Posts: 2752
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Shep is right it could be a bad stator or it also could be the rectifier/regulator. I had the same issue when I bought my used 1989 Skeeter. Now I know why he had a charger on it when I arrived for the test ride.
Does the tachometer work? The tachometer on my Skeeter didn't work when I bought it. The tach signal on my 1989 Johnson 150HP comes from the rectifier/regulator, its actually the stator output pulse's. If the tach is not working it's likely one of the above. It also could be a bad connection in the charging circuit.
I doubt that Johnson/Evinrude changed to much over the years from 1989 to 1994. Both the stator and the rectifier/regulator on my motor are under the flywheel on top of the motor. The rectifier/regulator is water cooled. It's not something the average home handyman would want to tackle- you need a gear puller to pull the flywheel off and a FT/lb torque wrench to re-torque the flywheel retaining nut when you reassemble it.
If you really want to tackle this yourself, go buy the service manual at your local Johnson/Evinrude dealer. Shep's advice is probably spot on- you probably should take it to your local Johnson/Evinrude dealer.
I'm on my second rectifier/regulator. Why? Lightning struck a tree ~ 30 feet from my house - the boat was parked on the garage entry apron. It took out the entire electronics in the motor - ~$800 later I had a operational boat again. Fortunately I had removed both my Humminbird and EagleII. I'm a trusting soul, but not that trusting. Now, I remove them anytime the boat is parked, even at the dock in Canada.
Lightning bites! I know what some of you are thinking - shouldn't the rubber tires have protected the boat? No! The lightning didn't strike the boat itself. it was the magnetic field generated by the lightning strike. The magnetic field induced a very large voltage spike in the boat wiring system, and that took out my engine electronics. Now I'm hoping lightning doesn't strike the same spot twice. But, that's also wishful thinking.
BTW: The service manual for my engine says that the alternator test has to be run at ~4500 RPM's to properly check the rectifier/regulator output.
Good luck!
Al |
