Another date of Manufacture Question

3691623  is not found in the factory database. But tomorrow in the daytime  I can check the North American distributor's ancient paper archives, it might turn up in the files there...

Would greatly appreciate that - I took a photo and could enlarge it enough to verify that is the number, Need to match the engine up with a suitable wiring harness so the year is pretty indispensable info.

The distributor records show that they received 503  #3691623 in July 1987

Thank you for looking that up - when you mention "Distributor", I suspect that would be the company importing the Rotax engines to Canada from Austria.

Is there any knowledge that might tell us how fast the supply chain was moving in those days, as in, might it be likely the motor went into a 1988 "Model Year" SKi Doo?

Or, should I presume it would have been put in a 1987 model Ski Doo?

Don't know if there would be a lot of difference in the wiring of the motor between '87 & '88, but I'm trying to be careful to get the correct wire harness to match the motor.

Seeing that there is a  similar machine in a museum in Canada, I'm trying to do the best job I can at restoring this one - it has only about 60 hours on the Hobbs meter and is in remarkable condition for a 39 year old Alpine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1ejn5B5EUw     shows the similar Alpine on display in Quebec

Thanks again for your help!

Tom Kluberton wrote:

Thank you for looking that up - when you mention "Distributor", I suspect that would be the company importing the Rotax engines to Canada from Austria.

Is there any knowledge that might tell us how fast the supply chain was moving in those days, as in, might it be likely the motor went into a 1988 "Model Year" SKi Doo?

Or, should I presume it would have been put in a 1987 model Ski Doo?

Don't know if there would be a lot of difference in the wiring of the motor between '87 & '88, but I'm trying to be careful to get the correct wire harness to match the motor.

Seeing that there is a  similar machine in a museum in Canada, I'm trying to do the best job I can at restoring this one - it has only about 60 hours on the Hobbs meter and is in remarkable condition for a 39 year old Alpine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1ejn5B5EUw     shows the similar Alpine on display in Quebec

Thanks again for your help!

When I say "North American distributor" - I am referring only to the AIRCRAFT engine distribution.

(That engine was not for a skidoo, it went directly into an aircraft...) 

PS: Generally speaking, unmodified Skidoo engines are not suitable for use in aircraft as their power curve is all wrong!