48hp evinrude charging issue

TheMike · Post by **TheMike** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:16 am

so i lurke around here quite a bit and love the info i can pick up on from all you much more expierenced fisherman and finally have a question hopefully someone can help me out with so i can get back on the water!!

i have an 89 bass tracker with a 48 hp evinrude spl motor on it and i cant lie, i dont know much about outboard motors. run like a champ,never had any problems with it till recently. at idle it started to charge at about 13v. soon as we get up to speed you can watch the volts climb 13.5, 14, 14.5... i turned back for the dock once it got near 16. it has a new battery, tight connections, etc. i was wondering if there was an external voltage regulator somewhere that i could check or for any advice someone may be able to pass along!

thanks in advance
mike

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:54 am

Mike - More than likely your Rectifier went out/ is going out - It is basically your motors alternator.... Happened with quite the frequency on my past Johnson 88spl.

Cheap and easy part to replace -- Mine was in the black box on the backside of the motor.

~~> http://www.sterndrive.info/outboardmotor/id39.html

If you have a voltage meter .... Put it on your battery and get a reading straight from it before running, at idle and high idle. If the batterty is 12.5v pre-start.... 13v -14.5v running at idle and fast idle -- It is working. I would not trust your in-dash gauge ... as 16v seems way to high to me personally.

TheMike · Post by **TheMike** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:39 am

thanks for your help. same as you i dont trust the gagues so i did check it at the battery w/ a volt meter.. 12.8 not running, 13.7ish at idle and fast idle till im up to speed it just keeps going up up up. is there a way to test the retifier that you know of? or should i just assume its bad and change it, its only a 35$ part.

mike

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:10 am

Sounds to me the cheapest and easiest fix would to take a piece of Black Electrical Tape .... and put it over your gauge.

If you are not having any battery issues -- Don't sweat the small stuff. Just keep a pair of Jumpers in your boat instead if by chance that need would ever arise for yourself... Or to assist another boater when in need.

Once started - your motor will run... even w/o the battery - charging or not.

Cheers,

TheMike · Post by **TheMike** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:05 am

haha i wish it was that easy, i'd be to worried i would melt some wires or cause some more damage. i guess i could never leave the coves and just fish disco bay everyday too

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:58 am

No worries at all ... If your Rectifier was not working -- You would just not be getting a positive charge on your battery in the first place.

Looks here like you are all good with your voltage test.

Sound to me also like that all you need is some electrical tape to put over your dash gauge.

Just save the money for your Rectifer that appears to be in working order -- and keep a spare set of jumper cables in your boat for others and possibly yourself to use - if incase the need ever arises - and just keep on fishing.

You motor will run ~ and will continue to run once started w/o a battery for electric start. Do you have a spare rope pulley with a handle in your boat to use on the top of your flywheel also by chance ? If not- Look into making one up .... Same rope/handle as from an old lawn mower - just possibly longer.