Tachometer Question?

[CatManLee]

O.K. Boat People here's the deal. I have a nice new shiny tach for my boat, but don't know what wires I need to connect to from my motor/or control box?

My motor is a 1989 70hp Evinrude VRO w/ trim/tilt. The tach has three wires coming from it I think? Does anyone know anything about this, I don't have a shop manual for my motor, so I have no idea wich wire is for what or where to look for the wires I need.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm usually pretty good with motors and wiring and such, but I NEED HELP on this one....

[Valv]

There are 3 posts on your tachometer:

Positive (under key)

Negative

Signal (from motor)

Usually it's a gray wire coming from outboard or remote control, let us know if you have a small harness on remote with an open connector.

[CatManLee]

I do have a connector on my remote. It only has a Purple and black wire coming from it. But on the plug, coming from the remote, it has a 3rd open socket. Could this be where the grey wire is connested inside the remote? Do I need a special connector for it, so I can hook up a tach? Or how hard is it to take the remote apart to get to it?

Also, on my motor, there is a grey wire coming from a long strip with several wires connected to the strip as well. The grey wire is connected to a spot (grey #3). Any Idea if this could be it? I think it's the only grey wire on the motor.

Thanks for the info Val, Please get back to me.

[Valv]

Catman, the Purple wire is the correct for + positive to gauge, it's under key control (on when key is on), the black is negative and it's perfect, you just miss the signal from motor.

Ok this is a little delicate, since the wire for it comes from your voltage regulator (or rectifier) and if you blow it up....you won't be happy with me or whoever talked you into it, since it will cost A LOT to replace.

Go to a dealer and ask them to show you where the tach wire is connected at motor, and compare it with your gray.

If it's a match...you are set.

[CatManLee]

Val, thanks for the help. I totally understand not wanting to tell me to do something if it COULD ruin a part.

I made a call to an Evinrude Dealer today and they said if there was no grey wire present coming from the harness, it would be the only grey wire coming from the motor. (in the location I mentioned)

So I think I have it figured out. I'm gonna connect everything when I get home from work tonight, hook up the muffs, start the motor and see what I got.

Hopefuly all goes well.

[Valv]

One last thing.

The tachometer readings will be only 3 ways:

- Dead on (idle at 550rpm)

- Completely off (idle at 2000rpm)

- No reading (idle at 0rpms)

There is a small screw on back of it, you can turn it until you find correct settings, you won't damage gauge even if you do it while running motor, but if you talk to dealer again it will tell you exact settings and you can pre-set it before test.

[CatManLee]

Hooked it up last night, and it works! I ran a wire from the motor to the guage. Hooked up the muffs and cranked her up. The tach at idle was about 550. So I think I'm good to go...Yippie....

Valv, again thanks for the input.

[Valv]

Catman, I forgot to reply.

You are welcome anyway, I am glad it worked out fine, sometimes they are not as bad as they seem.