Identifying an 80's era 25hp?

[reelfishin]

I picked up a boat today with what I believe is a mid to late 1980's Mercury 25 hp. The good part is that it runs great, but I have no idea what year it is.
I was told that the cover had gotten damaged, a new one was bought from the dealer for a then current year motor, it fits fine but the decals on the cover are brown, those on the lower leg are red and blue.
The swivel bracket and clamps are all brand new, and there are no number tags on any of the new parts. The power head was supposedly redone several years ago, and that too is freshly painted.

The bad part is that I have no controls for this motor. I have the wiring harness to the dash but since it was on a center console, the binnacle controls stayed with the boat. I do have the ignition switch and panel it mounts in though.

Its got a round 8 pin connector under the hood, the hood is fiberglass and removes as one piece, (unlike my older Mercury's which have a tin band for a cover).
What years used the 8 pin connector?
I need to find a control box, or retrofit one. Can I simply wire up an older box to work with the newer harness? Or can I get hold of an use a later control box? I think I have one from a 2005 motor that someone gave me which uses a 14 pin plug.

 

[achris]

Re: Identifying an 80's era 25hp?

All Merc control boxes use the same travel, so you can use any control box on any engine, the only possible 'non-compatibility' would be the electrical connections.. You could cut the 14 pin connector off and splice on an 8 pin.

C.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Identifying an 80's era 25hp?

Will the wire color codes match up? I was thinking of just taking my harness out of my existing box and wiring it into the new one? I have to swap in the cables anyway?

 

[achris]

Re: Identifying an 80's era 25hp?

Will the wire color codes match up? I was thinking of just taking my harness out of my existing box and wiring it into the new one? I have to swap in the cables anyway?

That should work...

Chris......

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Identifying an 80's era 25hp?

Without the original sticker or serial number, is there anyway to tell what year this might be?
What year began the 8 pin harnesses? I know I have a 1983 50hp 4 cylinder which uses the 7 pin side mount plug yet, but a buddy has a 1979 175Hp with the 8 pin harness. When did the 8 pin change over? and to what?

I see mostly other make engines here mostly since that's what sold back then around here. Mercury is a rare find here from the 1980's era.
What is the oldest this could be, considering it's got the fiberglass cover, an 8 pin connector, and it's Not oil injected?
Does this at all narrow it down any?