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Author Topic:   Interpreting Meaning of Aural Alarm

j244466 posted 05-24-2010 08:56 AM ET (US)
Enjoyed the beginning of summer by pulling my Montauk out of a two-year slumber last evening. Everything was fine until after about 30 minutes of fast-idle cruising when an audible alarm [on the 1986 Yamaha 90-HP] went off. I'm assuming the engine was over heating, but [the cooling system] still [had strong flow at the confidence stream]. Shutting [the motor] down for about five minutes quieted the alarm. Any thoughts?
jimh posted 05-24-2010 09:16 AM ET (US)
In many outboard motors the meaning of an aural alarm or alert has to be interpreted by the cadence of the alarm signal and the conditions in which the alarm signal occurred. Generally the owner's manual will contain details about the meaning of the aural alarm signal. The owner's manual will also offer advice about what should be done in various situations when the aural alarm has sounded. I recommend consulting the owner's manual for advice on how to interpret the meaning of the alarm, and also for what action to take when the alarm occurs.
jimh posted 05-24-2010 09:20 AM ET (US)
Proceeding on the notion that the alarm was an indication of overheating in the engine, it is typical that the greatest need for cooling in an engine occurs at high engine speeds, and, if there is any deficiency in the cooling system, it will be at high engine speeds when insufficient cooling will cause overheating of the engine. The engine may otherwise operate without overheating.
Does the engine have an indicator of water pressure in the cooling system?
Does the engine have a temperature gauge?
j244466 posted 05-24-2010 11:46 AM ET (US)
Thanks Jim, I'll see about obtaining a manual to better understand the problem.
There is no temp guage so I can't monitor to see how different RPMs may or may not affect the alarm.
jimh posted 05-24-2010 10:15 PM ET (US)
Besides installing a temperature gauge, you can make a judgement of cylinder head temperature using:
--temperature sensitive paint; it changes color to indicate when a certain temperature has been reached;
--infrared temperature gun; you can quickly check engine temperature with one of these.

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Author	Topic: Interpreting Meaning of Aural Alarm
j244466	posted 05-24-2010 08:56 AM ET (US) Enjoyed the beginning of summer by pulling my Montauk out of a two-year slumber last evening. Everything was fine until after about 30 minutes of fast-idle cruising when an audible alarm [on the 1986 Yamaha 90-HP] went off. I'm assuming the engine was over heating, but [the cooling system] still [had strong flow at the confidence stream]. Shutting [the motor] down for about five minutes quieted the alarm. Any thoughts?
jimh	posted 05-24-2010 09:16 AM ET (US) In many outboard motors the meaning of an aural alarm or alert has to be interpreted by the cadence of the alarm signal and the conditions in which the alarm signal occurred. Generally the owner's manual will contain details about the meaning of the aural alarm signal. The owner's manual will also offer advice about what should be done in various situations when the aural alarm has sounded. I recommend consulting the owner's manual for advice on how to interpret the meaning of the alarm, and also for what action to take when the alarm occurs.
jimh	posted 05-24-2010 09:20 AM ET (US) Proceeding on the notion that the alarm was an indication of overheating in the engine, it is typical that the greatest need for cooling in an engine occurs at high engine speeds, and, if there is any deficiency in the cooling system, it will be at high engine speeds when insufficient cooling will cause overheating of the engine. The engine may otherwise operate without overheating. Does the engine have an indicator of water pressure in the cooling system? Does the engine have a temperature gauge?
j244466	posted 05-24-2010 11:46 AM ET (US) Thanks Jim, I'll see about obtaining a manual to better understand the problem. There is no temp guage so I can't monitor to see how different RPMs may or may not affect the alarm.
jimh	posted 05-24-2010 10:15 PM ET (US) Besides installing a temperature gauge, you can make a judgement of cylinder head temperature using: --temperature sensitive paint; it changes color to indicate when a certain temperature has been reached; --infrared temperature gun; you can quickly check engine temperature with one of these.