Mercruiser 7.4l engine rotation

[KC55KY]

I just joined the forum and I am a newbie houseboat owner. We just bought a 1973 Kings Craft 55 foot houseboat with twin mercruiser 454 engines that I was told were not original and the mercury site says they were from 81 to 87. There is a metal tag on both carbs that says 340 MIE.

The starter on the starboard engine went out so I have no way to see the engine rotate. The mecury EZParts website lists the 340 MIE as having two different part numbers for starters. One is LH and one RH Rotation. Does anyone know if there is anything on an engine somewhere that tells which rotation it is? I don't want to buy the wrong starter and possibly turn it backwards. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[alldodge]

Look at the props, if the prop rotates CCW going forward the motor is LH, if it rotates CW then its RH. Standard is LH

 

[alldodge]

Also normally the port motor is LH and the starboard motor is RH.

Could also look at how the belts are installed. From the front of the motor the standard LH motor rotates CW, so things like the alternator belt pulls down from the top of the pulley. Same thing will happen for RH motor but would probably be on the other side of the motor

 

[Bt Doctur]

another way is to look at the bevel on the bendix drive. is there a engine serial number tag on the block near where the starter would attach to the engine http://www.arcomarine.com/xhtml/tech determine marine starter rotation.pdf