Help identify merc bravo drive

[mr300z87]

Hello all, I am having trouble decoding the serial #s on my engine drive combo. The boat is an 1989 Invader V210 cuddy cabin with a 5.7L 260 Bravo 2 drive which is all original equipment to the boat as I have some the original purchase documentaion. The documents I have show fall 1988 dilivery date. It was purchased new and is registered as 1989 model in NJ. According to merc manual #15 v8 1989 to 1992 my serial # is not covered. Also according to a merc model guild I found through this forum my engine serial number was not available with a bravo 1 or 2. In the same guild I can not find my transom or drive serial #s either. These are the #s. engine C386372 transom OC575598 drive OC505291. It is my understanding that the original owner of the boat had to fight with the dealer/ manufacturer to order it with the bravo 2 drive. I plan on replacing the B2 lower with B1 lower in the future for easier maintenance.

I look forward to shedding some light on this mystery.

Btw the engine runs smooth as silk and has only 220 hrs on it. Cant wait for the cold to be gone so I can get my boat on the water.

Thanks in andvance

Mike

 

[Don S]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

Your engine is an 88 model # 457S110AS. You should have manual #9 for the engine. Here it is http://www.4shared.com/document/LXsFg1do/Service_Manual_09.htm

Your transom shield number is for a Bravo drive, but your drive serial number is for the Alpha style race drive. So, m guess is you have the wrong SN for the drive written down.
Just curious about the easier maintenance between the B1 and B2 on the lower. What is so much easier? Nothing really to do but grease the prop shaft and change the gear lube.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

Thank for the quick response. I was figuring on the engine being an 1988 Model and have both # 9 and # 15 manuals already downloaded. Here is a Pic of the carb cover with the serial #s on it that match the stamped #s on the Transom housing and the drive (went out in the cold to confirm) the drive also has 2.0R stamped on it which I assume is the ratio. What I meant by easy of maintenance really had to do with prop selection. The current prop is a 17" x 25 pitch that has been cupped to make it usable on a 20 ft boat that should really not have a B2 drive. Its condition is OK and replacement B2 Props are big $$$$$

 

[Don S]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

I have no doubt it was a Bravo II drive on the Bravo transom shield, it's just the number doesn't work.
Look on the port side of the drive and see what the number on the drive is.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

Drive serial number OC505291 works ok for me, DRV: 0C505291 Model number 5220200AS MERCRUISER BI-ROTATION BRAVO ..2 2.00:1. Manufacture Date was on 06/30/1988 & was invoiced 9/09/1988.

SERVICE MANUALS

90-17431 2 - STERNDRIVES - BRAVO SERVICE MANUAL #11 (old)
90-17431--4 - STERNDRIVES BRAVO - SERVICE MANUAL #11 (newer revised manual)

PARTS CATALOGS

90-13668 - ALPHA-ONE SS, II SSM, III, III SSM, IIIA SSM, IV SSM, V SSM
90-17721 - BRAVO I/II/III STERNDRIVE AND TRANSOM ASSEMBLY

 

[Don S]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

So, explain how two completely different drives can have the same exact model number (5220200AS) and 2 completely different parts catalogs and ID?

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

So, explain how two completely different drives can have the same exact model number (5220200AS) and 2 completely different parts catalogs and ID?

Yeah this one is pretty tough to explain, Especially since the model number (5220200AS) is actually the part number of the complete B-2 drive assembly when new.

If you google the model number, you can find both bravo 2 & alpha SS, etc, But mostly the bravo 2 seems to come up ah little bit more under the model number. I went looking around in all the H.P sections both google and Mercnet for another model number that may have been similar to this one and found this (1988 5220200AS GEAR HOUSING ASSEMBLY(DRIVESHAFT) (IV SSM) in this ebay link of all places. It's hard to find in there, It's half way down the page.:facepalm:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercruiser-TRS-215-Lower-Drive-Shaft-Bearing-68290A1-OE-/200627832213

By finding that above, The only theory i could come up with is, there must have been an error in the parts numbering system someplace and this number must be coming up twice when we look things up? Other than that i'm not too sure.


While looking around, I found this service Bulletin in case you're interested, His Model/Part number is in there.
http://www.marinemechanic.com/merc/distributors/mercurymarine/sterndrive/bravoreplacement.PDF


When running his drive serial number in the literature section, this is what it reads,

Service Literature for MERCRUISER BI-ROTATION BRAVO 2 2.00:1

SERVICE BULLETINS
SMC-92-12 - NEW TRIM LIMIT SWITCH AND TRIM SENDER KIT
SMC-91-21 - DRIVE UNIT GEAR RATIO IDENTIFICATION
SMC-91-20 - BRAVO DRIVE UNIT/HOUSING COMPARISON AND IDENTIFICATION
SMC-91-26 - BRAVO ONE CLUTCH
SMC-88-10 - ALPHA ONE & BRAVO ONE UPPER SWIVEL SHAFT BUSHING REMOVAL TO

PARTS CATALOGS
90-13668 - ALPHA-ONE SS, II SSM, III, III SSM, IIIA SSM, IV SSM, V SSM
90-17721 - BRAVO I/II/III STERNDRIVE AND TRANSOM ASSEMBLY

SERVICE MANUALS
90-17431 2 - STERNDRIVES - BRAVO SERVICE MANUAL
90-17431--4 - STERNDRIVES BRAVO - SERVICE MANUAL #11

OEM BULLETINS
OMC-92-07 - NEW TRIM LIMIT SWITCH & TRIM SENDER KIT

KIT INSTRUCTIONS
847898--1 - CONVERSION KIT FOR BRAVO TRANSOM

Product Line Literature
SERVICE BULLETINS, etc, etc,.

 

[mr300z87]

Re: Help identify merc bravo drive

Thanks again for the info you guys are the best. I did confirm the drive serial # stamped on the drive so it sounds like an anomaly in the early B2 numbering scheme. Fun Times your dates are dead on as I have the original QC check list filled out before delivery in sept 1988 at a dealer in Lodi NJ. All the documentation I can find show the B2 introduced in 1989. Maybe the early production date or pre production explain the serial #s. Have a great day

Mike