1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

[Ppopps]

Hi Guys,

Awesome forum. The regulator on my 1996 V4 Looper 115hp went bad on the weekend and melted dripping that black goop they mold onto the top of the unit all down the side of my engine block. Other than that and some charred wiring that looks isolated to the regulator (which I'll obviously replace), I say I got off lucky.

Now on iboats I see a few options for replacement and would love help, I can of course get the original from an OMC dealer, but I see a Mallory 4 wire option (mine was 5 wire), a Sierra 4-wire, and a CDI 5 wire option that looks more like mine. I'd like the Mallory because it has a metal case all round, meaning if the problem repeats it won't cover my block in melted plastic, but the CDI looks most likely to fit (5-wires). I suspect all the 4-wires are 20A models and the 5 wire is 35A? Are they truly compatible? Any recommendations???

Lastly, should I just install and go or suspect anything else on the motor that could cause a regulator to melt? Other than this one issue the motor has been rock solid its whole life.....love her.

-Popps

 

[hidef]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

The CDI rectifier may still have the purple lead which supplies 12 volts to the regulator / rectifier when the ignition switch is turned on this starts the ac to dc process. The OMC/BRP rectifiers are now self starting and no longer require that wire hence the change from 5 to 4 wires.

 

[Ppopps]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

The CDI rectifier may still have the purple lead which supplies 12 volts to the regulator / rectifier when the ignition switch is turned on this starts the ac to dc process. The OMC/BRP rectifiers are now self starting and no longer require that wire hence the change from 5 to 4 wires.

Thanks hidef! I too am brom Bytown, small world!!

You seem very knowledgeable, any recommendation on whether to go OEM, vs. CDI, vs. Sierra or whatever? Know where to get one locally perhaps? What causes these things to fail, just old age or should I be checking something else on the motor while I do the replacement?

 

[boobie]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

Check ALL the battery cable and electrical connections for being good, clean and tight.

 

[hidef]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

Do as boobie says and check all of your electrical connections a loose battery connection can fry a regulator could just be old age too. Orleans Boat World is a BRP dealer you can check with them for pricing. I tend to buy either BRP parts or CDI. They are both quality parts you might get a better price ordering out of the states I would go through Seaway Marine (you have to call them) because they will ship via US post and you wont get stuck with brokerage fees.

 

[Ppopps]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

Do as boobie says and check all of your electrical connections a loose battery connection can fry a regulator could just be old age too. Orleans Boat World is a BRP dealer you can check with them for pricing. I tend to buy either BRP parts or CDI. They are both quality parts you might get a better price ordering out of the states I would go through Seaway Marine (you have to call them) because they will ship via US post and you wont get stuck with brokerage fees.

Thanks again hidef!

Last question (perhaps), thoughts on Mallory vs. CDI? You've already said you like CDI, I respect that, I notice that the CDI part is 35 amp though and though it is said to replace my original OMC part (along with others), my original was 20A so I wonder if that's good or bad. The CDI part still seems to have the purple wire.

Mallory part is only a replacement for my 20A OMC original, thus I assume is also a 20A reg, though it is the new design with no purple.

So any guesses which one is a more reliable replacement? Mallory 20A (4 wire) vs. CDI 35A (5 wire)???? Maybe I'm splitting hairs now....

 

[hidef]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

Mallory makes good stuff. You could go with either I would stick with the 20A unless you running an electric trolling motor or electric down riggers then you might want the extra amps to make sure your battery gets charged. My only real recommendation is to buy new not used. As far as 4 wire or 5 doesn't really matter as your wiring harness can except either one.

 

[Ppopps]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

Mallory makes good stuff. You could go with either I would stick with the 20A unless you running an electric trolling motor or electric down riggers then you might want the extra amps to make sure your battery gets charged. My only real recommendation is to buy new not used. As far as 4 wire or 5 doesn't really matter as your wiring harness can except either one.

So if I go with the 35 amp model from CDI, and the fuse in my wiring harness is 20A (it is), then do I have to change the fuse to allow 35 amp???

 

[Ppopps]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

So if I go with the 35 amp model from CDI, and the fuse in my wiring harness is 20A (it is), then do I have to change the fuse to allow 35 amp???

Sorry, and one more question, should I be worried about hooking up my new regulator right away given that my old one literally fizzled and smoldered? I mean is it possible the charging system from the stator is bad or something and I should be checking out something else somehow before risking a new regulator?

People are saying to check the battery connection (which I know was fine) but is there more to it than that? What causes an old regulator to spontaneously fizzle....just old age or???

 

[hidef]

Re: 1996 Looper V4, 115 hp, Help me pick new Regulator

It might have just been old age that caused it to go but a loose connection to the battery can also cause the failure. You can check you stator make sure either yellow to ground reads infinity ohms and both yellows ohm out to be very low it wont be zero but it will be close. I wouldn't change the fuse that 20 amp is to protect the motor. But do recheck you wire and if you are using the butterfly nuts git rid of them and proper nuts that you can torque down.