Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

[Cricket Too]

I have noticed the last couple of times out with my '97 Johnny 115, that the voltage on my gauge slowly creeps up past 15V after running on plane at higher RPM, once I come down off plane and am running at lower RPM, like 2K or so, it is back down in the 14.5-14.8 range.

It always used to sit right below 15V at higher RPM, like maybe 14.8 at most, but now I have noticed it going over 15 at higher RPM and at lower RPM it is at like 14.8, when it used to go down to say 14 at lower RPM.

I know the gauge is accurate because I have tested it with a Multi meter at the battery and get the same reading there as the dash gauge shows.

So my question is, is this the sign of a regulator starting to go bad? I was always pretty sure that I shouldn't be seeing anything higher than 14.8 or so at higher RPM.

Thanks.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Bump...c'mon, everybody is home from work now, somebody must know if this is my regulator starting to go bad.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Bump ? you're not allowed to do that are you?

Agree it sounds as though the regulator may be defective as you suspect .

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

It's amazing that a thread about 2 stroke oil, or somebody asking what fuel to oil ratio they should use.......for the millionth time, will get 35 responses, but a question about a voltage regulator gets 1 response.

Don't get me wrong Vic.S....I appreciate you response.

Maybe I should start a thread asking about Super Tech TC-W3 and then work in a question about a regulator.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

OK, let's try one of these and see if I get a response:

How do I start my engine....

What is the best 2 stroke oil.....

What ratio do I mix the oil into my gas.....

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Hey Cricket, ease up. You are asking a hard question. Not many know the inner working of an OMC solid state VR. You may never get a good answer. if you feel lucky, replace it.

A lot of folks know 2 cycle oil....

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Clean all of your battery connections, especially the connection where the ground connects to the block.

Give it a test run and report back.
Good luck.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Chris1956....I was just messing around, really just trying to bump my post up with something other than "bump", just kidding around really. I've been around here for a while, so I know sometimes it takes a while for the experts to see the post. Just being a wise a**.


72SideWinderSS......Thanks I was gonna give that a shot this weekend, I will report back after I do it. I've had them go bad before and just all of a sudden spike up to like 18V, but I've never had one slowly creep up past 15 at higher RPM.

Thanks.

 

[iwombat]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Slowly creeping up is more likely your battery going bad and not acting like the load it was before.

If it was a mechanical regulator I'd say your regulator points need adjusting

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Check/Clean all the connections from the Voltage Regulator also.
I also agree with iwombat. We were typing at the same time.

 

[aclmvh]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Is that motor regulated or does it have a rectifier? My '98 Johnny 115 has an unregulated 6amp system with a rectifier and the voltage regularly (on plane) creeps up into the 14-15 range. Other threads suggest (which I follow) that when that happens, put a load on the charging system like turning on lights, aerators, etc.... Of course if you ARE on a regulated system......please ignore.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Hmm, good question aclmvh. I just assumed it was a regulated system, I wasn't aware that OMC made unregulated charging systems on models that late (I consider '97 a late model, since they went out of business in 2000). I guess if it is un-regulated, then the battery starting to go bad would explain it, as iwombat mentioned.

I am going to by an OE manual tomorrow, which I assume will tell me, but does anybody know if my '97 Johnson 115 is regulated or un-regulated?

It's an SPL if that makes any difference, don't think it should. It has no VRO/OMS but has T&T.

Is there a difference in amperage from a regulated to a non-regulated charging system?

Thanks.

 

[iwombat]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

The regulators are the 10amp water-cooled type, I think. Dunno for sure since I don't run any.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Are all regulators water cooled? I had one on my old '76 115 that didn't seem to be, it would get hot but looked to be air cooled. It was bolted directly to the block.

Is the regulator part of the rectifier, are they one piece, if I do have a regulator that is?

Thanks.

 

[timalabim]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

What's your model number? My 96 112 SPL (J112TSLEDR), which I believe is very similar to your engine is an unregulated 6amp rectifier system.
I just replaced my rectifier, have an fairly new battery (1 yr old), and also see creep up over 14V on plane.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

timalabim....You're probably right, I'd bet in fact that they are the exact same engine with a different sticker on them.

This engine has always shown voltage above 14, usually right at 14 or 14.2 at idle and would go up to right about 15 at high RPM on plane, but now it is over 15 at higher RPM on plane, pushing 15.5 or so.

I will take a look when I get home to see if it has a regulator on it, will it be obvious just by looking?

If this is an unregulated system, which I am starting to think it is, then I guess my battery could be gving up, but I also need to clean all of my contacts first.

I will report back in after I have cleaned everything. It's been raining here for like 3 days straight, so haven't had a chance to do it yet.

Thanks.

 

[iwombat]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

A solid-state regulated system shouldn't ever creep more than about 1/2 a volt anyway (if at all) regardless of the load on it. I'm almost positive you've got an unregulated rectifier.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Thanks iwombat, I am thinking the same. Haven't been able to get the manual for this motor yet, so I'm not sure, but is there anyway I could tell by just looking at the engine, anything to look for to tell one way or the other?

I have noticed that when I run at night and have running lights on, or flip my aerator on with the engine running, the voltage drops significantly, down to about 12.5 or so. This would lead me to believe that it's an un-regulated system also.

 

[iwombat]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

That's definitely the earmark of an unregulated system. Go look on the motor. If you have a triangular base with a cylinder on it, that's a rectifier.

 

[aclmvh]

Re: Voltage creeping slightly higher, '97 115

Pretty simple to tell if you have an unregulated/rectifier system. Look on the starboard cylinder bank for your rectifier...kind of triangular with a little cylinder in the middle- three wires out of it and it's bolted to the head with two hex head bolts. Click on the image to see what the one for the 115 looks like from the parts catalog.