Engine Rebuild

jterr wrote: Just a note I don't think those lights in the gauges work

John,
Considering the wiring problems, I wouldn't be surprised. The one way to find out is to go after the wiring tomorrow.

jterr wrote: Pete just curious about this reading? Alrighty then-here are the results Disconnected wire from Tach got a reading of 11.01 volts with key in on position.

John,
Thinking again about getting the voltage reading from the gray sender wire at the tach, I should have told you to also disconnect the positive wire on the coil. Try it again and see what you get. The idea here is to make sure the gray wire isn't connected someplace else since you mentioned you other connections in the wire harness/loom.

JT

With the gray wire hooked up to the coil(-) your reading of 11 or so volts is normal with the key in the Run position depending on the points position.

Assuming you have points, if the points are open when you turn the key to Run, you'll have the same voltage as what's going into the (+) terminal of the coil from the ignition switch.

If the points are closed when you turn the key to Run, you'll have no voltage because the coil is going to ground through the points.

If you pop the cap off and see if the points are open or closed, you'll know what you should be seeing for voltage based on the above.

The tach needs 12 volts from the key, a ground connection and then the pulse signal to give indication comes from the gray wirehooked to the coil (-). The pulse itself is that change from 12 or so down to zero volts every time the points operate.

With it pegging when the key is turned to Run, you should probably look on the back for a small switch for selecting the input. It might be inside a little hole or you might be able to see it pretty easily. Most tachs have this selector.

With a little "tweaker" you can move that switch from it's present position to the next position in either direction and cycle it back to where it was a couple of times. This will clean the contacts if they're dirty or have a little corrosion. Different tachs are labeled differently but you should find the switch in the 8 cyl position and end up with it back there too..

Then with all the wires hooked up normally, it may work again.

It won't hurt to try this. I have a tach that does just what yours does and needs this every few years or so

And then again, maybe it's just dead

If it's an electronic ignition in the distributor, all the same info pertains

Just an oh by the way....................your dash diagram shows an ammeter setup and your photos in other threads for this boat show a voltmeter next to the ignition switch so that explains your missing red wire you mentioned.

Well I took all gauges out and cleaned/reconnected and wired by the Diagram above. I did find the 3 connectors on back of Tach and moved around and back to 8 cyl.
After all the above Tach still pegs so maybe it is bad.
Will see what it does after I get engine running again when don with Carb.
Thanks for all the info

8122pbrainard wrote: John, How's you back from crawling under the dash? I know it gets tougher and tougher as time goes by.

Little stiff, but with 2 bad shoulders and knee I'll deal with it. I still have to finish carpet under there yet
Thanks


Was hoping to go to Lake Sunday for the water test but 80 % chance of rain

jterr wrote: It never ends Decided to make sure engine runs after all the wiring issues. Engine was running ok and I never went into the Distributor Check this out?? You could almost drive a truck through the gap This as close as I could get

JT

That's some kind of magic distributor you got yourself there

In the first picture the points would never close so it's seems kinda hard (like impossible) to make a spark and make the engine run.

In the second picture, it looks like they're still open and they'll never close unless it's camera angle or lighting or something making it look that way, making it equally impossible to get a spark.

Just a quick question . Any idea why I'm not getting e-mail notifications???

8122pbrainard wrote: jterr wrote: Just a quick question . Any idea why I'm not getting e-mail notifications??? Look down at the bottom of the message box. There's a box to check for email replies. If you logged out and then back in, I believe you need to check the box again

It's checked now but will log out and see if that works.
Thanks