. This is my first post on the web site, but I have spent many hours reading over the posts trying to learn a thing or two about outboards, and I think this is a great site. A lot of good info. I have a 1987 Johnson 150. The problem that I am having is that my Tach doesnt work, and after reading through the posts and looking through a shop manual for my outboard it apears to me that a bad rectifier could be the culprit. The tach is a brand new one and I really doubt its bad. Connections are tight on the tach, and it is set at 6. I ran the troubleshooting test in the shop manual for the rectifier and it failed, no amps either way. My question is does the rectifier serve any other puropose other than to send the signal to the tach? And this may be a stupid question but will it hurt to run my outboard with a bad rectifier? I will eventually get it replaced, but from what I have seen a new one for my outboard will cost $200 and I dont feal real comfortable pulling off the flywheel and doing it myself, so that means a trip to the mechanics.<br /><br />Also a little background on my outboard. I was having major problems with it loosing power when I gave it gas. Took it to the mechanic and they replaced one power pack, stator, and timer base. After they had it for two months. I still had the same problem. Being they had it for so long and the large bill, and hearing from other boat owners that the mechanics at that particular marina are not very knowledgeable and try to rip people off (unfortunately they are the only close OMC mechanics), I took it to a Merc/Mariner shop. They replaced the other power pack and it runs like new, other than the tack problem.<br /><br />Thanks in advance!!!!
