instrument readings
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17462
Printed Date: November-18-2024 at 10:50am
Topic: instrument readings
Posted By: Swatkinz
Subject: instrument readings
Date Posted: May-09-2010 at 11:22pm
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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) |
Replies:
Posted By: SN206
Date Posted: May-09-2010 at 11:35pm
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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. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-10-2010 at 9:26am
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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. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Swatkinz
Date Posted: May-10-2010 at 11:20am
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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) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-10-2010 at 12:54pm
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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? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Swatkinz
Date Posted: May-10-2010 at 1:18pm
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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) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-10-2010 at 2:00pm
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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. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Swatkinz
Date Posted: May-11-2010 at 11:54pm
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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) |
Posted By: Swatkinz
Date Posted: May-12-2010 at 12:27pm
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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) |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-12-2010 at 12:47pm
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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. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |