2020 225 SHO - Melted Wire Lower Unit

[stratos]

Im not sure exactly what this wire is on the lower unit. Looks like a ground wire. Does anyone know what would cause the insulation to melt?
Engine has 4 hours on it.
Thanks


GRDW 1.jpgGRDW 2.jpg

[Reata210]

Nothing melted, it is a ground strap. Technically does not need any insulation. Cheers!

[stratos]

Nothing melted, it is a ground strap. Technically does not need any insulation. Cheers!

thanks for the reply but the insulation definitely melted some how.

[Reata210]

Unlikely for the wire to get hot from electrical resistance or issue. Certainly something external could have melted it. Sure it’s not some type of abrasion?

[Hchamberlin1]

You can definitely tell it’s melted but no current should be in that grounding wire. My 19’ doesn’t even have insulation. Was it like that when you bought it?

[printman71]

My '16 doesn't have the insulation either.

[stratos]

You can definitely tell it’s melted but no current should be in that grounding wire. My 19’ doesn’t even have insulation. Was it like that when you bought it?

I don't think it was like that when I picked it up. I've only had it out 3 of 4 times to break it in and only have 4 hours on it so far. I'm going to check with the dealer.

[Reata210]

Mine have no insulation either

[McQuaig]

My 2018 does have insulation on the ground wires. The only thing I see on mine that could burn them is when the motor is tucked in all the way they could be up against the trim cylinder. But would it ever get that hot??

[BOATS]

Looks like the liquid spray on tape and your wire is getting hung up when you raise and lower your motor causing the wire to pull out. JMO

[yam911]

That is a bonding wire. To help mitigate corrosion. By reducing any possible voltage that may exist between two parts.

It is covered in plastic but that is not for electrical insulation.

A bonding wire is not intended to carry current. If and when there is a fault with the grounding system of the motor then current can try to flow through the bonding wire. It may then melt the plastic. Or burn itself in two.

It is telling you that there is a grounding problem with the motor. Is the boat aluminum? More common with aluminum boats but not unheard of with a fiberglass boat.

[Reata210]

Yes, it’s purpose is electrolysis and corrosion prevention. If that wire carried enough current to melt insulation I would think you would immediately see a failure or evidence in something much more sensitive. To melt insulation on that strap the entire mid section and lu would be carrying some serious current. Scratch my head on that one.

[nikldac]

By the way, make sure you only put the motor mate on the left hand post. If you put it on the right hand post...that wire will break when you trim the motor down.

[gws21]

They all will melt because Yamahas are so damn fast

[rolopayne]

I melted the insulation on my tin rig when I had a ground fault on my boat, went up in smoke, thankfully nothing else was damaged and I just changed the wire for a piece of stainless wire I had laying around

[Bigfishwilb]

Just me but if it's brand new 2020 SHO take it back to where you bought it from and ask them. Big investment hanging on backend of your ride......

[stratos]

Thanks guys for all the replies. I am going to drop the boat off at the dealer this week. I will let you know what I find out.

[stratos]

An update on my post. I brought the boat back to the dealer that did the engine install and they couldn't find anything wrong. They believe its possible that a positive and negative could have touched during the install. I've had the boat out several more time and it doesn't appear that the plastic is melting anymore.

[Texas Larry]

Excess current is the only thing (other than fire) that will burn insulation off of a wire. That being said, the only thing that pulls that much current is the starter.

Pull the kill switch lanyard so the engine won't start, turn the key and run the starter for a few seconds and see if the wire gets hot. If it does, you have a ground problem in the engine. If it doesn't get hot, then you are probably OK, unless it is an intermittent connection.

[stratos]

Excess current is the only thing (other than fire) that will burn insulation off of a wire. That being said, the only thing that pulls that much current is the starter.

Pull the kill switch lanyard so the engine won't start, turn the key and run the starter for a few seconds and see if the wire gets hot. If it does, you have a ground problem in the engine. If it doesn't get hot, then you are probably OK, unless it is an intermittent connection.

Thanks for the reply Larry. Can not put the positive side of a voltage meter on the ground wire and see if I have current while cranking the engine with the kill switch off? If there was power going to the ground strap would it read the voltage?

thanks Dave