OK...completely confused about a Mrecruiser 3.0LX year of manufacture....

[Cannondale]

Bought a 1991 Sea Sprite, 17', that has a Mercruiser 3.0LX I/O in it. Engine's quite clean and such, just have some confusion about the specific year of the outdrive/transom mount/engine itself.


First, since the boat was a 1991, I figured the motor was, too. But, after crawling all over the motor, I cannot find a single serial number anywhere on it. I did receive an owner's manual for the engine, but the P/N & S/N on the cover of the book seems to correspond to a 1996 engine: 4-30L000JS and 0F607290 are what are on the operation/maintenance manual sticker. Also, those numbers are replicated on a Mercruiser warranty registration card that came with the booklet (and, oddly, the warranty registration card still had both copies intact---the purchaser's copy and the factory copy and the carbon intact in between) and the warranty card had a nice new 3.0Liter LX emblem/sticker that was supposed to be attached/stuck on somewhere still in a plastic baggie, stapled to the reg. card.

To add to the confusion, the outdrive itself has this S/N on it: 0D547928 and the gimble/transom housing has this S/N on it: 0D558872, at least best I can make out.


So, what the heck have I got? A strange owner's manual that doesn't go with the motor or a boat that's had a motor replaced sometime in its life?

 

[dubs283]

Re: OK...completely confused about a Mrecruiser 3.0LX year of manufacture....

it is quite possible the motor was replaced at one point and the previous owner did not transfer the s/n tag

there may be a metal tag riveted to the block above the starter, STBD side, aft portion, down low

if no s/n can be located you can go by the ones you found in the packet, but some tune-up specs are specific for s/n ranges, mainly timing - is the ignition electronic or conventional??

 

[achris]

Re: OK...completely confused about a Mrecruiser 3.0LX year of manufacture....

Each assembly has its own serial number, as you have found, that's normal. The engine serial number corresponds to a 1996 3.0LX. It appears the transom and drive numbers might be transposed, but they correspond to a 1991 Alpha One, Gen II, and a 1991 drive (also Alpha One Gen II) with a 1.84:1 ratio.

So, based on this information, I'd say the engine was replaced (in 96 or later) and the transom and drive are original....

The 3.0LX sticker is meant to be put on the back of the drive... (It just denotes the engine size, nothing to do with anything about the drive)...

HTH,

Chris.........

 

[Cannondale]

Re: OK...completely confused about a Mrecruiser 3.0LX year of manufacture....

Found a metal tag in the spot you suggested, dubs, and this is what it read: D518897. That and a Mercury Marine logo on it......

 

[achris]

Re: OK...completely confused about a Mrecruiser 3.0LX year of manufacture....

Found a metal tag in the spot you suggested, dubs, and this is what it read: D518897. That and a Mercury Marine logo on it......

That engine serial number is for a 1991 3.0L engine.... (not 3.0LX)

Finding a part number on the carb might help clear up what you have. It'll be on the side of the float bowl, and should be an 8 digit number.. And another number on a red tag on one of the cover screws...

 

[Cannondale]

Re: OK...completely confused about a Mrecruiser 3.0LX year of manufacture....

Thanks for the info, achris. Appreciate it. I'll look at the carb's no. later....snowing out today and just too darned cold to be mucking about with the boat. Of course, I've been looking at parts nos. for my setup and I'll be darned if I know what to choose under the 1991 3.0L model choices. I guess it really makes little difference.

Now, I just wonder where the booklets came from....nice to have I suppose. Most of their info seems applicable for my setup, so no loss in having them.