Honda BF150 Electronic Monitoring Options

[Grumpy]

We have the Honda gauges (2 tach's + 1 speedo) on our BF135's.
Comments after 3 years of use:-

They are damned difficult to read on a bright sunny day when you are wearing sunglasses or even when you look inside after looking at sunlit water. (Unless you turn on the Nav lights and backlight them)

Fuel consumption is accurate as it comes from the computer chip that controls the injection and you can have each engine or total.

Speed is fine when it is working but is easily deranged by bits of weed etc. Since it is indicating water speed, the MPG calculation does not have a lot to do with economy. As Roger said, it's more useful to take SOG off the GPS and do the simple math with the GPH figures.

Engine trim is OK but is not particulalrly accurate. Our engines are visibly out of sync when showing the same number of "bars" on the tacho's. Maybe one day I will find the adjustment. For now it's easier to look out the back window.

Not one of Honda's finest ideas.

Merv

[Mike...]

[Mike...]

Regarding the Flowscan, it looks neat, and I much prefer it over the Honda Meters. Especially nice is that one meter can handle the tach for both outboards, including hours and fuel level/flow for each (actually I think it gives you combined flow). I am looking for more space on the helm and one meter doing the work of two is attractive.

But here is what I lose from the unattractive Honda meters:

Speed:
• Battery voltage
• Water in fuel alarm

Tach:
• Trim
• Oil pressure alert
• Overheat alert
• ACG warning
• PGM-FI (check engine) warning

But these warnings and alerts can only be gotten from the Honda meters, and they seem highly useful.
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mike

[Dreamer]

Jack,

My pressure gauges are for water pressure in each engine. The max I see is about 15 PSI. The 200 must have a macho water pump!

[Grumpy]

Mike,

I can't say for sure but it is a lot better with the backlighting on. Mine is wired to the Nav lights so I'm not in the habit of doing it. I suppose they could easily be wired to be on all the time.

True about the other warnings. They are useful.

Personally I would like the analog tachs and put up with the other gauge.

Merv

[Mike...]

Hello to all...

Just reviving this thread to say that I found a box which seems to be the solution to get analog signals and tach from the BF150s onto the N2K backbone. It's the Noland RS11, which arrived today. I'll let you know how it goes.
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mike

[drjohn71a]

Relating to the 50 psi gauge question... most likely the coolant water pressure and Honda's are notorious for having them shift the range, i.e., instead of going from 0 to 25 psi on the 150's, it will go from 20 to 45 psi.

Check the needle position when your engine is off. If it is at 20-30 psi "off", things are probably normal. Otherwise, you have some blockage, most likely in the "pee hole" with a spider or such.

I asked my local mechanic about it and he said it could be fixed, but as long as the range was reading similarly, and I could interpolate the pressure reading, no reason to change it out.

I have the Honda "digital" gauges and they are OK on fuel read out. In fact they are incredibly accurate in figuring out how much fuel is left in the tanks if you log or reset the readings after each fill up. BUT the speed wheel thing is almost worthless. Even the smallest bit a weed or debris throws it off.

John

[Captains Cat]