Mercruiser Manuals-What is their code?

[Woody-jh]

Can someone explain Mercruiser's method of naming manuals. I have a 1995, 4.3LX Alpha-1.
Mercruiser seems to call their books Book 16, 17, etc. instead of giving a range of years. Links to manuals would be appreciated as well. Unless I know which "Book Number " to buy, e-bay is not much good.
I need to start fixing a few things myself...otherwise will be forced out of boating!! Lots of good advice on this site...Thanks contributors...
PS: 1. Any comments about aftermarket manuals? I'm open to names....
PS2 Took Don S's suggestion and posted this as new instead of re-hasing an old thread...

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Manuals-What is their code?

Actually, you weren't re-hashing an old thread, that thread had a guy asking if he had the correct Volvo manuals, nothing to do with Mercruiser manuals at all.

The books are numbered like that because they were designed with Mercruiser dealers in mind as the ones using them. It's a lot easier locating a big short number than trying to find a small long number. New manuals and changes come out constantly from Mercruiser, along with a new index each time. The index gives you a rough year range and SN ranges of each manual.
The index also gives the actual part number of the manual.
For any Mercruiser engine or drive after 98, year doesn't help at all. You must use the serial number not only for manuals, but for parts. Just a word of caution, the year of your boat is usually not the year of your engine and drive, and be off as far as 2 years. Seen this quite often with small boat manufacturers.
If you actually have a 95 engine and drive, you need book 18 for your engine and book 14 for your drive.

Also, here is a link to the latest Merc service manual index. Click Here

Also go to this link for online manuals. There are only a couple that actually work, the good thing for you is both that you need work.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/srvcovr.pdf