Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

[weider1717]

I have a 84 mercruiser outdrive that has a flat top....and an A on the end of the shaft.

I read that 84 was the 1st year for alpha one then I'll read where the first year was 86...

so whats the correct year and is mine or isn't it an alpha one

 

[achris]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Post the serial numbers of the engine and drive unit and we can tell you EXACTLY what you have...

Chris.........

 

[weider1717]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Alrighty I'll post them later i'm at work now....thanks

 

[achris]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Alrighty I'll post them later i'm at work now....thanks

The boss know? or are you the boss?

 

[weider1717]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Ok! back with pictures and numbers...again this is on a 1984 boat.

The numbers on the LEFT side of the outdrive in the mercruiser decal reads "1.50R" the ratio..and also on the left side it reads "6886314"

on the top CENTER decal kinda above the outdrive reads "6879100"

the shaft says A and has a square top and I thought 84's were alpha's but I've heard some say ya and others say production started in 86?? but websites say 84 and say that a square top and A on the shats on 84's were alphas so just wanted to know! here are some pics..thanks

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

That's an Alpha One drive.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

My 1983 Sunrunner has an alpha 1 drive on it.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Yeah, but what year is the engine/drive combo?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Ayuh,..... And does it Really Matter......

The Old drives, the Model 1s were known by Many names,...
Yet they're All pretty much the Same drives,+ are almost Totally interchangeable...
Pre-Alpha, Mod.1, the "R" drive, the 898s, the 888s, etc... The rounded off cases, with the lifting eye,....

Then there's the "MR" drives,+ the Alpha 1s,... These are the Squared off cases...
Any of the Alpha series, from the end of the Model 0, with the introduction of the Model 1s, up to(but not including) the Second generation of the Alpha, Alpha 1, Gen.IIs are Totally Interchangeable... Drive for Drive..

The old Model 0 is a totally different drive,...
And, the Alpha 1, Gen.II is a different drive....
Those 2 can Not be interchanged with the Alphas.....

 

[weider1717]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Post the serial numbers of the engine and drive unit and we can tell you EXACTLY what you have...

Chris.........

I didn't get the engine serial numbers but I posted the drive numbers. Run them and see what exactly I have if you would please.

thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

It's an R drive, just before the MR which then became the Alpha I, it was the Redesign of the one drive (not Alpha I).

 

[weider1717]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

It's an R drive, just before the MR which then became the Alpha I, it was the Redesign of the one drive (not Alpha I).

Not saying you're wrong but this is why I made this thread so I know for sure..

according to this site it's an alpha one. http://www.sterndrive.info/sterndriveparts/identify_my_outdrive.html

 

[achris]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

By that serial number you have an 'MR' drive... Sorry, but it's definitely NOT an Alpha 1. I had a look at the site you posted... They wrong! They right for the purpose of parts ordering, but not for correctly identifying the Merc designated model.

The scan below is from the front page of Merc service manual #6... You can also find that manual in Don's post here....
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=251571

Also from that same manual... page 3B-1

"IDENTIFICATION
Early MerCruiser MR gear housings can be visually identified by the letter "A" stamped on the end of the propeller shaft. This mark was removed on the later MR and Alpha One models. The gear housing can now be identified by the absence of a pre-load pin on the drive shaft (as was on "R" models)."

Chris.........

 

[Don S]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Sorry, I was going by what MERCRUISER says.
Notice in your link that most of the stuff goes to GLM? Has nothing to do with Mercruiser, just another aftermarket cheap place with bad info.
Acording to Mercruiser, the flat cap on the drive was 1983 and newer, 1882 and older had the ring.
Now, you get to choose whichever information you want to use.

IDIT:
Danged!!!!! Chris got me quicker an more accurate. He dug a little deeper than me. But basically, till you take the drives apart, the insides have a few minor changes. What are you really trying to find out?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

I think 1882 was the pedal drive system

 

[achris]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

I think 1882 was the pedal drive system

Will spotted Jason... I love it when someone finds something Don said wrong I bet he'll edit his post and make us look like gooses....

 

[Don S]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

Be easy guys, I also learned how to use the SMITE button Along with a couple other nifty trickes to make you guys look silly. Please, don't tempt me to try

 

[achris]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

"SMITE"

Not nice!!

smite (smt)
v. smote (smt), smit?ten (smtn) or smote, smit?ing, smites
v.tr.
1.
a. To inflict a heavy blow on, with or as if with the hand, a tool, or a weapon.
b. To drive or strike (a weapon, for example) forcefully onto or into something else.
2. To attack, damage, or destroy by or as if by blows.
3.
a. To afflict: The population was smitten by the plague.
b. To afflict retributively; chasten or chastise.
4. To affect sharply with great feeling: He was smitten by deep remorse.
v.intr.
To deal a blow with or as if with the hand or a hand-held weapon.

 

[weider1717]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

thanks guys, I don't care what drive it is I was just wanting to know what it was...

I will ask this tho what hp is my drive good for? 300hp like the alpha or no..bc it the motor ever goes a 350 mag will be going in. Also is the MR a lot worse than the alpha or what?

also ACHRIS u helped me find the enginer decal I had been looking for and i have 2 of them on the way I hope it's right and I'm pretty sure they will be so can ask for some help on finding the decals for my outdrive? I haven't been able to find them either!

again tho I am an old fart 58 years old....lol not exactly the king on pc's as far as buzzing through sites etc.

If I replace the decals tho how do I get the serial numbers back? are the numbers on the drive and just showing through on my decals? bc they look to be stamped into the decals.....so replacing them will loose the numbers right? I don't want that but if I redo my outdrive with new paint etc I want it to be nice looking with new decals.

 

[weider1717]

Re: Ok lets hear the facts, I've read/heard several diff things. ? on my 84 outdrive

hmm just noticed per your sheet your posted my drive isn't an mr the serial numbers on that sheet you posted go up to 684...something my serial number is 6879100