Trim Gauge

Adrew246 · October 26, 2008, 04:12:22 PM

My trim gauge doesnt work for some reason... took the boat out friday afternoon and noticed it. Not sure what the deal is but am i gonna have to take it in or is it possible to fix myself? I think its an electrical problem because when the lights on the gauges are on they all work except the light from the trim gauge.

Also whenever i turn my motor off the RPM gauge always gets stuck on 10. If i turn the key to the run position so it beeps it goes back to 0. Is it worth getting looked at?

Anyone know anything about Optimax motors and why they have that constant beeping noise? I hear its from overheating but im not sure.

Thanks.
Andrew

Ron Fogelson · October 26, 2008, 09:29:51 PM

Check your fuses first, then the wire at the gauge, after that take it to the shop.

What constant beeping noise? What are you doing when it happens?

Adrew246 · October 27, 2008, 08:41:51 AM

Well i was on the potomac about two months ago and i started up the motor to close to the grasses and im guessing some was stuck in the prop or something but the console on my boat just started beeping and it was a constant sound for about 10 or so seconds and then my motor shut off. A guy who was at the ramp that day had a 200 optimax and he said they do that when the RPMS are too high, its over heating or when the motor is working too hard. He also said if you trim your motor up too high while on plain and the rmps get too high it will do the same thing. And when i was on the water saturday it did just that except i didnt have the motor trimmed up that much so im not sure what the problem is. I've looked in the manual but found nothing in the safety features or anything else.

Basser43 · October 27, 2008, 05:12:20 PM

Sounds Like your water pick up is stopped up. The beeping is a warning meaning something is wrong. No water, no oil, or too high of RPM. You may still have some grass or sand in the water intake and not allowing the water to enter and cool the motor. You also could have a impeller in the lower unit going bad. That is the water pump for an out board. Either way do not ignore it. It will cost you if you do.

Adrew246 · October 27, 2008, 05:34:54 PM

Yikes. Doesnt sound good. Anything i should look for before taking it in?

Ron Fogelson · October 27, 2008, 05:55:16 PM

I'm with Basser on this, do not run it until you get it fixed.

Most times if I'm in the grass and the buzzer goes off I can put the boat in reverse and gun the motor a bit to flush the pickups clean with the back wash of the prop.

You can go check the pickups your self for anything that could be stuck over it, but more likely it will be inside or it could have gotten sucked up into the motor.

If it's the impeller you can replace that your self with a little help the 1st time or just to be safe take it to the shop and let them look everything over and even fix your trim gauge.

wildweasel · October 27, 2008, 05:58:02 PM

What kind of Motor?

My Optimax 115 gives a single beep on every start. More than one - you may have an issue - look in your maual.

Trim Guage and instrument light - look for a blown fuse.

RPM staying on 10 - normal on my Optimax.

Good luck

Adrew246 · October 27, 2008, 06:52:26 PM

I have an optimax 115. The problem occured in september on the potomac while i was trying to get on plane and i did kick it in reverse and grass came out and the problem went away for the remainder of the day. I ran my motor probably 10-15 times since the problem first occured and i did not get the same beeping noise. I was out saturday morning and came accross a wake and right when i came over the wake the beeping noise came on and i slowed down a bit and it shut off. Other then that i have not had it happen to me. I dont think it would be something in there because i've run the motor several times since it first occured.

Ron Fogelson · October 28, 2008, 07:05:42 AM

Ok, it doesn't sound like you have anything stuck in the motor.

It still could be the impeller or worse.

Before we go on do me a favor and check your oil reservoir on the motor. On my Opti if you sit on the back deck looking at the motor with the cover off it will be on your right side. If there is any air in that oil bottle it will give your motor a false low oil reading.

It could also be a bad sensor so if the oil reservoir is full I'd take it to the shop.

wildweasel · October 28, 2008, 11:09:52 AM

Sounds like it might be time to take it in and have them read the computer codes.

I do recall my dealer saying that the impellor could take a "set" and not move as much water as when it is new. He said to figure on changing the impellor every two or three years. How old is your motor?

Adrew246 · October 28, 2008, 02:04:39 PM

Fogy: Are you talking about the big oil tank in the motor?

WildWeasel: I bought the boat and motor new in june.

The motor runs fine and i don't get an strange vibrations or noises it's just this beeping noise that i've gotten twice worries me. The oil is about 3/4way full. I know the guys i bought the boat from told me that the newer the motor the quicker it will burn the oil. Esspecially during the break in period. But im past all that. I have not found anything in the manual that says anything about a beeping noise. It sounds like the beep when you turn the key to start it except it occurs while the motor is running and lasts anywhere from 5-10 seconds and then stops. Not sure what it is.

Ron Fogelson · October 28, 2008, 11:00:12 PM

No not the big oil tank where you fill the oil but there is a small tank right on the motor.

I ran mine low a while back and got an air bubble in the little reserve tank on the motor so when getting on plan the air bubble would run past the oil sensor and would set off the warning buzzer like you describe.

Adrew246 · October 29, 2008, 09:53:00 AM

Ok, Makes sense... I will check it out and let you know what i find.

Ron Fogelson · October 29, 2008, 10:40:14 AM

Please do, hope it's this easy!

Adrew246 · October 29, 2008, 05:22:17 PM

I don't see the small oil tank. I looked all over the motor and cannot find what your talking about.