Check your ground connections. You should have a ground strap between the
engine and a ground point on the airframe (or maybe back to the battery).
If someone forgot to hook that up, you might get the symptons you describe.

KB


"Justin H" wrote in message
...
I tried starting my engine today after a top overhaul, the right P-Lead got
really hot and smoke came off it when I hit the starter button. where
should I start looking for a short? could it be shorting back thru the
starter motor?