BURNING UP

by SHANNON COOK
(LACOMBE LA)

I HAVE A 1997 JOHNSON 50hp (model# J50ESLEU / ser# G0435666B) ON A 16ft ALUM FLAT. I INSTALLED A CMC AFTERMARKET POWER TILT/TRIM UNIT (model# PT-130)ON IT 1yr AGO. SINCE THEN I'M ON MY 4th ACTUATOR MOTOR! WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THEY ARE BURNING UP INTERNALLY. MEANING THE WIRES,BUSHES,PLASTIC BLOCK TERMINALS,MOTOR WINDINGS ALL ARE MELTED BUT ONLY "INSIDE" THE UNIT.
I HAVE TWO SWITCHES FOR OPERATION, ONE IS FACTORY MOUNTED ON THE THORTTLE HANDLE AND ONE THAT I MOUNTED IN THE LOWER COWLING OF THE MOTOR. THE RELAYS,WIRE HARNESSES,40A BREAKER,FUSE,AND ALL CONNECTIONS ARE WATER TIGHT AND UNDER THE MOTOR COVER. I HAVE THE SYSTEM WIRED AS SHOWN BY THE MANUAL, PICKING UP + AT THE STARTER SOLINOID AND GROUNDING THE - TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY BATTERY IS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AS WITH MOST FLAT BOATS, IT SITS BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT AND TRANSOM. MY QUESTIONS ARE THESE: WHEN THE MOTOR'S RUNNING IS IT A POSSIBILLTY THAT THE TRIM UNIT IS GETTING TO "MUCH" VOLTAGE? IF SO WHY ISNT THE IN-LINE 40A CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPPING? OR THE IN-LINE FUSE POPPING? COULD THIS JUST BE A "SLOW BURN" WHILE THE MOTOR'S RUNNING? I THOUGHT THE VOLTAGE/POWER WOULD STOP AT THE SWITCH AND NOT MAKE IT TO THE ACTUATOR UNTIL THE SWITCH WAS PUT IN EITHER THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. OR IS THE BURNING HAPPENING AS I'M "RUNNING" THE BOAT AND ACTUALLY "USING" THE TILT AND AT THAT TIME (each time I flip the switch) IT'S GETTING TO MUCH VOLTAGE? ANY INPUT AT THIS TIME WOULD VERY HELPFUL. THANKS

ANSWER
You cant really get too much voltage when running its about 14.5 volts. Overheating is the probably cause and it possible that running the tilt for too long can cause overheating. Its a thought but of the tilt unit is required to move too grade a load then it may overheat, as your note doesnt say how long it runs when operating. As its aftermarket I would suggest that maybe its under rated for the motor or the motor is somehow seizing and imposing too much load and burning it out.