Why is my Mariner 40 HP randomly blowing the fuse?

[Gr8Jpn]

1986 Mariner 40HP EL ID NO 422195 2 Cyl.

Worked perfect yesterday.. today not so much...

no power at all to my key switch. I checked my batteries and they were fine.
Then I found a fuse that looks like it is on the red wire to the rectifier.. the fuse was blown.

I replaced the fuse and all was well.. started it and shut it off several times to see if it the fuse would blow again.. and it didn't.. but then I am in the middle of nowhere on the lake and it popped again.. good thing I brought an extra fuse. So I replaced it and got back to the dock.. I shut off and restarted a few times.. then it blew again. Seems very random...

So I have not yet done any OHM's test on my rectifier.. I have not had any issues until now..

So besides maybe a bad rectifier.. any other ideas?
Thanks!

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Why is my Mariner 40 HP randomly blowing the fuse?

1986 Mariner 40HP EL ID NO 422195 2 Cyl.

Worked perfect yesterday.. today not so much...

no power at all to my key switch. I checked my batteries and they were fine.
Then I found a fuse that looks like it is on the red wire to the rectifier.. the fuse was blown.

I replaced the fuse and all was well.. started it and shut it off several times to see if it the fuse would blow again.. and it didn't.. but then I am in the middle of nowhere on the lake and it popped again.. good thing I brought an extra fuse. So I replaced it and got back to the dock.. I shut off and restarted a few times.. then it blew again. Seems very random...

So I have not yet done any OHM's test on my rectifier.. I have not had any issues until now..

So besides maybe a bad rectifier.. any other ideas?
Thanks!

Somewhere in your harness from the ign. switch to your rectifier your have a hot wire shorting to ground. It is not necessarily your rectifier. Is your batt. charging? check all connections and check for wear spots in wires.