The Yamaha Outboard Motor MODEL, PRE-FIX and SERIAL NUMBER are stamped on a plate attached to the transom clamp bracket. When ordering parts. So long as you know your HP and the serial number, you can identify the year of your outboard. On later model Mercury engines, the serial number was located on the swivel bracket, as shown in the picture below. 365- IS 1973 Yamaha MX360. Yamaha outboards use the last letter in the model number to determine the year model. On American database carfax as J=Japan, Y=Yamaha, A=Motorcycle, 10th Digit B=1981. The Yamaha with the VIN prefix code 3f9 is a 1980 Yamaha XS400SG.Yamaha made the XS400 from 1977 to 1982. The 1UJ00 (4th to 7th characters) are the model. Boats.net is the #1 OEM Yamaha outboard parts retailer in the U.S. Top of the plate is the outboard's model name comprised of letters and numbers. Outboard Spares Yamaha Outboard Model Year Identification Details needed for ordering outboard spares parts On the Serial Number Plate on most Yamaha. Aug 7, 2016 - Hi, I have searched extensively and checked all the serial number charts for my Yamaha 2 stroke 15hp outboard but cannot find how to decode.
Yamaha models can be identified by locating and decoding the crankcase engine number. Yamaha uses a standardized numbering system, which is broken into four sections: model code, basic part number, design code and the finish code. Because the crankcase engine number is actually the part number, improper identification might occur if the engine has been replaced, or if an interchangeable case has been swapped with the original. According to Tangedal.no, the first section of the part number identifies the Yamaha model.
Locate the engine number. Yamaha engine numbers normally are located on the top of the crankcase, next to the clutch cover on the right side of the engine while sitting on the vehicle.
Write this number down for referencing. According to Tangedal.no's Yamaha part structure PDF, the first three positions of the 12-position code designate the model and is either alpha-numeric or all digits -- 2A0, for example.
Look the model number up on a Yamaha model listing. A listing similar to the ones found on Off-Road and Net Bikes.com should be consulted to properly identify the model. The model year is included within the code, as each year is assigned a different code unique to the year of manufacture. Off-Road.com is primarily a dirt bike/off road reference, Net Bikes references street models.
Tip
Because VINs and engine numbers are different, the VIN should be used for proper identification, as the engine might have been replaced. The VIN is located on the steering head pipe, which is the the short tube at the forward part of the frame, near the handle bar mount. VIN identification can be made at Motoverse.com.
Outboard Spares Yamaha Outboard Model Year Identification Details needed for ordering outboard spares parts
On the Serial Number Plate on most Yamaha Outboards it will be in this format 6E9-L-675634
The L in the example can be as follows
S - Short 15inch L - Long 20inch X - Extra Long 25inch U - Ultra Long 30inch
The Prefix is determined by the model of engine
The six numbers are your unique Serial Number.
In the bottom right of this plate, sometimes hardly visible there is a letter stamped, if you compare this letter with thel ist below this will give you the year of the engine, some letters are duplicated such as N but a little common sense will tell you if your engine stamped N is a 1984 N or a 2005 N