blowing 20 amp fuse on 2004 tracker 25 HP

[BillGowan]

I just bought my first boat and every thing seems great except that it keeps blowing the 20 amp fuse that is just off the battery and goes to the fuse block that feeds the bildge pump, live well pump and nav lights.

All the wiring seems to be like new

I removed the fuse and connected a multimeter from the negitive terminal and the fuse holder on the side away from the battery on the positive side. I set the multimeter to beep on short circuit.

I wiggled every wire and connection I could find under the dash and nothing made the meter beep. Finally I turned the steering wheel all the way to it's limit and the meter beeped, indicating short circuit. There is nothing exposed nunder the dash so I headed for the motor.

I find that if I put my fingers on the shift linkage under the powerhead and wiggle it aroung the meter will beep. It also beeps when pushing the motor to it's limit in either direstion.

What in the world could be grounding out. It's driving ne nuts.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Bill

 

[Quad82]

Re: blowing 20 amp fuse on 2004 tracker 25 HP

Do you have a second trim/tilt switch on the motor? My 2001 Fisher (bought out by Tracker) had a 60HP Merc on it. The motor had a tilt switch on the motor. One of the wires rubbed bare in the harnes going from the motor to/through the transom boot. As the harnes moved from side to side, the plastic insulation wore through

 

[BillGowan]

Re: blowing 20 amp fuse on 2004 tracker 25 HP

My control unit does have a trim button on it but the motor does not. It's manual. I did unplug the harness coming from the control handle so the wires from the trim button would not be able to short to anything. The only wires connected to the control hadle now are for the kill switc.