Tachometer troubleshooting

Bill kubiak

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Joined
Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
I have a 1991 mercury 40 hp 4 cylinder two stroke and my tach is not working. When I turn the key on the needle jumps but that's it where do I start
 

Art Bernard

Banned
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May 4, 2011
Messages
333
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

Get to the underside of your tach and check the connections for loose/corrosion. If thats good, check the wiring on the engine. Start with this and if still not fixed, repost.

Art
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

The wires to the tach and clean and tight, the tach wire to the throttle box plug appears to be good, (I unplugged that a few times) there is a lot of wires under the switch box on the motor, which one is for the tach
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

I found that the tach wire is the gray wire I am tracing it backwards to the motor but the wire bundle plugs into the switchbox, and that is a scary looking thing. I know the tach wire connects to a rectifier or a voltage regulator, do not know which is on this motor or where are they located.
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

I carefully opened the cover on the switch box, WOW there is a lot of wires in there, Anyway I have a voltage regulator. The regulator shows signs of burning and cracking of the clear plastic cover, I put the cover back on
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

. The regulator shows signs of burning and cracking of the clear plastic cover, I put the cover back on

is it possible that the regulator could be charging the battery but due to the burning evidence I see the signal is not going to the tach
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

We started the engine and it runs fine. We measured the voltage across the battery poles and it was same with the engine off and with the engine running, I guess that means the evidence of overheating on the regulator means that is is shot.

What can cause a voltage regulator to go bad like that?????

Will it hurt anything to go and run the motor with a bad voltage regulator??
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

Just found a guy on eBay that has a bunch of NOS mercury voltage regulators for only 48 bucks with free shipping, he claims to have a bunch of them. Same part number as the one on my motor
 

Bill kubiak

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 31, 2004
Messages
629
Re: Tachometer troubleshooting

Just installed my 48 dollar eBay voltage regulator and now my tach is working and my battery is getting a charge. The old regulator was so burned that the clear plastic cover had actually cracked open
 
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