Inspecting 2002 Tracker 125 HP Outboard

[lgaytan]

Hello,
This weekend I will go to see a used boat that is for sale, it's a 2002 Nitro 185 Sport with a Tracker 125 HP outboard, I've read this tracker outboards are Mercury OB just named differently, my plan is to check compression, see if the gear lube is not milky and no water in the transmission, what else should I check for it, as we will be looking at it in the lake I hope the owner will allow us to have a ride, but if you could give me some advise in this motors and what to look for.
I don't see tracker in pages like marine engine for spare parts, should I look as for a Mercury and use the same serial numbers?

Also about the boat, I will look for obvious cracks overall, transom etc, according to the owner bilge pump doesnt work, I think that is an easy fix. Hopefully this is a good boat to take home.

Thansk

 

[cyclops222]

No ride ? Bilge pump dead ? Should be a beat up boat. Do not waste time and money.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Tracker stickers wer put on OMC outboards

 

[dfrants]

The Tracker 125 is a Mercury outboard with "Tracker" decals. The 125hp is a four cylinder two stroke that runs on two cylinders till it hits 1800 rpms, called a 2+2.

 

[Texasmark]

The Tracker 125 is a Mercury outboard with "Tracker" decals. The 125hp is a four cylinder two stroke that runs on two cylinders till it hits 1800 rpms, called a 2+2.

My last OB engine was a 2002 Mercury 115 2+2....same basic engine but has RPM limiter set to 5250 RPM. I don't know what makes that 10 hp increase on the 125...could be just no rev limiter allowing the RPMs to climb on up to a higher number....5500 or 6000, or carb jet increase my guess. My 115 was a great engine and not shy but in my later years I didn't go out very often and it was stubborn to get the first start of the day. After that it hit before you could get your fingers off the key.

 

[redneck joe]

Tracker was both once and mercury. Johnny Morris got pissed at one because they did not want to put tracker on the motor so for a couple few years he switched to the other, then went back when they decided I was OK.

Check oil after running on muffs. Checking first can have the oil water separated if sat a long time.

 

[redneck joe]

History



Jack Aylsworth's Post
Evinrude - Johnson outboards. Facts, history, racing and OMC. ·
Jack Aylsworth
·
Group expert
·
June 18, 2022
·
Tracker Outboards by Evinrude & Johnson – So how did that happen?
In 1978, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris introduced the Bass Tracker, the first fully-rigged fishboat & trailer package powered exclusively by Mercury outboards. Obsessed with everything on the package being branded Tracker, right down to the trailer tires, Johnny pressed Mercury to produce Tracker branded outboards to complete the package. Mercury refused, much to Johnny’s displeasure.
In 1988, Johnny took his request to OMC. Realizing that a Tracker deal could mean well over 20,000 outboards per year, OMC was happy to agree. It was a real coup for Johnson & Evinrude until Brunswick played their trump card in 1992 and did a joint venture investment with Tracker Marine ousting OMC. Soon after, Tracker, Sun Tracker & Nitro packages went back to Mercury.
THE BACK STORY – Boat & outboard motor packages by Tracker (and Bayliner) were the impetus that changed the entire marine industry. Starting in the 1980’s, OMC & Brunswick went on a boat company buying spree thereby creating boat & motor packages for their boat brands in an effort to control transoms. Independent boat builders quickly followed suit. While many marine dealers hated the change in how they did business, there was no turning back. Bottom line – Johnny Morris had helped revolutionize the marine industry. Today, 200+ Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s stores across the US and Canada feature package boats from Johnny Morris’ White River Marine Group including: Tracker, Sun Tracker, Triton, Ranger, Nitro, Mako, Regency, Tahoe and Hatteras Yachts.
TRACKER by Mercury – For a short period following the joint venture Mercury produced Tracker branded outboards. To Mercury’s credit, the Mercury identification on the hood graphic was much more tasteful than the Johnson & Evinrude Tracker motors – which were graphically heavy-handed

 

[lgaytan]

Went to see the boat, nice looking upholstery and seats in decent shape for its age, the owner did take us for a ride I was able to test it, motor started rough but once warm worked good easy 40-42 mph. I checked for gear lube and there was no water and not milky so I guess it's ok, bilge pump didn't work but I couldn't see any water coming from the drain after we take out the boat it was surprisingly dry. Didn't do the compression test but the owner is on fire me to do it just I couldn't take the spark plugs out in my body I can take them out with a simple 13/16 wrench but got this one I needed a socket and I didn't bring it, over all until that is checked I think I found a good boat.

