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1998 Evinrude 150 Tachometer won’t work

coltys2972

New member
I have a 1998 Evinrude OceanPro 150hp model number E150EXEUC that the tach hasn’t worked since the day I bought it from the previous owner. Due to having an issue with charging I’ve replaced the stator. The tachometer is a brand new gauge and after a little research, I replaced the regulator/rectifier, but still am left with nothing. Can anyone help with the next area for me to check. I’ve checked the wires from the engine to the center console and all seem to be good without any shorts.
 
Troubleshooting electronics is not my strong suit. Here is a guide that should help you out. It sounds like you've looked at some common culprits but follow these instructions to be certain and report back results. If you find values that fall outside of the acceptable ranges that will help our other, more experienced techs to lead you in the right direction. Diagnose 1st, buy parts 2nd ;)

https://www.maxrules.com/fixomcoisignition.html
 
What you have already replaced (parts) should have corrected the problem UNLESS that "brand new" Tachometer or Regulator/Rectifier is flawed OR the "Gray" sensor wire is broken or grounded somewhere between the regulator/rectifier assembly. However, do the test as follows if you found nothing obvious.... broken/grounded gray wire, whatever.

********************
(Testing Tachometer With Water Cooled Regulator/Rectifier)
(J. Reeves)

A quick check is to simply plug in a another new tachometer as a piece of test equipment. If the new tach works properly and the old tach didn't, obviously the old tach is faulty.... but usually boaters don't carry around a spare tach (see below).

A faulty rectifier wouldn't damage the tachometer, the tachometer simply wouldn't work. This is due to the fact that the tachometer operates off of the charging system and the rectifier converts AC voltage to DC voltage, enabling the charging system. A faulty rectifier disables the charging system, and the tachometer simply doesn't register.

However.... those water cooled regulator/rectifiers that are used on the 35 ampere charging systems (and some others) bring into play a different type problem, and as you've probably found out, they are really a pain to troubleshoot via the proper procedure. There's an easier way.

The tachometer sending/receiving setup operates off of the gray wire at the tachometer. That same gray wire exists at the engine wiring harness which is connected to the engine electrical terminal strip. You'll see that there is a gray wire leading from the regulator/rectifier to that terminal strip, and that there is another gray wire attached to it. That other gray wire is the wire leading to the tachometer which is the one you're looking for.

NOTE: For the later models that DO NOT incorporate a wiring terminal strip, splicing into the "Yellow Wire" mentioned will be necessary.

Normally the Gray wire leading from the tachometer is attached at the terminal strip to another Gray wire which leads from the water cooled voltage regulator/rectifier...... remove the gray wire that leads to the tachometer. Now, find the two (2) yellow wires leading from the stator to that terminal strip. Hopefully one of them is either yellow/gray or is connected to a yellow/gray wire at the terminal strip. If so, connect the gray wire you removed previously to that yellow/gray terminal. Start the engine and check the tachometers operation, and if the tachometer operates as it should, then the regulator/rectifier is faulty and will require replacing. If the tachometer is still faulty, replace the tachometer.

If neither of the yellow wires from the stator is yellow/gray, and neither is attached to a yellow/gray wire, then attach that gray tachometer wire to either yellow stator wire, then the other yellow wire, checking the tachometer operation on both connections.

I've found this method to be a quick and efficient way of finding out which component is faulty.... the tachometer or the regulator/rectifier. It sounds drawn out but really only takes a very short time to run through. If the water cooled regulator/rectifier proves to be faulty, don't put off replacing it as they have been known to catch on fire with disastrous consequences.

********************

Since the Stator is new (check the Yellow Wires ohm reading) The above test should tell you whether the problem is with the new tachometer or the regulator/rectifier..... assuming that the tachometer is wired properly to begin with.... Gray wire to tachometer "S" (sensor) terminal... 12v to "+/Bat" (voltage) terminal.
 
Joe. Didn't you used to have to have a min of 8 volts AC on the gray tach wire to make it work ??
 
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If the rectifier has a purple wire check to see if it has 12V when key is on. This turns rectifier on and minimum is 6 volts
Below from Teleflex.....

