Possible short in electrical system or tranny prob.?

Question

I have an 87 Bayliner capri with an inboard 5.0. The motor runs strong and idles nicely, and I can rev it up through the carb no problem. The problem is that when I put it out of neutral it dies instantly, and to add to it, the battery cables got so hot that the negative cable melted off. What is the prob? Thank you much

Answer 1

YOUR OTHER ANSWERS GIG NOT READ THE QUESTION! YOU SAID INBOARD! NOT STERN DRIVE! SMELL THE TRANS FLUID, IF BURNT SMELLING COULD BE TRANNY IS SEIZED UP. EVEN POSSIBLE THAT A ROPE IS WRAPPED AROUND PROP SHAFT. ARE YOU SURE THAT YOU HAVE BATTERY CONNECTED RIGHT. +TO + & -TO-.  IF IT IS RIGHT ,TAKE TO DEALER TO FIND SHORT.

Answer 2

this boat i dont know but it looks to me like the problem is not the engine. Else it would be trouble just running in nuetral.

I am familiar with manual cables that shift the outdrive .

Do you have some sort of elecrtical shift?? That would explain the hot cables and the engine dying out.

Anyway thats where i would look.

Answer 3

There is a momentary kill switch mounted on the engine.  You will notice a shift cable from the helm and a second cable that leads under the engine.  It is probably out of adjustment or one or both cables need replacing... However I don"t think it would cause the battery cable to fail in the way you describe.  Your boat has a cobra drive and you have to know what your doing to adjust the cables.  So, the mechanic should be able to find the short in the battery cable.  Good Luck!

Answer 4

The wiring is wrong. Disconnect ther battery and take the boat to a service center. A cable that melts shows a direct short in the electrical problem.  The fix may be easy, finding it is the problem.