18 HP Mercury Outboard? Need help with ID

[nwboater45]

I just bought a little boat with an 18hp Mercury electric start long shaft outboard. Atleast the cowling has 18hp on it. But when I go look at a diagrams there is a different carburetor shown.
Here is the numbers I have. For the motor the only ID plate I can find has a serial number of 5861174. The only numbers I can find on the carb are 3 B with a square around the 3, also WMC and 44 inside the throttle body. I have found a similar looking carb on a diagram for a 18hp XD motor but the serial numbers for that motor start at 64xxxxx. I am thinking someone put a different carb on the motor which is fine but I am just trying to confirm what I have in order to order parts. The carb I have has both a manual and electric choke. The reason I am asking is I need to order a rebuild kit for the carb, so do I look for a WMC-44 kit?

 

[flyingscott]

Hello your motor is an 80 or 81. I would not worry about the carb number if it runs good it is probably fine. They used the same style carb for about 20 yrs on those with some minor changes If you have a plastic float bowl probably original they had problems warping and leaking with them. Pretty much the difference between the 18 hp and the 18 hp xd is the XD. When you order the carb kit you will it fits a lot of different carbs may be some extra parts because of that. If you have the later style carb keep it its a better carb than the one with the plastic float bowl.

 

[nwboater45]

Thanks Scott...I need to build it. It starts on juice or starting fluid....runs for a few seconds and shuts off. I blew out a few lines and it was all slimy. I am sure the needle or something is stuck on the inside. So I figure if I am going to take the carb apart then might as well rebuild it. When I ran my serial number I came up with the same 80 or 81. But looking at the carb diagram it show a round choke knob and no electric choke....When I looked at the XD it shows a square choke knob and electric choke which mine has.

 

[flyingscott]

I would need a pic of the carb to positively id it. One way to do it is the primer off to the side of the carb if it is you have the later style.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Stop using ether. You will kill the bearings in the motor