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What year is It 98 Merc No serial #

J

jeffwhite6773

New member
"I have just inherited an old

"I have just inherited an old Merc 9.8hp. It looks like it's been through the war. Someone has spray-painted the motor cover and none of the decals can be read. There is a number stamped on the engine casting just above the carb which I'm hoping is related to the serial #. It's 941-9594. Is it possible to Identify the year from the engine #? Most postings on identity on this board assume you know the serial #. I can't find one on this motor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Jeff"
 
"Jeff, that's a block cast

"Jeff, that's a block casting number - no help on the year from that.

Look for a welsh plug (silver disk about the size of a quarter) down near the sparkplugs, but on the side of the waterjacket (usually right side, looking from the back of the motor).

The 9.8 horse was around for a long time. If this one has points it will be a 1973 or earlier model 110.

In 1974 they switched the thunderbolt 4 ignition and it stayed that way until they discontinued the model in 1985.

In 1979 they stopped calling it a Model 110 and simply called it the 9.8 horse."
 
"Thanks Graham,
The serial #

"Thanks Graham,
The serial # is 4392772 which makes it a '76.
I'm not very familiar with outboard motors but I'll try anything if I have a book.
My next step is to get a book and try to figure out what parts are required. I can see some parts are broken off of the shifting mechanism which may have something to do with why its hard to get in gear. There is a spring-loaded shaft coming down from the flywheel cover housing. The dog is broken at the top and I'm not sure what's suppose to be at the bottom but it appears to tie in to the shifter. I'm guessing it has something to do with not starting the motor in gear with the throttle on full. At any rate thanks for getting me pointed in the right direction. Much appreciated.
Jeff"
 
"It sounds like you are descri

"It sounds like you are describing the neutral safety, which was a mechanical device to prevent starting the motor unless it was in neutral - someone could have got irritated with it and broke it (or really hauled on the rope with it in gear).

Grab a Seloc's manual for 1&2 cylinder Mercs of covering that vintage - it's a decent all round manual for 35 bucks..."
 
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