Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

[BigGameHuntah]

Hi all...
I went out for the first time today on my boat I just bought, and noticed a few things that need to be addressed.

The odomoter and water pressure gauge need to be replaced.
My live well works, but the automatic setting does not. The guy from the delaership I got it from thinks it's just the switch. He thought bass pro shops would have it. Can any one help me with links to what I'll need?

I also noticed the trailer tires were dry rotted(which were car tires), and I had them replaced with new trailer tires.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

Your boat does not have an odometer. It has a "speedometer". The water pressure gauge and speedometer are both water pressure devices and very likely are not in need of replacement. Both have a plastic tube leading to the engine (water pressure) and to the pitot (speedometer). The speedometer pitot is either a plastic fin affair on the back of the boat or the tube is connected to a pitot on the engine. Those have very small holes in them that get plugged with debris. The tubes may also be pinched. The water pressure gauge reads pressure from the engine cooling system or tell-tale. Again - the hose may just be pinched.

As for the live well, it is the "timer" function that is not working. If the timer is a separate module, then the switch is not the problem, the module is probably faulty. Some livewell timers are built right into the switch and if that's what you have then the switch/timer is one piece and it is likely bad. Look at the back of the switch. If it is rather chunky looking unit compared to the other switches it has the timer bult into it.

 

[BigGameHuntah]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

I didn't mean an odometer. lol
RPM gauge....
I've heard that the lines may have froze or plugged from another person too.

The big thing is that the manual switch on the live well works, and will fill the live well, but when switched all the way up, in the auto setting, nothing happens. I'll look at it later. It's not parked here.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

An RPM gauge is called a "tachometer". A tachometer dose NOT have a water pressure tube. It is an all electronic device that senses engine rpm via a "pulse" signal from the engine. The tach needs +12 volts when the key is on, a good ground, and obviously the pulse signal from the engine (the "S" terminal on the gauge). Missing any one of those and it won't work.

 

[BigGameHuntah]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

ok, thanks...
Any suggestions on the live well switch?
I looked at the wiring just now, and it looks like 3 out of the 4 connections are made on the back of the switch. A red one, a brown one which has a few brown wires tied in together, and one black wire. I will go take a picture, but I noticed that there is the start of a small bee's nest above it. lol

Who knows what is original, but the boat has only had one owner, from what I've been told.

 

[BigGameHuntah]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

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Just a note on one of the pics...
There is a plug on the bottom that I unplugged for a second, but it's plugged back in now, and it's for the interior lights anyway.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

normally the live well auto is just a timer that will start and stop the pump it might be set for something like 5mins off 1 min on. so with the switch in auto wait at least 10 mins before considering you have a problem.

 

[BigGameHuntah]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

Thanks...I will try that today. I'm obviously hoping to get out of spending any more money, since it seems never ending at this point.
Wish me luck!
I was told by one person that it needs to stay on the entire time. My live well has a drain at the bottom, and a plastic flexible pipe that bends vertically to a bracket (similar to a toilet) and when the water gets to high, it drains up top. If it needs to be constantly running, will that kill the battery?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

That was not a plug on the bottom switch. YOu disassembled the switch. Judging by the corrosion on the terminals of the other swtiches you have some cleaning and/or replacement to do. Your livewell timer is apparently NOT built into any of those switches. It is a separate module that you will need to find by following the wires from the switch.

 

[BigGameHuntah]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

Update...
I took the boat out last night with a friend, and the live well auto setting definitely does not come on. I left it on for over a half an hour, and nothing.
On another note, the trolling motor battery didn't seem to last very long, after being charged all night and day yesterday.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

One good way to destroy a trolling motor battery (or any battery for that matter) is to leave it in a discharged state. When done fishing charge the battery immediately - not a week later when you want to go out again. Charge the battery and then have it load tested at any auto store. They generally do it free in the hopes of selling you a new battery.

 

[BigGameHuntah]

Re: Live well switch for 1988 bass tracker?

Thanks...I had the battery tested after charging it for the night and all day yesterday, and it had dead cells, and they said it was toast.
I bought a new duracell marine battery that is 29mh and has 225 minutes of.reserve time. My cranking battery is in good health, but just needs a charge. I agent dine that since I got the boat 2 weeks ago, but will do so tonight.
I'm going to mount the fish finder hds elite 5 at the console, and some.other stuff.
Do people usually mount the trolling motor pedal, or leave it free to be moved around?