Re: MERCURY SERIAL NUMBER
Best I can understand the Mercury numbering, the serial numbers are listed in ranges. your serial number would fit between two year models. Whatever two years it fits between, your motor is the lower year of the two. Someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.
Also, I found that Mercury does not recognize some serial numbers on their site when looking for parts. They say on 7-digit numbers, you have to add a zero in front. It didn't help in my case. Had to call anyways.