Just bought boat, most gauges inoperable

Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
58
I just bought a 2000 Reinell 200C, with the Volvo Penta 4.3, 4bbl.

I listened to it run in the guys shop and it ran pretty good for just being started for the 1st time in 2 years. When I took it out on the water I noticed that I don't have an accurate tach, it only goes to about 2500rpms, no speedo, no oil pressure, no volts, and no trim gauge. The previous owner said that is has a fairly new motor as his last one cracked when he didn't winterize it properly. So I am guessing maybe a ground got left off when the motor swap was done possibly? Or is there a fuse panel somewhere that I should be checking? I am unable to find any manuals online for Reinell as Campion bought them out and the line has been discontinued.

Thank you!
 

saaristo

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Sep 22, 2017
Messages
190
Rpm's - take the tach off from the panel, in the back you should see a small wheel with numbers on it. Turn it couple of times both ways, connect the wiring again and see if this made any changes. The number selected on the wheel should be selected according to motor but I dont know in this particular case which.

Trim indicator - theres a lot of info here on chasing this problem, I have contributed to this as well šŸ˜ start by measuring resistance between trim sender wires in the back of your boat.
 

tpenfield

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Jul 18, 2011
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Much of the wiring is related to the engine, so see if you can get the service manuals for the engine/outdrive and work from there.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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I just bought a 2000 Reinell 200C, with the Volvo Penta 4.3, 4bbl.

... I am unable to find any manuals online for Reinell as Campion bought them out and the line has been discontinued.
Welcome aboard

Campion is also out of business. however neither companies had an owners manual or service manual.

those things do not exist for a boat (with very few exceptions).

However the engine, drive and controls have a service manual. Those factory service manuals can be obtained thru your local dealer or directly from brunswick


with any new to you boat, prior to launching, make sure to do all the maintenance the prior owner didnt do.

that includes removing the drive and checking alignment, inspecting the gimbal bearing, u-joints, bellows and doing a raw water pump service. then changing all the fluids and filters.

I would also start at the battery and work your way up to the helm, cleaning and tightening ever connection. Including the grounds on the block and the buss bar under the helm. by clean, use 150 grit sand paper and make the connections shine like your grandmas silverware.
 
Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
58
Update. The tach is still wonky. It doesn't follow the engine roms all the way to wide open, it seems sluggish. The trim sender is bad, the gauge is good. The speedometer pitot is broke off at the nipple for the tube connection. The oil pressure gauge started working its own. Volt meter looks good. Next step is pulling and cleaning connections. I did notice, while I was tracing a crank but no start condition that if I unplugged the big round connection at the engine and plug it back in it would start. I expended the male pins in that connector and it seems to be better now. I'll clean and protect those pins next. Where is the buss bar located. I haven't found it yet.
 
Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
58
Update on my gauge problems. The speedo problem was the pitot tube on the stern. The tach needs to be replaced, nothing is making that thing accurate. The temp gauge was from a bad sending unit. The oil pressure gauge is reading accurate now. I had some of the male pins on the big round 10 pin connector that were compressed. That may have been the issue with that gauge. Trim sending unit on the outdrive was shot, replaced that, works good now.
 

04fxdwgi25

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2022
Messages
537
On the tach issue, there is rotary selector switch on the back the tach that sets tach for the number of cyl the engine has.

Move that switch CW and CCW a few times gently and reset for number of cyl's.

Those contacts get some corrosion on them and moving, wipes them clean 90% of the time. Very common problem.
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,360
On the tach, you may try tapping on the gauge itself while underway. The FourWinns gauge was "sticky" and a tap would get it working right. Might squeeze you by for a season if funding is tight.
 
Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
58
On the tach, you may try tapping on the gauge itself while underway. The FourWinns gauge was "sticky" and a tap would get it working right. Might squeeze you by for a season if funding is tight.
I tried that several times. It's a $100 tach. I'll just replace it.
 
Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
58
On the tach issue, there is rotary selector switch on the back the tach that sets tach for the number of cyl the engine has.

Move that switch CW and CCW a few times gently and reset for number of cyl's.

Those contacts get some corrosion on them and moving, wipes them clean 90% of the time. Very common problem.
I tried that several times. No luck.
 

04fxdwgi25

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2022
Messages
537
Perhaps the grey wire in the 9 / 10 pin plug isn't tight or a loose connection / bad wire terminal back on the engine for the grey wire.

I would be triple checking grounds, with so many wonky things going on.
 
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