I would appreciate some info if there are some Sea King experts on this forum. I have a 1974 55hp model VWB 27456, s/n 37X20301. This motor will not die and I have used it the past 5 years with no problems. Last trip after fishing, while loading on the trailer the battery started arcing. Key switch was off and nothing touching the terminals. Terminals actually melted off the battery and stopped the arcing. The starter solenoid had shorted out internally. I replaced the solenoid. I hooked up the battery to the positive terminal and placed a voltmeter in series between the negative lead and the negative terminal off the battery. I am showing 12 volts with everything turned off. I do not have an ammeter so I don't know what kind off current it is drawing, but it doesn't appear to be much. I momentarily touched the terminal to the battery and saw a tiny spark. So my main short has been corrected. I had never had a reason to check this before but I don't believe this is normal. I suspect the rectifier has gone bad. My manual and wiring diagrams show a four terminal rectifier. The one on my motor has five terminals in a pattern like the five on dice. Two are marked AC, one marked (+) and one marked (-), and one unmarked. I believe the unmarked terminal is an extra (AC) terminal as the wires follow the other (AC) wires up under the flywheel. Anyway, testing the rectifier according to the manual, with an ommeter, I have one (AC) terminal reading from the positive terminal both ways, as the other two (AC) terminals read only one way like a diode should. Any opinions would be appreciated. Any opinions about the rectifier ( one being a four terminal and mine being a five terminal? I have found the four terminal rectifier on line. Is this a good replacement, If so where does the extra wire go? Sorry for the long post but wanted to provide as much info as I could. Thanks for any help and Happy New Year.
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