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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I am looking at a boat with a 2001-2002 2 stroke Merc 90. I don't know if it is an efi or just a plain jane, but just want some basic opinions of this moror from the year class listed. Not being a Merc guy, I am a bit leary, but also know that some of the 90's were pretty good. I wonder a few things. ould it be cold blooded(or more cold blooded than my older yamaha tiller tyhat really isn't too bad..)? Would I be able to troll ok with it without bad loading problems? again, I can with my current motor though it is only a 40hp. That said, the motor had a new power head and lower unit installed by Merc. in late 02' from what I understand as it was not running the best. Was that a common thing for that model? Thanks for any tips, recomendations. I am quite interested in the boat if I know the motor is ok. Lastly, if I were to try to sell/trade the motor for a motor of my choice, would I be taking it in the hinder real badly? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i ran that model year elpto saltwater version on my whaler back then. my experience was that the elpto was a tough starter in colder temps. and lots of ball squeezing in hot weather. otherwise, it ran fine but was louder and smoked more than my current vmax 2-stroke.
it was the motor that made me want a yamaha on the next one though. the only problem i have with the vmax is when i spend too much time just launching and puttering around without running it out ... it'll load up and cause problems starting ... after that lesson learned, it's been nice to just turn the key.
no experiece with the efi's of the same vintage. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Thanks john. That is what I was afraid of. I run alot in cold weather, am not used to a cold blooded motor, and really don't want one either. A bit of a rock and a hard place as I like the boat.. Any way of tuning them(or maybe a different gas type) to not be so cold blooded? Why are they that way? I will check the thing out but will probably have to buy without running(eeeeks!) if i don't want it gone before spring... Hopefully can upgrade to anther motor without too much hassle if it is to rough a runner, or better yet, I hpe I just don't have to worry about it. |
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Posts: 1096
Location: Hayward, WI | It is a carb, never made that in an EFI. They tend to be cold blooded and probably one of the worst for trolling. IMHO 90hp is just to much for 3 cylinder block. Selling or trading a 2 stroke carbed motor is a tough bet, not much demand for them. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | shucks, was afraind of that. Thanks for the honesty though. |
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| I ran that motor for a couple of years on a 99 1890 warrior I have to agree it is a little cold blooded but once going for the day it was great.Also after sitting for awhile it could be a little stubborn,needed to get out alot kinda like walking a dog..Overall I think it is a great dependable motor never a had a problem with it,and as for trolling I ran boards all day with it never really loaded up.Also it trolled down to about 1.8 gps something the fourstrokes can have a difficult time with.I would buy a 2 stroke 90 in a instant again... |
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Posts: 15
Location: Grand View, WI | I have a 04 Merc 90 and never had a problem trolling with it. Definitely cold blooded, as being here in northern WI and fishing till the end of Nov i can contest to that. Just need to let it run a while to warm up, but with the setup I have it on, the gas consumption was great for a 2 cycle, so I didn't mind letting it idle a bit. |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | I got a 2006 Merc 90, not efi. What 2 stroke is not cold blooded? I trolled last year with mine, and when the desired speed is less that 2.5 MPH, I use two 5 gallon buckets with a hole cut in the bottom hanging off each side of the boat on the front cleats. With the break in period, and the trolling, I did got through 3 sets of plugs, and we did a fair amount of trolling. |
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Posts: 199
| Jason,
I had a 1998 Mariner 75 2-stroke which is essentially the same motor it is very cold-blooded but not the worst motor I ever had. I have a friend that I went to school with who is a Engineer with Mercury he told me to stay away from that motor and said that was one of the worst they make. Sorry by the way what is the boat attached to the motor? |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Magnum... Wish I hadn't seen your post... I bought it today. If it isn't ok I'll get a different outboard I guess... It is a Ranger 690 Tiller. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | you'll do fine with it ... just takes building a relationship with it ... and batteries of course. congratulations on the purchase ... is it brown. |
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| one thing i had heard with some motors and maybe this one is the case...when trolling, keep it trimmed alllll the way down...just a thought...worse comes to worse sell that Vantage and put a nice little T8 or 9.9 on it.... |
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Posts: 32945
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I've had considerable experience with that motor, and didn't see any problems to speak of. Seems to be a good motor. |
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Posts: 15
Location: Grand View, WI | muskynightmare - 3/15/2007 6:01 AM
With the break in period, and the trolling, I did got through 3 sets of plugs, and we did a fair amount of trolling.
Them there plugs are not cheap either  |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Allamand - 3/15/2007 9:02 PM
muskynightmare - 3/15/2007 6:01 AM
With the break in period, and the trolling, I did got through 3 sets of plugs, and we did a fair amount of trolling.
Them there plugs are not cheap either : )
With all the other expenses we have in this affliction, is $3.00-$4.00 a plug times three really all that bad?
You paid (I am assuming) more than that for your last brand new bait.
One set of plugs was break in (they want you to add oil to your gas for the first tank through the motor).
Trolling builds carbon. We probably trolled for 20+ hours this year. If I had access to a sand blaster, i would still be on the first set. food for thought, sir. |
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Posts: 199
| Jason,
Like I said I had one and it was not bad, my friend was just commenting on the fact that comparitively speaking it was not one of Mercury's best. I am sure it will work fine for you and just as you said if it does not then you will replace it nuff said good luck to you my friend. |
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Posts: 1096
Location: Hayward, WI | Magnum that was my point, not really a bad motor. Just compared to other 90 hp of the same year I thought it ranks low. Shows how far motor have come when even a motor that IMHO ranks low, is still a decent motor. I see 300-400 motors a year come through my shop. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Mag, understood. I'll take care of it. Nightmare.... 20 hours isn't much trolling at all. I do that in 2 days in fall. I would hope I don't have to change plugs out that much... Did you give it a little throttle when she loaded up. That is one trick I learned with me ole' yammy and was good for the motor and the fishing, though i did occasionally pop a board which was a pain...
Brad, I was told by the previous owner that trimming it up a hair while trolling will be better. Some carb..float..thingy..isuue. Will have to ask him specifics when I pick it up.
Johnny, it has a brown stripe on it....
Edited by Reef Hawg 3/16/2007 9:51 AM
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Posts: 80
Location: Clintonville, Wi | jason, i have my 9.9 bigfoot i might sell next year if interested but its also a black anchor but has been good to me. Etech is going to make smaller horsepower so i might match it up American is really good on trade ins for older stuff they gave me 4 grand for my blown opti, and they sell about every make out there. If you want to trade i can hook you up with my guy hes been good to me. give me a call when you pic it up and we'll have to get the beer smell in the carpet.
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| jer, sounds great. An investigation into a trade would be cool, though surely I's lose out fairly big..?.. We'll run her through the gauntlet to see if she can withstand the 'aluminum test'.... |
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| Jason, I ran a similar motor on my first Tuffy. I have some info for you.
email me @ [email protected] |
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