Need to know the year

[new2fishin]

It has been over 30 years since I owned a boat. I am retired now and want to start fishing. Hopefully you can teach an old dog new tricks.
I recently purchased a 1991 Blazer VLX 200 bass boat. It has a Mercury Black Max 200 outboard. The guy I bought the boat from said the motor came on the boat new, which would make it a 1991 model. However, the plate on the motor shows serial number 5611159. I have looked all over the motor for any other ID markings and have only found a small disc (freeze plug?) on one of the cylinders. I shows C139059. I have no idea if this has any reference to anything or it is the part number of the plug. The motor is a V6 with 3 carburetors. It originally had the oil injection but was converted to the old "mix by hand" method.
I really need to know what year model this motor is so I can purchase the correct manuals. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nightimefishn]

Re: Need to know the year

It looks like you have a 1989. Here is a good link to help find your year by serial number.

Hope that helps.

http://www.maxrules.com/Merc_model_files/172-300.html

 

[new2fishin]

Re: Need to know the year

Thanks Nightimefishn,
Did you use the number stamped on the "fleeze plug" to make the determination? Using the number on the plate (5611159), I figured it was a 1981. I know on my 25 hp Evinrude, the number stamped on the "freeze plug" matches the S/N on the plate attached to the foot. That is why I am confused, the numbers on the Black Max don't match and I was not sure if the number on the plug was a serial number or a part number.

 

[NerdRage]

Re: Need to know the year

Hi new2fishin,

The C139059 comes up as a 1989 Mariner 2.4L 200hp outboard. There is a good chance that the number is just a manufacturers stamp for the freeze plug. But it wouldn't be the first time stranger things have happened.

The 5611159 doesn't come up in Mercury's electronic fiche system nor their serial number lookup. Most of their serial numbers do resemble the C139059. As 0C139059. Your number could read as 05611159 but doesn't come up. It could be similar to 0G561159 but could be anything.

Was there also a model number on the serial number plate?
The Mariner model number is 7200412PD
I'm not sure I can find it by the model, but it might help in narrowing down the serial number for the year.

Regards,
NR

 

[new2fishin]

Re: Need to know the year

There is no model number on the S/N tag. All it has is "serial number" in very small letters and 5611159 stamped into the tag.

All I know for sure is that it is a V6 with 3 carbs and the cowl says Mercury Black Max 200. Then smaller letters say "oil injection".

This motor doesn't idle very good so, I would love to do some tune-up. However, I don't want to purchase a repair manual for the wrong motor and mess something up.

Thanks

 

[sschefer]

Re: Need to know the year

Are you looking at the serial number tag that's on the port side of the transom bracket. That will tell you the serial number and where it was put together. It should be correct unless someone replaced the bracket.

In some cases it will also give a year but they stopped using year numbers in 1990-1991. You probably have the lower cowling on the motor but if you didn't you could count the powerhead mounting bolts. If you have ten then it is a 1991 or earlier. If you have 6 it's a late 91 or later.