Re: 1970 85 hp V4

[Don]

Frank makes a good point about the electrolysis. I remember this on the early 9.9/15s with the aluminum housings. These aluminum housing did have SS liners, but that salt water is powerful stuff. The salt would work its way between the SS line and the aluminum hsg and crush the liner inward, this eventually led to excessive drag on the impellers and spun hubs….
And yes, that part mentioned is only a rectifier, just as it is supposed to be on this engine, no regulator. I guess the "clipper circuit" is the regulator because it grounds/shorts the yellow alternator leads is voltage spikes are sensed…Don’t know what voltage reading this crazy thing kicks in at though…The battery CD ignition and gearcase electronics present a pretty constant load that should keep the battery from being over charged…I think, like Frank mentioned, that the clipper circuit was meant more to prevent large voltage spikes from loose/corroded cables, a bad battery, or perhaps the nimrod who pulls the battery cable off while the engine is running…