87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

[PBS]

I was idling and the motor quit. I looked and the electric wire cable that goes from the throttle box to the starter etc and the big red connecting plug was smoking and the insulation was melting. It melted about five feet back from the motor in a spiral. In other words it looks like only one wire in the bunch melted. But it melted to the point of exposing the actual metal wire. While the wires were starting to smoke, although unkown to me, I was able to turn the starter over with the key. Then I was not. I have put jumpers to the starter and it appears to be OK. We tried to put a rope around the flywheel to start it (we were a ways from the ramp)and we got nothing. At home I checked the 32 volt fuse that is coming out of the red connecter and it was blown.<br /><br />Questions.<br />1. Obviously I must fix something. What steps and suggestions does anybody have to determine what?<br /><br />2. What does the fuse protect? Did it save my bacon?<br /><br />3. Causes? It is possible that the battery post came into contact with the jon boat. <br /><br />Thanks, brad

 

[MCM]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

Hi, what motor are we talkng about?<br /><br />Mike

 

[MCM]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

Sorry about that question! according to my wiring diagram from a '75 johnson manual that fuse inerupts a wire (purple/red) that goes from the battery terminal on the ignition switch, after the fuse its a red wire that runs to the starter solenoid then to the teminal block then to the rectifier. The fuse probably kept the current from continuing to the terminal block and damaging any other components.<br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Mike

 

[PBS]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

That's what i hoped. Anybody else have any answers to the other questions?

 

[MCM]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

Hi, Brad, I'd say at the very least you'll need to replace that portion of the cable assembly (the whole thing), if that wire was melting the exterior insulation it was melting things inside as well. The other problem is finding what caused the wire to ground out in the first place. I think if post had grounded at the battery you would see the cable melted starting at the post.<br /><br />Mike

 

[PBS]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

Thanks Mike, That's what I was afraid of. What inside could cause that? The only thing that may be of relevance is that it only melted the battery side of the plug and it was melting prior to the fuse blowing. But why would it start or end there? Brad

 

[Goodoleboy]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

You fuse is way to heavy. Its suposed to be 20 amp. That keeps the wires from melting when shorted out to ground. Theirs no such thing as a 32 volt fuse. You may have a 30 amp fuse in it tho.<br /><br />I would suspect that the flywheel has rubed a bare spot on a wire and shorted it out. But not nessiarly so.<br /><br />Could be any number of places. your just gona have to trace it down with a OHM meter.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[MCM]

Re: 87 'rude 40 quit and cable smoked

Hi brad, the fuse you mentioned is a 32v fuse. its a 20 amp 32v fuse 'bout 3/4" long, I've got one in my hand right now that I replaced from my motor.<br /><br />Try cutting away the outer covering on your cable assy. take it back least as far as it melted and see what it looks like, also try seeing what it looks like at ign. switch, it may be the problem is islolated to that section of cable, also check that wire (it should be purple/red) from the fuse to the other plug & see if you can find a bad spot in the wire where it might of grounded out.<br /><br />I notice from looking at my wiring diagram that the prongs for the hot (purple/red) and ground wires are right next to each other on the plug (coincidence ?) <br /><br />Mike