rpm gauge?

Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
23
my rpm gauge on my bassboat quit. so i went out and got a new rpm gauge and hooked it up and still will'nt work. it is not getting any power to the rpm gauge.so could it be the rectifier bad? what i done was i was on the lake and i had my motor to far up and i took off and the rpm gauge quit.i hooked the new rpm gauge up just like the old one.i have got a 1983 150hp. johnson v6 outboard motor.so what do you all think my be the trouble here? what all does the rectifier do? and what does the rectifier look like?any web.site that show a rectifier? please help if you know what could be the trouble with my rpm gauge.. thanks.... :confused:
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: rpm gauge?

Lok on the starboard (right) side of the powerhead, just to the front of the electric terminal block. There should be a round dome type object there with three wires leading from it which are... RED, YELLOW, YELLOW/GRAY. Possibly instead of yellow/gray, there might be two yellow wires. That is the rectifier. To test it see below.<br /><br />(Small Rectifier Test)<br />(J. Reeves)<br /> <br />Remove the rectifier wires from the terminal block. Using a ohm meter, connect the black lead of the ohm meter to the rectifier base (ground), then one by one, connect the red lead of the ohm meter to the yellow, yellow/gray, then the red wire (some rectifiers may also have a yellow/blue wire. If so connect to that also). Now, reverse the ohm meter leads and check those same wires again. You should get a reading in one direction, and none at all in the other direction. <br /><br />Now, connect the black lead of the ohm meter to the red wire. One by one, connect the red lead of the ohm meter to the yellow, yellow/gray, and if present, the yellow/blue wire. Then reverse the leads, checking the wires again. Once more, you should get a reading in one direction and none in the other. <br /><br />Note that the reading obtained from the red rectifier wire will be lower then what is obtained from the other wires. <br /><br />Any deviation from the "Reading", "No Reading" as above indicates a faulty rectifier. Note that a rectifier will not tolerate reverse polarity. Simply touching the battery with the cables in the reverse order or hooking up a battery charger backwards will blow the diodes in the rectifier assy immediately.
 
Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
23
Re: rpm gauge?

what is a ohm meter? is it like someting you use to test the voltage in a battery? i have a litle than you can put to a batterey and it will show if it is charded up or not will that work? or do i need to go out a buy a ohm meter?
 

paperdesk

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 28, 2004
Messages
204
Re: rpm gauge?

An Ohm meter is different. You'll need to buy one. They start out at about $10 at Radio Shack etc. They'll show you how to use it too probably.
 

paperdesk

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 28, 2004
Messages
204
Re: rpm gauge?

P.S. The "RPM guage" is usually called a Tachometer, or Tach for short.
 

Paul Moir

Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2002
Messages
6,847
Re: rpm gauge?

If you are using a digital meter, or any meter equipped with a diode check function, use it instead of the ohm, or resistance range. You're test will be invalid otherwise, and will make it appear you have a bad (open) rectifier. The icon for the diode check looks something like this: -|<- <br /><br />The resistance scale is inappropriate for testing semiconductors.
 
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