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Simon Motorsports
Mercury V6 Alternator System
Evaulation and
Installation
Article and Photos by Greg Terzian
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Performance and Impressions
For this system to
be effective, the parts must be machined to extremely close tolerances.
Simon Motorsports does not disappoint here - the aluminum engine brackets
fit perfectly, as does the alternator assembly to those brackets.
Installation could not have been easier and more pain-free. Total
installation time of the system itself was about 15 minutes.
With the system
installed, I started the engine and ran it through varying speeds. The
driven
belt makes no noise, and there is no perceived flexing or stressing of any
components. This was important, since the system does not rely on a
belt tensioner, rather, it is engineered to work perfectly with its provided
belt (which, by the way, is a standard V-belt).
The first thing
that became apparent was that my engine did indeed idle smoother than it had
previously. With a fully stoked fuel pump, the engine seems very happy
at idle speeds and beyond. A view at the volts gauge quickly confirmed
the added juice in the charging system (see video). The power trim
system also appreciated the extra boost, and the added amps kept the power
trim motor operating at full speed. While running the fuel pump and
the power trim, indicated system volts did not drop below 12.
It should be noted
that for the purposes of this test, we removed the voltage regulator on our
engine. This was done to illustrate the charging power of the
alternator system relative to that of the stock unit. This was for the
test video only, and the engine should not be used without a voltage
regulator present, or you run the risk of overcharging your battery.
As mentioned, fuel injected engines are factory-equipped with a voltage
regulator, however, many carbureted models are not. In this case, one
would have to be added.
Finally, In
addition to the above mentioned virtues, this product adds a great deal of
visual appeal to the engine. I mean, who wouldn't like polished
aluminum and chrome on a high performance engine? This is one trick
piece that looks as good as it works.
The complete
system is available direct from Simon Motorsports for $695.00 for polished
brackets, and $745.00 for optional powder coated brackets in your choice of
red, blue, or purple. It's a an impressive product that is perfectly
engineered to answer the call for a hotter charging system for high
performance Mercury outboard engines.
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