Reading Serial numbers

[bones774]

My 1988 Merc 350 mag has a sticker on it that says "Stern Drive Unit Serial # & gear ratio OC381550", can that tell me what generation drive I have and what my gear ratio is?
A Neighbor mentioned to me that my drive may have been updated because in 88 the trim hydraulic hoses were rubber and mine are braided ss, is this also correct? Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

Guessing Alpha , 1.50 (1.47)

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

My 1988 Merc 350 mag has a sticker on it that says "Stern Drive Unit Serial # & gear ratio OC381550", can that tell me what generation drive I have and what my gear ratio is?
A Neighbor mentioned to me that my drive may have been updated because in 88 the trim hydraulic hoses were rubber and mine are braided ss, is this also correct? Thanks

Well unfortunately the serial number you posted (OC381550) is for your "transom assembly", And that number never got registered into the system with Mercruiser, So no other information about the drive or engine will come up with the transom assembly number.

But that transom serial number is for a 1988.

There might be a serial number or gear ratio number on the side of the upper drive housing.

Or if you have the original engine serial number, that will sometimes work for looking up the drive information.

 

[Don S]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

Since that SN is for your transom shield, it's an 88 model Alpha I for sure. If, your drive is the OEM outdrive and setup for sea level, it should be a 1.50:1 gear ratio.
Look at the port side of the drive on the upper. Should be a SN and Gear ratio on it.

 

[bones774]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

There is also a sticker that says "Transom Assembly ser# OC381550" and that corresponds to the serial number imprinted at the top of transom assembly.
Engine serial # is B964859
I will try and look on the port side for any other numbers but will have to wait for me to get up to boat location(I have looked before but that was starboard side).

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

There is also a sticker that says "Transom Assembly ser# OC381550" and that corresponds to the serial number imprinted at the top of transom assembly.
Engine serial # is B964859
I will try and look on the port side for any other numbers but will have to wait for me to get up to boat location(I have looked before but that was starboard side).

There you go that's better.
Engine serial number: 0B964859 Model number 4350100AS MERCRUISER 350 ALPHA
Drive serial number: 0C363861 Model number 5010150AS MERCRUISER ALPHA 1.50:1

Nice boat you have there.
COBALT 23 ft

 

[bones774]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

Nice boat you have there.
COBALT 23 ft

Yup, I think I got lucky finding it. How did you tell that from the engine serial numbers??

 

[bones774]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

I see, you have a merc data base and it records where all the motors and drives are sold/installed, pretty efficient. Didn't expect that for 1988.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

I see, you have a merc data base and it records where all the motors and drives are sold/installed, pretty efficient. Didn't expect that for 1988.

Happy to be able to help you out with your Questions the best that we could.

 

[bones774]

Re: Reading Serial numbers

Great thanks, now I can go over to propeller section and get some answers.