paradigm shift

I am in need of a new coupler. In doing a little research and a call to local parts house I now have a question maybe some of you can help me with. I have done some research here on the boards with no luck so here is question on part numbers and difference in couplers.
1. 861523A9 Standard coupler
2. 861523A7 Which I read was new style coupler which is a little longer and holds grease better?
3. 861523A11 Local parts house said this is new coupler?

Looked at Bams site and all 3 are listed. Last A11 is the highest cost. I was running an A9 and just trying to find out the differences between them and of course if there is a cheaper source that is always good.

articfriends

As far as i know the good one i bought last year is the a-11,it has 1,steel splines 2.much longer snout that supports shaft it was the merc xr/575 coupler 90+ hours on it w/over 700 hp and still looked like new when i changed the outrdrive a few weeks ago,Smitty-(spend the extra money unless your selling boat soo,you won't be sorry)

Zanie

Just to muddy the water here:
I looked this up in the 2003 Mercury Quicksilver Product Guide
The A7 Coupler is listed for 2000-2002 496 Mag and HO
The A9 Coupler is listed for the 2000 –2001 575 SCi Bravo (and just about every other big block bravo application).
The A11 Coupler is listed for the 2001-2002 5.0 MPI with footnote number 2
Footnote number 2 reads: Low Speed/Work Application.

Crystal clear isn't it?
Nah, I guess not.

28Eliminator

I just installed the 861523A9 Standard coupler. I didn't know that there was a longer one or I would have bought that one 861523A11. The one I bought is a little cheaper at cpperformance, so maybe call them about the longer one if you want to use that type. If you use the longer one you will probably need a little more room in front of the engine to pull it forward when you reinstall the engine. You probably have enough room, but just thought I would mention it.

shawn

I have a used one off an HP500 with 80 hours for $100 if you are interested. Don't know the part number.
Shawn

articfriends

After reading zanie's posting i might be incorrect about the a11 but i ordered it for a 2003 575 and it was the long snout,steel improved design

Zanie

with more checking I found the A11 listed for the HP500
I'm really cornfused now!
What's the real story here?

paradigm shift

Don't know the real story but I ordered an A11. Fiqured higher price must mean something so I shall see. Hopefully do not have to send back. Should be here Monday or Tuesday and I can post pics of differences. I know my old one is an A9.

Shawn if that coupler is in good shape someone should pick it up the new one's must be made of GOLD for what they charge.

Feelin Nauti

I replaced two drive couplers a few months ago. According to my mechanic, the A9 was superseded by the A11. The A11 has a longer snout and the snout is supposedly a different material. There is no need to move your motor mounts with the A11s. I am using them on 525SCs with no problem.

East Coast B

I just went through this crap with my mercruiser shop as I just spun a coupler on the starboard 454 mag. After researching parts, I saw the A11 was the new heavy duty design
http://ebasicpower.american-data.net...ory_Code=MER6E
which replaces the A17 and supercedes the A9, to me supercedes the A9 means replaces the A9.

My mercruiser shop which has a great reputation didn't see it this way and I asked them to contact merc with this question. What was returned to them by merc was that the A17 was for the 500 and small blocks.... sounds stupid to me , anyway they wouldn't put the A17 in for me thus I got the A9, still not sure if I'm happy about it!!!!

There's another thread here that I read where they are seeing a lot more spun A17's than the A9's.... If A17 supercedes the A9, why is it still being sold if there was a problem with to many failures on the A9????

Once again, Merc confuses the hell out of me....