well I just got finished installing a starter solenoid on my friend's 72 johnson 50hp, we had her running on the waterhose and everything is okay.<br />Next step lake test. The lake is a mile from my house and we were eager to try it out.<br /><br />we idle out of the channel just fine, cruise speed great----- but at Wide Open Throttle the<br />battery terminals start smoking, Hmmmm... thats not right 
I rush to the battery and picked up a wrench to "knock off" the wing nuts <br />( glad I didn't use my fingers )<br />well that isnt working fast enough so I snatch off the ground cable.<br />Now by this time smoke is coming out from the cowling of the engine.<br />I pop off the cowling and see some flames near the solenoid, so I franticly start trying to blow out the fire.<br />It worked!!!<br />Had it put out before my buddy who was in the boat could get out the extinguisher.<br />So moral of the story is <br />ALWAYS check your throttle and shift cable travel<br />so you dont rub a hot wire and fry the linkage<br />cables etc. REALLY glad it wasn't a customer's boat.
I rush to the battery and picked up a wrench to "knock off" the wing nuts <br />( glad I didn't use my fingers )<br />well that isnt working fast enough so I snatch off the ground cable.<br />Now by this time smoke is coming out from the cowling of the engine.<br />I pop off the cowling and see some flames near the solenoid, so I franticly start trying to blow out the fire.<br />It worked!!!<br />Had it put out before my buddy who was in the boat could get out the extinguisher.<br />So moral of the story is <br />ALWAYS check your throttle and shift cable travel<br />so you dont rub a hot wire and fry the linkage<br />cables etc. REALLY glad it wasn't a customer's boat.