Shift rod electrically charged on 9.9hp ?!?!?!?

[kerrybraswell]

I know this sounds crazy, but......, i went to change the impeller on my 9.9 two stroke and when disconnecting the shift rod connecting nut, the wrench simultaneously touched the side of the lower unit housing. It sparked and after yanking the wrench off the connecting nut, i grabbed a multi-tester and checked it out. With the tester grounded to the the engine housing, the shift rod is 12 volt hot! What the _ell! Surely this isn't normal so, i proceeded to check all the wiring in the powerhead thinking that a hot wire had been incorrectly routed and was rubbed bare and shorting against the shift rod at the upper linkage. Unfortunately i can't find any wires that are causing any problems and the motor still runs like a top. The only problem is that sometimes when shifting gears, the shift rod rubs the lower unit housing and is causing a shorting problem. Ideas appreciated! TIA, Kerry

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Shift rod electrically charged on 9.9hp ?!?!?!?

your assesment is correct, find that bare wire.

 

[kerrybraswell]

Re: Shift rod electrically charged on 9.9hp ?!?!?!?

Got it figured out! The 9.9hp is a kicker on my boat with a 50hp main engine. I have two batteries on this boat and both are tied together for a 24 volt trolling motor. I had the 50 on one battery and the 9.9 on the other battery. Both motors are obviously grounded where they clamp on the aluminum boat and it appears that they were shorting through each other since the two batteries were tied together and then grounding through the boat. I rewired so that both motors are hooked to the same battery and the problem is cured. Regards, Kerry

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Shift rod electrically charged on 9.9hp ?!?!?!?

not shorting but its amazing you did not fry something,<br /> thats why all engine starting batteries must have the negative terminals bonded together with a wire guauge not smaller than the largest wire in the starting circuit.<br /> the way that was wired was crazy <br /> when you hook up 2 12V +-+- to make 24 V you have to be aware of the ground paths.

 

[kerrybraswell]

Re: Shift rod electrically charged on 9.9hp ?!?!?!?

RB, <br /> You are absolutely correct about ground paths. I have had this boat and 50hp for years and just bought the 9.9 kicker. I hooked up the kicker to the battery opposite the 50hp battery thinking it would help charge that battery while the 50 would charge the other. Never gave the jumper wire for the 24 volt trolling motor a thought! Good in theory.......bad in practice! You are right, it is amazing i didn't fry something! Dumb, Dumb, Dumb! Oh well, i luckily squeaked through that brain fart with no damage. Regards, Kerry