Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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I was looking on ebay today, and well came across something odd.....the trim cylinders for a gen 2 are different than a gen 1. Keeping that in mind, from what I can see this is an Alpha 1 Gen 1 not a Gen 2 as I was informed by the guy we bought it from. Keeping this in mind now I am confused as to how to really tell which outdrive I have. I need a bit more information on outdrives and how to tell the differences in the gen 1 and gen 2 . :confused:
 
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tylermcclintock

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

vincechig1975 said:
I was looking on ebay today, and well came across something odd.....the trim cylinders for a gen 2 are different than a gen 1. Keeping that in mind, from what I can see this is an Alpha 1 Gen 1 not a Gen 2 as I was informed by the guy we bought it from. Keeping this in mind now I am confused as to how to really tell which outdrive I have. I need a bit more information on outdrives and how to tell the differences in the gen 1 and gen 2 . :confused:
Click to expand...

Go to this link, may help answer some questions about your outdrive.

http://www.mercstuff.com/drive_id.htm
 
achris

achris

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

tylermcclintock said:
Go to this link, may help answer some questions about your outdrive.

http://www.mercstuff.com/drive_id.htm
Click to expand...

I really hate them using the term 'pre-Alpha'... It's misleading and in the context they have used it, just plain wrong! They have also got some of their identifications wrong too... But that's what you get from seloc/clymer types!
Since 1963 Merc have produced 5 different 'dog-clutch' drives, MC-1, R, MR, Alpha One and Alpha One Gen II....
That lot make it look like the R and the MC-1 are the same, and the MR and the Alpha One are the same.... Which of course they are not...

The easiest way to determine which drive you have is by the serial number...

MC-1 up to 6152229 (to 1982)
'R' 6152230 -> 6847029 (1983-1984)
'MR' 6847030 -> 0A479506 (1985)
Alpha One 0A479507 -> 0D469858 (1986-1990)
Alpha One Gen II 0D469859 and up (1991 and up)

You will see in that list NO mention of 'Pre-Alpha'!!! Let's all try and keep it that way....

Chris........

Edit: Alpha One and Alpha One Gen II trim cylinders are not interchangeable... Well, they are, but it would take a serious amount of modifications to make them work properly.... But for you... Not the same.
 
vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

The boat we have is an 88 Cobia Odessey Cuddy Cruiser, 3.7l as stated by the previous owner it was a Gen II , well maybe it is a bas akward listing then, or the guy posting that sale really doesn't know what he has. I would rather be sure, thanks for the info. The trim cyl's were listed as a Gen II and not as what they were actually, so I went back and took a second look and that's what raised a red flag with me. The transom/ gimbal mounting for them is different and the mounting that is on ours uses the thru stud w nuts and washers and bushings, not like what's listed on ebay. Maybe this would narrow it down for the more experienced people out here to i.d.
 
achris

achris

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

vincechig1975 said:
... the mounting that is on ours uses the thru stud w nuts and washers and bushings, ....
Click to expand...

DEFINITELY NOT Gen II.... (can you post a photograph of the drive?)
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

Gen II drives didn't start until 1991. If it's original (and attached to a 3.7) it's not a Gen II, proper name/terminology for that drive would be Alpha I
 
cr2k

cr2k

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

Again folks there is NO Gen I If it's not a Gen II it's just an Alpha or earlier.
 
vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

Let me see what photos I do have......, will post it tomorrow evening. The more I read about the outdrives the more I am dreading this entire project, but I still pushed forward. Sorry about not having any more info and the time it's been since I actually had time to ask questions, but my wife's health became an issue, and well had to deal with her before the "other love" in my life so essentially getting her back to her ole self is my main focus right now. I am hoping to be able to get the photos uploaded tomorrow. My progress has been slow but sure and I am still in the midst of getting the parts for my engine rebuild and for my refit. Long drawn out process I guess.
 
vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

It looks like an Alpha guys,but the cylinder mounting is exactly like the second photo. I will include the serial #'s tomorrow as well .
 
vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

The serial numbers from the unit are as follows
Drive Unit...QB931931
Transom Asm...QC310739
Engine B841907
I hope you can help tack this sucker down, looks like an alpha
 
achris

achris

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

vincechig1975 said:
The serial numbers from the unit are as follows
Drive Unit...QB931931
Transom Asm...QC310739
Engine C310739
I hope you can help tack this sucker down, looks like an alpha
Click to expand...

Drive, serial number 0B931931 -> model 5010584AS. That is a 1988 Alpha One drive, ratio 1.84:1
Transom, serial number 0C310739 -> model 6010000AS. That is a 1988 Alpha One transom.
Engine, serial number 0C310739... is the wrong number. It comes out as a TR/TRS drive, which is not an engine... Please recheck that engine number...
 
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vi

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

Just gotta say I think any out drive is better than an outboard...my first and only was a Scott great motor but pales (pails) in comparison to my O M C Stick with it and you will get it worked out . there are several different trim cylinders. I noticed the ones on the gen 1 are smaller , when I was looking for a seal kit. They could be upgraded to a larger size was my understanding. I gave up on my Merc project and never followed thru.tylers post had alot odf info but serial #s tell all.good luck
 
achris

achris

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

vi said:
Just gotta say I think any out drive is better than an outboard......
Click to expand...

You're going to get lots of arguments on that point... Me being the first... I prefer any outboard over any stern drive any day... Outboards are SO much easier to work on, give just as good performance and weight half as much as similar horsepower I/Os... And come the day to replace them... Easy; bolt off, bolt on.... Yep, much prefer outboards... But I/Os make more money for me... :D :D :D

engine sn is B841907
Click to expand...

Engine, serial number 0B841907 -> Model 437S000AS. That is a 1988 3.7L engine (165hp, also know as a '470')....

Nothing you have is even remotely close to a Gen II... It's all Alpha One....

Chris.......
(and that '0' in the front of each number, it's important)
 
vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

I was looking on the engine id tag this evening and didn't see the "0" in front of it but I could have overlooked it too. I have it on my stand inside where it's warm n cozy along with a multitude of parts stored til this gets back together and hopefully I can put this engine away for
safekeeping. Just incase of a problem later if I need it . What made it the 165 n not a 180, the head ? I just got the 4.3 and extras today so getting it running will be next and installed then to the rebuild of the 3.7 for a spare and the wiring harness should work with some help,. The trim cyl's I saw on ebay tonight,
were from an Alpha and they looked like the correct one's. Thanks for helping me narrow this down guys.
 
vincechig1975

vincechig1975

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Re: Mercruiser Trim Cylinders....help

Ahhhh I c ......We took this boat out for a test drive and she ran great, so we decided to buy it ( now I am thinking I must have been nuts) but I guess with all the help out here I can keep my wits and move forward with this refit. I have almost everything I need with
the exception of the poly resin and the wood and getting the wood at this point without having the resin would not be a good thing reason is I have no space for it right now. I have to build a stand for the cyl head ( as heavy as it is) and then move some stuff around to make room for the outdrive then rebuild that and the boat and take the time to reinstall and rewire everything what a PITA but it will work great when it's done just might take a bit more time than I thought to complete this project. My wife's health and our children come first so being that what it is. Maybe next year to be out on the water. Many thanks Chris, and Don S and to everybody for the help. This is going to be a fun ride. :D

I was just looking on the marine parts house web page and it looks like the differences in the trim cyl's are in the length of the tube based on serial number, so just measuring the tube length will tell me what cyl's I have, for Alpha, that is.
 
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