Help diagnosing starting issue

[TippyToes]

Hi, this is my first post on this site. I have a 2006 60hp Epi 4 -stroke that is having some starting issues. A couple of months ago I replaced the starter and it was starting up first try and running great, but on the first trip out things went south. My 4 year old snuck around me and turned off the ignition while we where moving. We where going slowly through a no wake zone so it didn’t seem like a big deal, but the engine continued to make a clicking noise after it shut off, like the prop kept turning from the momentum. Then we smelled a burning smell and popped off the cover to see most of the wires had melted on the voltage regulator. I was able to start it back up and get it back to shore after a few attempts, luckily. I ordered a new voltage regulator from Amazon and replaced it myself. I also inspected the other wires around it and determined they seemed ok other than some melted insulation, I taped with electricAl tape so they wouldn’t short. After all that though, the motor still shuts off sometimes in idle and I keep having to restarted it when docking. Does anybody have experience with burning a voltage regulator and is there more that might have been damaged from shutting the motor off in this way? Thanks in advance for your insight

 

[mechanicman]

Its common voltage regulator overheats or shorts out and burns wires. The newer upgraded voltage regulator from mercury has a fuse on the positive or red wire to correct the burn. If your new regulator doesn't have this fuse. You can install a blade fuse holder on the red wire and put a 30amp fuse in it.

The clicking sound you heard from The prop is normal. The prop is actually ratcheting to reduce load on the prop shaft