1996 Mercury 40HP bad rectifier?

Question

I posted the topic "1996 40HP Merc engine fire?" a few weeks back: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080617121837AA9cdLK&r=w

Please refer back for the background info if need be.

So as it turns out my problem was the rectifier/voltage regulator on my Merc. I'm going to replace the rectifier this upcoming weekend, got the new one at the shop last weekend. All the wiring matches up between the new one and old one, except... the new one has an extra black wire with a ring connector versus the bullet-type connectors on the other wires. Intuition tells me a ground connection, given the color. Thoughts? Why would the old rectifier not include that extra wire?

Answer 1

Yeah, that's a ground.  Some engineer decided that those regulators needed a better ground, so the replacement part is a little different.  Slight differences are common on replacement parts of all manufacturers, due to continous research and develpment.