Mercury S/N help...

[Callyb]

I'm hoping someone has some resources I don't... I was going to buy a rebuild kit for the black max, but I can find the s/n on any list. I actually have the original receipt for the motor with the same serial number on it and the freeze plug matches the id plate, so I'm kind of at a loss here.

The S/N is A156696

Any help would be appreciated.

There is a picture in my gallery, but the site if being fussy right now...

http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery ... photo=9037

[Callyb]

For two years I have, off and on, been trying to figure this out. Well, I'll be damned... I just found it.

So the next question is, what the heck is a MARATHON MAGNUM? Is that just what they called them or do I happen to have something cool? I know it had the dookie brown strips, so I doubt it...

Any enlightenment on this model would be great.

Thanks.

[fitz73222]

1985 V6 150 HP. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mercury had certain block designations like Comet, Lightening, Super Thunderbolt, Marathon, Hurricane, etc through the years, basically just engine families. Later V6 135's were actually called Marathon on the cowling. I believe your engine is a 122 cu in 2.0 liter but that should researched. 1984 and 1985 were the years Mercury was redesignating HP families because Yamaha entered the market in 83-84 with prop shaft rated engines and US outboards were still powerhead rated so OMC and Mercury had to rebadge their engine families to match the props haft HP of Yamaha's. So a 225 became a 200, 175 became a 150 a 50 became a 45 as examples. The US guys got caught with there collective pant's down when a prop rated Yami would beat a powerhead rated Merc or OMC that had the same HP on the cowl! Just rebadge them and them game was even again.

[Callyb]

Thanks Fitz. I knew you would know the deal.

[futch13]

1985 V6 150 HP. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mercury had certain block designations like Comet, Lightening, Super Thunderbolt, Marathon, Hurricane, etc through the years, basically just engine families. Later V6 135's were actually called Marathon on the cowling. I believe your engine is a 122 cu in 2.0 liter but that should researched. 1984 and 1985 were the years Mercury was redesignating HP families because Yamaha entered the market in 83-84 with prop shaft rated engines and US outboards were still powerhead rated so OMC and Mercury had to rebadge their engine families to match the props haft HP of Yamaha's. So a 225 became a 200, 175 became a 150 a 50 became a 45 as examples. The US guys got caught with there collective pant's down when a prop rated Yami would beat a powerhead rated Merc or OMC that had the same HP on the cowl! Just rebadge them and them game was even again.

Didn't the govt step in and require them to all be rated at prop shaft?  Also, hp had to be within 10% of stated hp.  Thinking that was what I heard back then when Merc rebadged the 4 cyl 50 to a 45/Classic 50.  Then they created a loop hole so they could get by with the 280's, XS's, HO's, SHO's etc etc. The Etec 225 HO was actually a 250, the Merc XS's were 25+ hp more than the "rated" hp. Blah blah blah.

[fitz73222]

1985 V6 150 HP. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mercury had certain block designations like Comet, Lightening, Super Thunderbolt, Marathon, Hurricane, etc through the years, basically just engine families. Later V6 135's were actually called Marathon on the cowling. I believe your engine is a 122 cu in 2.0 liter but that should researched. 1984 and 1985 were the years Mercury was redesignating HP families because Yamaha entered the market in 83-84 with prop shaft rated engines and US outboards were still powerhead rated so OMC and Mercury had to rebadge their engine families to match the props haft HP of Yamaha's. So a 225 became a 200, 175 became a 150 a 50 became a 45 as examples. The US guys got caught with there collective pant's down when a prop rated Yami would beat a powerhead rated Merc or OMC that had the same HP on the cowl! Just rebadge them and them game was even again.

Didn't the govt step in and require them to all be rated at prop shaft?  Also, hp had to be within 10% of stated hp.  Thinking that was what I heard back then when Merc rebadged the 4 cyl 50 to a 45/Classic 50.  Then they created a loop hole so they could get by with the 280's, XS's, HO's, SHO's etc etc. The Etec 225 HO was actually a 250, the Merc XS's were 25+ hp more than the "rated" hp. Blah blah blah.

Hi Loye,
I didn't know it was mandated in those days but I do know that Yamaha did it first with their debut here in '83 and were beating the US boys until everything got rebadged.

[GoneFission]

1985 V6 150 HP. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mercury had certain block designations like Comet, Lightening, Super Thunderbolt, Marathon, Hurricane, etc through the years, basically just engine families. Later V6 135's were actually called Marathon on the cowling. I believe your engine is a 122 cu in 2.0 liter but that should researched. 1984 and 1985 were the years Mercury was redesignating HP families because Yamaha entered the market in 83-84 with prop shaft rated engines and US outboards were still powerhead rated so OMC and Mercury had to rebadge their engine families to match the props haft HP of Yamaha's. So a 225 became a 200, 175 became a 150 a 50 became a 45 as examples. The US guys got caught with there collective pant's down when a prop rated Yami would beat a powerhead rated Merc or OMC that had the same HP on the cowl! Just rebadge them and them game was even again.

Didn't the govt step in and require them to all be rated at prop shaft?  Also, hp had to be within 10% of stated hp.  Thinking that was what I heard back then when Merc rebadged the 4 cyl 50 to a 45/Classic 50.  Then they created a loop hole so they could get by with the 280's, XS's, HO's, SHO's etc etc. The Etec 225 HO was actually a 250, the Merc XS's were 25+ hp more than the "rated" hp. Blah blah blah.

ICOMIA Standard 28-83 was developed in 1983 (thus the -83 signification of the standard).  The standard was developed because of the inconsistencies between some manufacturers rating their outboards at the prop and some at the crank, and most picked it up for the 1984 model year.  The output of the motor must be within 6% of the rated HP at the specified RPM.  A while back, I posted a detailed description on how manufacturers change RPMs and HPs to get different ratings on what is basically the same motor.  You might be able to search and find that discussion...