instrument readings

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   Steve,

To clarify the wiring issue with these boats, the factory used lighter gauge wire (smaller) than they should have. Since the alternator checked good, the next step is to run heavier wire both positive and negative from the engine up to the dash. I would have recommended it anyway. Then a good clean up on all the terminals up under then dash. Maybe even some new crimp on (sta-cons) connectors too. Make sure you use a decent quality tin plated.

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8122pbrainard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045	Post Options Post Reply Quote 8122pbrainard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: instrument readings Posted: May-12-2010 at 12:47pm
	Steve, To clarify the wiring issue with these boats, the factory used lighter gauge wire (smaller) than they should have. Since the alternator checked good, the next step is to run heavier wire both positive and negative from the engine up to the dash. I would have recommended it anyway. Then a good clean up on all the terminals up under then dash. Maybe even some new crimp on (sta-cons) connectors too. Make sure you use a decent quality tin plated.
	54 Atom 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete <

Swatkinz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307	Post Options Post Reply Quote Swatkinz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-12-2010 at 12:27pm
	alternator bench tested this morning and checked out fine. can the gauge itself be checked? is the wiring going to the gauge suspect?
	Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09)

Swatkinz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307	Post Options Post Reply Quote Swatkinz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-11-2010 at 11:54pm
	Pete, no wire gauge improvements. Dropping off the alternator tomorrow at a real deal auto electric shop for a bench test. I'll be interested to report back the findings. Thanks for the help.
	Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09)

8122pbrainard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045	Post Options Post Reply Quote 8122pbrainard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-10-2010 at 2:00pm
	Steve, If the alternator output test confirms a blown diode, they just press in new ones. (there are 3) Have you done any wire gauge improvements up to the dash? The OEM wiring was always on the light side. Many have run heavier gauge positive and negative feeds to cure electrical problems.
	54 Atom 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete <

Swatkinz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307	Post Options Post Reply Quote Swatkinz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-10-2010 at 1:18pm
	Pete, if alternator is bad, can it b rebuilt or is a new alternator the best way to go? Also, any other suggestions should the alternator check out good? Thanks too for your input
	Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09)

8122pbrainard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045	Post Options Post Reply Quote 8122pbrainard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-10-2010 at 12:54pm
	Steve, Personally, I sure wouln't take the alternator to a Autozone!! First I would question if they would even have anyone to read the test equipment correctly and second they will tell you it's bad no matter what!! Find a "auto electric" shop and take it in to them if needed. Your temp sounds about right. Higher when doing some hard running and then cooler when idling around?
	54 Atom 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete <

Swatkinz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307	Post Options Post Reply Quote Swatkinz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-10-2010 at 11:20am
	Thanks, Pete! I have no idea what the volt meter is doing while this flutter is going on. I'll check it out next weekend. Can an AutoZone or similat parts place check an alternator if I remove it and take it there (uninstalled)? Also, what do you think about my temp questions?
	Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09)

8122pbrainard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045	Post Options Post Reply Quote 8122pbrainard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-10-2010 at 9:26am
	Steve, Does this "flutter" speed up and slow down when you increase engine RPM? What's you volt meter doing? Same? I'm wondering about the condition of your alternator. With one of the diodes blown in it's rectification, you would get a half wave DC output out of it. It may be enough to keep the battery charged depending on usage/load but would flutter the gauges.
	54 Atom 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete <

SN206 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: February-25-2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Status: Offline Points: 2339	Post Options Post Reply Quote SN206 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-09-2010 at 11:35pm
	Thermo's are cheap to replace, but more importantly your impeller. Someone will chime in about the electrical.
	...those who have fallen and those who will.

Swatkinz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307	Post Options Post Reply Quote Swatkinz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May-09-2010 at 11:22pm
	when I bought my boat I apparently had a bad ground that was affecting my dash instruments. The oil pressure and water temp gauges would peg to the right momentarily when the nav lights were switched on. I cleaned all of the connections to the gauges and the pegging to the right issue went away. Now my oil pressure gauge has a flutter. The needle bounces pretty much constantly. I would describe the action of the flutter to kind of be like a heart beat or the ticking of a second hand on a clock...about that rapid) Not a wide variation in that I'm concerned about whether there IS oil pressure, just an annoyance thing i'd like to eliminate if possible. Oil pressure (seems to run between 40-60PSI...it looks like if you bring it down off of plane straight to a slow idle, it may get to 10-15 and the little warning light will blink/flash ever so slightly. Alarm doesn't sound.) What causes this flutter and how can I make it go away? Also, a question about water temperature. My boat seems to run between 145 and about 185 degrees. I'm not concerned that it's overheating, but just wondering how tightly does/should the thermostat/cooling system control the water temperature? I would think that the temperature would be more consistent and would not vary by this much. (By the way, I don't know which thermostat it has in it at this point.) EDIT: I'm wondering if it even has a thermostat in it. Not looking for problems with the boat, just looking for tweaks that can be done during the week as I look forward to the next weekend.
	Steve 2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09)

instrument readings

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