115 Faststrike problem

[Skeet180ZX]

I have a 1995 Johnson 115 Faststrike model J115GLEOC and the voltage gauge stopped working. I had an issue with the rectifier and replace it and the tach and everything else is working, but the voltage gauge is not. I am wondering where to start to diagnose the problem. Any help is always appreciated.

[ChampioNman]

Put a Digital volt meter on the battery with the motor running on cooling muffs to make sure it is charging and if you have wing nuts loose them. Install Stainless steel hex nuts with lock washers or SS nylon insert hex nuts.

[Skeet180ZX]

I am using nylon insert hex nuts...no wing nuts. I think the wing nuts are what caused the rectifier to go...so now they are gone. I am not real up on voltmeters...how do I set the voltmeter to read correctly?




Modified by jav377a at 8:30 PM 6/8/2009

[Skeet180ZX]

Can anyone tell me how to set the digital multimeter to get a correct reading? Thanks.

[B.P.bassboat#1]

IM sent

[ChampioNman]

Turn the dial to VDC (volts DC) with the proper voltage range ie 20VDC you don't want the meter set to less than 12 VDC as it may pop the fuse.

[Skeet180ZX]

Thanks ChampioNman...I hope to check it out this weekend.

[Skeet180ZX]

Well I put a charger on the battery to make sure the battery was charge before testing. I left it on overnight and decided to check the voltage with nothing else hooked up to the battery. It was reading 5.65 with nothing drawing...I am wondering if the battery is prob no good.

[Bassmeister]

Sounds like that battery is gone...

[Skeet180ZX]

That's what I thought...Its only a couple years old. I may put the charger on again or take it into the auto parts store to get it checked out.

[Skeet180ZX]

It looks like the battery is holding a charge, I put the voltmeter on it last night and it was reading around 12.65 volts, and that's after sitting for a day. So I am going to put the earmuffs on the boat tonight and see if the battery is getting charged. What would a good battery voltage reading be if it is charging OK?

[ChampioNman]

About 12.8 at idle.

[Skeet180ZX]

Thanks ChampioNman...do I let it idle a while before testing?

[Skeet180ZX]

I ran the motor with muffs and checked the battery voltage. It was running around 13.85 with the big motor running, so I think the rectifier is charging the battery. I also noticed that nothing was happening with the voltage gauge, it did not move. Can you tell me where to go from here? Thanks.

[ChampioNman]

Hook up your meter to the back of the gauge and check voltage there. If you have voltage there then the gauge is bad.

[Skeet180ZX]

I took it out today and the gauge work at first and after I stopped and fishing a while it stopped working. I will put the multmeter on the gauge and see what the reading is. Thanks ChampioNman