Serial Number Begins With 'A' But Cannot Find Any Reference To It

[bobgritz]

My outboard's serial number is A142XXX which is clearly shown on the driveshaft housing's I.D. plate but I cannot find any references to anything vaguely similar. I believe that the motor is a 9.8HP and the cowling's colors indicate that it is likely a 1984-1985. Beyond this ... I'm totally lost. Any help would be appreciated that could positively identify it (year, hp, etc.). FWIW, the i.d. plate states 'Mercury Marine, Div. of Brunswick Corp., Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin'. Thank you.

 

[GA_Boater]

Possibly 1985 7.5HP.

 

[The Force power]

I checked my sources and can't locate either, is that the correct serial#?

I checked in;https://maxrules.com/models/Merc_model_files/7p5-9p9.html
AND

https://public-mercurymarine.sysonl...=GuestNA_KEY=NA_KEY_VALUElangIF=englangDB=eng

 

[bobgritz]

Here's the I.D. plate ...

 

[GA_Boater]

I checked my sources and can't locate either, is that the correct serial#?

I checked in;https://maxrules.com/models/Merc_model_files/7p5-9p9.html
AND

https://public-mercurymarine.sysonl...=GuestNA_KEY=NA_KEY_VALUElangIF=englangDB=eng

My snip is from Max Rules.

Of course it's not the right serial number - No SN ends in "XXX". If people gave complete SN's, we could give better advice. I had to think outside the gutter.

I didn't think Bob knew exactly what HP or year, so dug a little deeper.

 

[bobgritz]

 

[racerone]

If there is a sticker on the engine that says " comet " it will be the 7.5 HP model.----Other pictures of this motor ??

 

[GA_Boater]

Using the complete serial number, preceding with a "0", 0A142168 at BAM, here are Parts Diagrams.

It looks like 7.5 and 9.8 motors share a lot, but the serial number is for a 7.5 HP.

Having any problems with it, Bob?

 

[bobgritz]

Thanks for all the help ... I can stop pulling out my hair (what's left of it)! Haven't used motor for a couple of years but I did fog it before putting it in hibernation. Carburetor was the main problem area so I'll start with a rebuild kit and will update with progress. Thanks again.

 

[Fun Times]

Using the complete serial number 0A142168 at BAM, 'The serial number is for a 7.5 HP

Unfortunately ever since Bam Marine updated their website a few years ago I have found in certain incidents that their engine size confirmation and some serial number grouping are slightly off when using the serial number search finder though it does get you close such as we're sort of finding here....I think they used VB5 too. Just kidding.


Serial Number 0A142168 is a 1985 MERCURY 9.8-H.P (M) Model Number 1010205 which uses parts catalog part number 90-13716 which is the same parts guide as you linked GA for the 7.5 as they share most parts...., https://www.mercruiserparts.com/7-5-5206550-up

It's just the link from Bam suggests it's a 7.5 but my other (a bit more trusted now) sources of info all show it to be a 9.8 HP....You once used perfprotech which as long as the number searched comes up, it's good.

 

[Fun Times]

Carburetor was the main problem area so I'll start with a rebuild kit.

Which is the main reason you need to know if it's really a 7.5 or 9.8 as depending on how far you go into the Carburetor, you need to know the correct match....There are sometimes numbers on the Carburetors which may help confirm the sizing even though I'm relatively confident your engine was a 9.8 from the factory new.

 

[The Force power]

My snip is from Max Rules.

Of course it's not the right serial number - No SN ends in "XXX". If people gave complete SN's, we could give better advice. I had to think outside the gutter.

I didn't think Bob knew exactly what HP or year, so dug a little deeper.

GA boater, I assumed the triple X was meant as blanks to hide the true identity of the serial number, but nothing starts with that either & I also looked beyond the 9.8 as he mentioned he was not sure about it.

the funny part is by the time I posted mine yours was up and i saw you had the snip from Max rules
I saw the A numbers start at 19 and I'm did not think they would start with A000000 al the way to A142XXX

 

[racerone]

The " comet " blocks are the 7.5 HP models.-------The INTAKE / TRANFER ports are smaller than the 9.8 models.