Need help installing a tach on a 1981 Chrysler 45 outboard

[aznative96]

I am trying to get a tach onto my new (to me) boat. It has a 1981 45 hp Chrysler outboard. I think the model number is 3436. I have found some posts that say the tach sensor wire is hooked to the purple wire but these were posts about different model Chrysler ob motors. Is the purple wire them same for mine?
Also, how do I find out how many poles do I have so I know what to set the tach to?

Thank you in advance.
Phil
yumaphil@gmail.com

 

[jerryjerry05]

Welcome!!
You probably have an 8 pole tach.
You have to remove the flywheel and count the bumps on the stator.
I think.The grey wire is the tach lead.
The purple is usually a power supply.

 

[Frank Acampora]

That engine is most likely a battery/ points/coil ignition. You need to find a tachometer that will read single pulse per revolution or one that will read an 8 pole (I think) stator. It is not necessary to remove the flywheel to count stator poles. If you use a tach capable of reading a single pulse per rev, then use the white wire at the switch end of the cable to sense pulses. I have a tach that only will read down to two pulses and, of course, the tach reads 1/2 actual RPM -- but it is what I had on hand.

You can go over to The Chrysler Crew and see if someone has an original Chrysler tachometer for sale..