 

[airshot]

Do get that compression test done....it shows the he health of that motor. The rest sounds good, so we are waiting for pictures !!

 

[lgaytan]

Went to see the boat, nice looking upholstery and seats in decent shape for its age, the owner did take us for a ride I was able to test it, motor started rough but once warm worked good easy 40-42 mph. I checked for gear lube and there was no water and not milky so I guess it's ok, bilge pump didn't work but I couldn't see any water coming from the drain after we take out the boat it was surprisingly dry. Didn't do the compression test but the owner is on fire me to do it just I couldn't take the spark plugs out in my body I can take them out with a simple 13/16 wrench but got this one I needed a socket and I didn't bring it, over all until that is checked I think I found a good boat.

Hehe just noticed all the misspells damn cellphone autocorrect with two languages enabled make a mess, but seems the message got through

 

[redneck joe]

Hehe just noticed all the misspells damn cellphone autocorrect with two languages enabled make a mess, but seems the message got through

Wel ome to my world. Not good to start with, worse on the phone.

 

[redneck joe]

Went to see the boat, nice looking upholstery and seats in decent shape for its age, the owner did take us for a ride I was able to test it, motor started rough but once warm worked good easy 40-42 mph. I checked for gear lube and there was no water and not milky so I guess it's ok, bilge pump didn't work but I couldn't see any water coming from the drain after we take out the boat it was surprisingly dry. Didn't do the compression test but the owner is on fire me to do it just I couldn't take the spark plugs out in my body I can take them out with a simple 13/16 wrench but got this one I needed a socket and I didn't bring it, over all until that is checked I think I found a good boat.

An outboard, fiberglass boat should never, ever be 'surprisingly' dry. Should always be dry. Riveted aluminum maybe but boats should be dry.

 

[redneck joe]

Internet tells me top speed is 44 to 46 and that is usually loaded light with one person so your speeds seem in line hand prob not foam soaked.

 

[flyingscott]

Make sure you test drive it. All the 4 cylinder mercury 2+2 topped out at 5250 rpms and not all had tev limiter. Trying to rev one of those to 6000 Rpm is a good way for inside bits to become outside bits.

 

[redneck joe]

Oh and on the transom tilt motor up and push as hard ad you can down should be zero flex and try to tighten motor mount bolts should not be able to move much at all. I had a boat once was able to get a few turns then noticed the washer had sunk in meaning transom was rotten.

 

[Texasmark]

Make sure you test drive it. All the 4 cylinder mercury 2+2 topped out at 5250 rpms and not all had tev limiter. Trying to rev one of those to 6000 Rpm is a good way for inside bits to become outside bits.

I recall Faztbullet making the same comment years ago. As I mentioned somewhere earlier, I wonder what Mercury did to get 10 more HP from the 115 HP with its rev limiter set to 5250.

 

[cyclops222]

Did they change the rev limiter ?

 

[lgaytan]

Oh and on the transom tilt motor up and push as hard ad you can down should be zero flex and try to tighten motor mount bolts should not be able to move much at all. I had a boat once was able to get a few turns then noticed the washer had sunk in meaning transom was rotten.

Zero flex there I tilted up and hanged with my weight, there was no movement at all, also the trim motor had no signs of any oil leak.

 

[lgaytan]

Make sure you test drive it. All the 4 cylinder mercury 2+2 topped out at 5250 rpms and not all had tev limiter. Trying to rev one of those to 6000 Rpm is a good way for inside bits to become outside bits.

I test drived it, rev it to about 5500 according the tach that was on the boat I didnt payed much attention to that don't know really if it could get higher but I believe that was the top

 

[lgaytan]

I test drived it, rev it to about 5500 according the tach that was on the boat I didnt payed much attention to that don't know really if it could get higher but I believe that was the top

By the way this is the first time I drive a 2+2 motor, it was very noticeable a kick when power hitted of the 4 cylinders working it is not an smooth acceleration as i have with my old 50 hp, Is this a normal thing?