1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

[roscottjr]

I have a chargeing issue with this engine. It is the elctric start version so it has the stator and rectifier on it. I thought the rectifier was bad so I bought another one but turns out I missed a loose wire so I rechecked my original rectifier and it is still good. When the engine is running I am showing 13+ volts from the red wire on the rectifier and this wire goes all the way to the key switch. I dont know if it is hooked up in the wrong place or what but I am not showing any signs of chargeing at the battery. I tried connecting this wire directly to the battery and the voltage drops to standard battery voltage and just slightly rises with engine RPMs but never got to 13 volts. Is this normal for this engine or if not what could be going on here? I am getting the same thing with the original rectifier and the new one.

Model number is 35853R

Robert

 

[Vic.S]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

You should get much more than 13volts out from the rectifier once you increase the engine revs. Disconnect the red wire and measure the volts on it directly. If you don't get a good volts reading with a good rectifier maybe the stator is at fault. It is not regulated AFAIK so the volts should simply rise as the revs increase.
Also check that there is a connection all the way from it to the battery when the key switch is on.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

If I run the red wire straight to the battery will it hurt anything? Will it discharge the battery when the engine is turned off?

Robert

 

[Vic.S]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

Thats the red wire from the rectifier. You can safely run that directly to the battery. But dont disconnect it while the engine is running. That might blow the diodes in the rectifier.
No it wont discahrge the battery if the rectifier is good.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

Excellent..

Thanks for the help
Robert

 

[F_R]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

The red wire from the rectifier is supposed to go to the starter solenoid, same big post as the battery cable attaches to. Thus, it is connected to the battery.

There is a second red wire (with fuse) from that post on the solenoid, going to the ignition switch. Is this where the confusion lies?

If the voltage at the battery is higher with the motor running than it is when not running, then it is charging. It takes time for it to climb up very high. Give it long enough and it will go to what you think is too high. But don't worry, that is normal too.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

The red wire from the rectifier is supposed to go to the starter solenoid, same big post as the battery cable attaches to. Thus, it is connected to the battery.

There is a second red wire (with fuse) from that post on the solenoid, going to the ignition switch. Is this where the confusion lies?

If the voltage at the battery is higher with the motor running than it is when not running, then it is charging. It takes time for it to climb up very high. Give it long enough and it will go to what you think is too high. But don't worry, that is normal too.

I will check and see on that second red wire. I dont remember seeing the wire going to the solenoid but will check again. I may have overlooked it. Will let the engine run for a few minutes and update my findings. I may be doing as you suggested and just not giving it long enough.

Thanks
Robert

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1978 Evinrude 35hp Outboard chareging issue

The red wire from the rectifier is supposed to go to the starter solenoid, same big post as the battery cable attaches to. Thus, it is connected to the battery.

There is a second red wire (with fuse) from that post on the solenoid, going to the ignition switch. Is this where the confusion lies?

If the voltage at the battery is higher with the motor running than it is when not running, then it is charging. It takes time for it to climb up very high. Give it long enough and it will go to what you think is too high. But don't worry, that is normal too.

Had the engine running today for about 10 minutes to be sure everything is ready before going to the lake. The engine is chargeing excellent and I have no issues at all .

Thanks everyone for the help.

Robert