[h=3]Tachometer- Outboard Engines(Typical Outboard Rectifier Wiring)[/h]
Wire colors vary with engine manufacturers. Thecolors depicted are typical of Johnson/Evinrude andMercury outboard engines. However, most enginesuse some form of yellow for the two wires from thestator to the rectifier.For the outboard tachometer to be getting a propersignal on the "SEND" wire, the following ACvoltages must be present at the yellow or yellow/gray wire from Stator to Ground:Minimum 3.5 VAC(typically 6 volts or higher).The tachometer "SEND" wire can be connected toeither the yellow or yellow/gray wire from stator.NOTE: Wire Color Can Vary- on some Johnson/Evinrude engines there may be a yellow/blue wirefrom the rectifier. This wire may some times be usedfor the tachometer sender connection with favorableresults. In many domestic engine installations, thestator wires result in a gray wire routed to or nearthe throttle control where it can be used for thetachometer signal. Other engines have other colorwires routed to or near the control:Yamaha- green,Nissan/Tohatsu/Suzuki- yellow,Honda- gray.
 
I found min of 8 volts in the OMC service manual. I've also got that in some of my old service notes but damn it ,I still am looking for them.
 
What you have already replaced (parts) should have corrected the problem UNLESS that "brand new" Tachometer or Regulator/Rectifier is flawed OR the "Gray" sensor wire is broken or grounded somewhere between the regulator/rectifier assembly. However, do the test as follows if you found nothing obvious.... broken/grounded gray wire, whatever.

********************
(Testing Tachometer With Water Cooled Regulator/Rectifier)
(J. Reeves)

A quick check is to simply plug in a another new tachometer as a piece of test equipment. If the new tach works properly and the old tach didn't, obviously the old tach is faulty.... but usually boaters don't carry around a spare tach (see below).

A faulty rectifier wouldn't damage the tachometer, the tachometer simply wouldn't work. This is due to the fact that the tachometer operates off of the charging system and the rectifier converts AC voltage to DC voltage, enabling the charging system. A faulty rectifier disables the charging system, and the tachometer simply doesn't register.

However.... those water cooled regulator/rectifiers that are used on the 35 ampere charging systems (and some others) bring into play a different type problem, and as you've probably found out, they are really a pain to troubleshoot via the proper procedure. There's an easier way.

The tachometer sending/receiving setup operates off of the gray wire at the tachometer. That same gray wire exists at the engine wiring harness which is connected to the engine electrical terminal strip. You'll see that there is a gray wire leading from the regulator/rectifier to that terminal strip, and that there is another gray wire attached to it. That other gray wire is the wire leading to the tachometer which is the one you're looking for.

NOTE: For the later models that DO NOT incorporate a wiring terminal strip, splicing into the "Yellow Wire" mentioned will be necessary.

Normally the Gray wire leading from the tachometer is attached at the terminal strip to another Gray wire which leads from the water cooled voltage regulator/rectifier...... remove the gray wire that leads to the tachometer. Now, find the two (2) yellow wires leading from the stator to that terminal strip. Hopefully one of them is either yellow/gray or is connected to a yellow/gray wire at the terminal strip. If so, connect the gray wire you removed previously to that yellow/gray terminal. Start the engine and check the tachometers operation, and if the tachometer operates as it should, then the regulator/rectifier is faulty and will require replacing. If the tachometer is still faulty, replace the tachometer.

If neither of the yellow wires from the stator is yellow/gray, and neither is attached to a yellow/gray wire, then attach that gray tachometer wire to either yellow stator wire, then the other yellow wire, checking the tachometer operation on both connections.

I've found this method to be a quick and efficient way of finding out which component is faulty.... the tachometer or the regulator/rectifier. It sounds drawn out but really only takes a very short time to run through. If the water cooled regulator/rectifier proves to be faulty, don't put off replacing it as they have been known to catch on fire with disastrous consequences.

********************

Since the Stator is new (check the Yellow Wires ohm reading) The above test should tell you whether the problem is with the new tachometer or the regulator/rectifier..... assuming that the tachometer is wired properly to begin with.... Gray wire to tachometer "S" (sensor) terminal... 12v to "+/Bat" (voltage) terminal.

So if I’m understanding correctly, the grey wire is basically putting out the same amount of voltage as the yellow wires from the stator? I replaced the stator with a used one, which the ignitions coils are working on this one that wasn’t on my old. I’m pretty sure the charging coils are working, because I do have a voltage out put on the yellow wires.
 
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