Confused on engine rotation

[LightningBob]

I know, I know the infamous rotation question, but hear me out.
I pulled an engine out of a boat with cracked water jackets. Engine is strong other than the block being absolute junk now.
serial number of the once installed engine:
5170446 - attached will be a picture to help explain confusion. On valve cover there’s a sticker that says “rotation CCW”
Uhhh the engine is counter clockwise? I thought with all the research I’ve done, all engines are standard rotation which I guess would be counter clockwise and the direction would be changed in the outdrive.
Well the confusion gets worse, I called merc tech and gave them the serial to an engine I’m cleaning up and making a few changes to - 6811396 and they tell me this engine is clockwise there’s no tag on the engine saying which way it spins
It will be about a week before I can bump both starters to see which way each FLYWHEEL spins and get 100% back to you guys.
I asked Merc what I need to do as far as dropping in this “newer” engine in my boat and several things were recommended (other than obvious flywheel cover needing to be changed/brackets etc) that I need a pre-90 alpha 1 gen 1 outdrive.
Well the serial number on the gimbal to the drive I have installed is 5235726 (1979 Merc 1...???? Idk) the bolt pattern on that gimbal for the outdrive is the same on my current out drive and an alpha one gen one outdrive.
Does this really need to be changed out to an alpha one gen one or can I keep my old outdrive
Does this mean, if the engine is actually opposite of the old one, I can just change Props?

I would imagine, both engines rotate the same direction, but don’t know for sure yet, and other than some minor changes, this should really be a drop in and get on the water thing


question of all questions: was counter clockwise a designation that was changed because they started to look at engine rotation from the other side of the

 

[LightningBob]

Both engines have the same firing order on their intakes if that means anything

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... They rotate ccw viewed from the flywheel end, cw viewed from the pulleys end,....
'n Merc serial numbers, begin with letters,....

 

[achris]

All Stern drive engines rotate the same way, CCW as viewed from the flywheel. If you have 2 engines and the prop on the PORT drive spins CCW, then that DRIVE is counter rotate. The rotation change is done in the lower box. You CANNOT run a CW engine in front of an Alpha style stern drive, ever.

Chris

 

[Fun Times]

Some of the earlier Merc engines didn't start off with a letter in the serial numbers which ought to make these numbers okay but the 2 that start with 5 are a bit to old to find in a computer generated search making it sort of harder for one to give detailed info from just the serial number alone/without having more/other engine model type/size details but the one starting with 6 comes up as an 1984 MERCRUISER , 228 Model number 02288344 which using a Merc Block ID Codes guide seems to suggests 6811396 is a Left Hand engine because it's form 1984 and is a Stern Drive Mode...Had it been more original to one of the 5 serial numbers and in the 1977-80 range plus an inboard model then it could had been either or as suggested by the () where it shows (MB) = (RH)...., https://www.perfprotech.com/blog/bo...-block-id-codes-small-block-v8-marine-engines

6811396 parts guide for you if needed,

MERCRUISER : 898/200/228/230/260 HP R/MR/ALPHA ONE | PerfProTech.com

Large selection of quality mercruiser parts, marine engines, marine parts, boats parts and accessories, such as Mercuiser engines, exhaust, motors, and other boating supplies and accessories. Find affordable parts for leading brands including Volvo marine parts, Mercury marine parts, Quicksilver...

www.perfprotech.com

 

[LightningBob]

Some of the earlier Merc engines didn't start off with a letter in the serial numbers which ought to make these numbers okay but the 2 that start with 5 are a bit to old to find in a computer generated search making it sort of harder for one to give detailed info from just the serial number alone/without having more/other engine model type/size details but the one starting with 6 comes up as an 1984 MERCRUISER , 228 Model number 02288344 which using a Merc Block ID Codes guide seems to suggests 6811396 is a Left Hand engine because it's form 1984 and is a Stern Drive Mode...Had it been more original to one of the 5 serial numbers and in the 1977-80 range plus an inboard model then it could had been either or as suggested by the () where it shows (MB) = (RH)...., https://www.perfprotech.com/blog/bo...-block-id-codes-small-block-v8-marine-engines

6811396 parts guide for you if needed,

MERCRUISER : 898/200/228/230/260 HP R/MR/ALPHA ONE | PerfProTech.com

Large selection of quality mercruiser parts, marine engines, marine parts, boats parts and accessories, such as Mercuiser engines, exhaust, motors, and other boating supplies and accessories. Find affordable parts for leading brands including Volvo marine parts, Mercury marine parts, Quicksilver...

www.perfprotech.com

Thanks! So with all the time I have reading forums and not actually posting on them I have found that “all mercruiser engines turn the same direction and that the “reversal” would be a change made in outdrive.

I’m still willing to change the out drive to an alpha 1 gen 1 because that’s what pairs to that 1984 engine, however, Merc tech on the phone said “yeah that 1984 228 is CW standard rotation”
Maybe he misspoke but I was so in tune with making sure I wrote down everything he said so I could continue my research.
what I’m finding is that left-hand rotation is CCW and that’s standard, so I’m kind of in the dark on what he even meant by CW Standard?

I might just end up calling them back.
I just didn’t know if Merc had a different standard than everyone else and maybe they stand at the harmonic balancer and look at rotation and generally accepted everywhere else was the flywheel’s direction.

 

[LightningBob]

All Stern drive engines rotate the same way, CCW as viewed from the flywheel. If you have 2 engines and the prop on the PORT drive spins CCW, then that DRIVE is counter rotate. The rotation change is done in the lower box. You CANNOT run a CW engine in front of an Alpha style stern drive, ever.

Chris

Chris,

I just made a reply to another member and I’m thinking... hoping... Merc tech just misspoke.
he told me on the phone “6811396 CW standard rotation”

you reckon if and when I verify with my eyes the direction of both engines by the flywheel - if they rotate the same direction, I make the necessary swaps of brackets and flywheel housing to mate up with the parts on the transom that everything will be a drop in and bolt up? No NEED to change the outdrive to alpha 1 gen 1..?

 

[Bondo]

Chris,

I just made a reply to another member and I’m thinking... hoping... Merc tech just misspoke.
he told me on the phone “6811396 CW standard rotation”

you reckon if and when I verify with my eyes the direction of both engines by the flywheel - if they rotate the same direction, I make the necessary swaps of brackets and flywheel housing to mate up with the parts on the transom that everything will be a drop in and bolt up? No NEED to change the outdrive to alpha 1 gen 1..?

Ayuh,..... Forgetabout the call back,.....

Both motors are standard ccw,.....
'n either, or both of the drives will bolt onto, 'n run perfectly on yer MC-1 transom assembly,.....

 

[LightningBob]

I wanted everyone to get some closure on this question, this is what I received from mercruiser and this is probably what everyone on here already knew.
I was confused because of the phone call and stamping of the old motor.
maybe the tech misspoke on the phone, maybe I misunderstood him, anyway, here are the replies for future reference if someone else ends up pulling an engine and swapping for another