Help me ID this 3 cylinder 50?

[SoCalBoatGuy]

Hey Everyone-

I just bought an '87 Larson 15 footer with this Mercury 50. The serial number has been painted over, so I can't read it. Can you guys help me ID it?

http://imgur.com/a/l91RG

Thanks!

 

[goldstem]

that is the 86-91(?) three cylinder 50. related to the earlier 650, and the 70. when everything got prop-rated , this became the 50 and 60. (the prior 'classic' 4 cylinder 50/500 became the classic 40, later 45hp). I have one of these, an '88. pretty good motor.

 

[SoCalBoatGuy]

OK. That sounds right. I guess I should stop calling this a classic 50, then.

Thanks!

 

[Faztbullet]

Someone has done some major reengineering as thats not a marine ignition system..looks like someone cobbed together 3 separate CDI modules. This will never work correctly as there is no way to keep all three timed....Good luck on straightening that wiring mess out....

 

[SoCalBoatGuy]

Yes, I'm noticing lots of fresh zip-ties in there. Any guesses why somebody would do that other than just not having the correct part? Other than running a little on the warm side and a tendency to stall when I put it in gear, it sounds really solid.

 

[Faztbullet]

Not keeping all 3 in time with each other runs the risk of preignition and piston damage....

Any guesses why somebody would do that other than just not having the correct part?

A el cheepo and someone who thought they were smarter than Mercury engineers...

 

[SoCalBoatGuy]

Well, thanks for the great catch on that. I would have run it that way for years not knowing any different. I will order up the correct switch box. Do you see anything else obvious that I will need to put back in there as part of this fix?

Is this the right switch box?