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Posts: 897
| I promise I'm not trying to start a Ford/Chevy/Dodge type of argument here, but I'm looking at upgrading this spring and all of the boats I've found have Mercs on the back. I've heard that certain years/models have some issues but can't remember which. This will be my first purchase of anything bigger than a 40hp and I'd like it to last a few years.
FYI, the motors range from a 1996 model to a 2004 model. I can get exact models if needed, but I'm just in the looking phase so any info would be helpful.
Thanks in advance,
Chris |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | The only motor Mercury had real major issues with were the Optimax's. I believe it was just with the v-6 block and years 2000-01. The 200 and 225 were the hp. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Don't quote me on this, but I have heard that Merc two strokes (not the Optis, but the standard 2 strokes) were sometimes hard starters. I'm not sure if there was an exact date range for that, but it seems like I heard people talking about that with the late 90's to early/mid 2000 models. This wouldn't a problem so much as it would be a bit of a pain in the butt.
I have a 1999 50 hp. Merc 4 stroke (carbed) that has always started very well in everything from the heat of summer to down below freezing in fall...
cureytail |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | The Mercury EFI's were the other two strokes during this time, however, they've since been discontinued, actually 2004 . The EFI's were definitely cold blooded, but once warmed up, look out. The old EFI's were really bulletproof, with many requesting them over the much more fuel efficient Optimax's at that time. Mercury has since discontinued all two strokes other than the Optimax's. The Optimax's now are for the most part, the closest two stroke to a bulletproof motor. |
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Posts: 897
| Thanks for the info guys! Much appreciated.
-Chris |
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Posts: 22
Location: Lower Manitou Lake, Ont. | We had really bad luck in 2001 at the camp with Mercs. We blew up (1) 200hp. 2001 merc optimax, (2) 225hp. 2001 merc optimax, and (1) 175hp EFI 2000.
That was the only year we tried Mercury, Since we have gone to evinrudes on all our big boats that need over 150hp. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Outfitter, you definitely were in the midst of Mercury's problem motors. Like I stated before, the current Optimax's are the closest thing to rock solid as any two stroke motor on the market now. |
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Posts: 171
Location: indiana | I have a 1998 mercury 75 hp. it is definitely a cold natured beast, but otherwise a good engine. |
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Posts: 90
| I had a 99 75 HP Merc and it was a great motor, once it warmed up, but trust me you always wanted to start it and let it run while tied to the dock before you let go, because she was fickle until it got warmed up a bit. Once warmed and run for a bit, it only took a quick turn of the key to get her running again until the next day. |
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| JeffPaasch - 3/2/2009 2:46 PM
I had a 99 75 HP Merc and it was a great motor, once it warmed up, but trust me you always wanted to start it and let it run while tied to the dock before you let go, because she was fickle until it got warmed up a bit. Once warmed and run for a bit, it only took a quick turn of the key to get her running again until the next day.
You should ALWAYS let any engine warm up a at idle a few minutes in any temperature.
If you can get your hands on 99 merc 2+2, 2 stroke in good shape snatch it up. Ran one for 8 years and never had a single problem. AWESOME engine |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | what does the 2+2 2 stroke mean |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Four cylinder 2 stroke engine, 100 and 115 HP, runs on 2 cylinders under 1800 RPM. I had two of those motors, and they are both still running strong. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i bought a boat with the mercury 115hp 2+2 last year and right away not knowing what it was doing i thought there was something wrong with it. when you come from idle (2 cylinders running) to plane (higer rpm's kick in the 3rd and 4th cylinder) there is a transition that is let's just say different (not necessarily bad different, but different) for lack of another word and then when you back off you'll hear a ticking which has to do with dropping 2 of the cylinders. at first i thought there was something wrong and then once someone explained to me what was going on i understood ... once i got used to the motor, i've not had any concerns or issues with running it, but it is different than a standard 4-cylinder operation. |
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