Just finished crossing Lake Michigan today - 20-30 knots of wind, broad reach, 6-8 foot waves. A fast, rough ride.
Anyway, when we got to the harbor, Dawn starts the engines and puts them in gear. The port engine has a little trouble starting. On the port engine, I get an electric shock "tingle" from the shift lever - the tingle gets stronger as I give the engine power. The tingle comes only when I am touching the wheel (grounded?).
Anybody have a clue what is happening, and what I should look for? Maybe something came un-grounded?
- Kevin
s/v Phenix 32007
Chicago
Electric shock from Yamaha 9.9
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:58 pm
- Location: Chicago (32007)
-
- 1st mate
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Sun May 09, 2004 1:08 am
- Location: rowley,ma.
- Contact:
electric shock
It sounds like the alternater wire is shorting out to the engine. If it was battery voltage it would not increase with speed.
-
- deckhand
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 6:19 pm
- Location: Florida
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:58 pm
- Location: Chicago (32007)
My mechanic and I spent an hour or so troubleshooting. Finally, we found that the starter mechanism had come loose, so when the engine was being revved, it was probably rattling the starter wheel against something, causing some electric current in the engine. This traveled up the cables to the shifts. He tightened down the starter and this solved the problem.