Inspecting 2002 Tracker 125 HP Outboard

[Texasmark]

I do not believe that the 4 cylinder 2+2 was meant for extended trolling.

Well why is it built like no other 2 stroke engine?

 

[racerone]

A new idea to gain market share.

 

[flyingscott]

Well why is it built like no other 2 stroke engine?

How is it built like no other 2 strk? All they did was take the idle circuit out of the carb, Hardly groundbreaking. More than likely an attempt at lowering emissions and improving idle quality.

 

[racerone]

Agreed---There is nothing special about this motor.---Very little fuel goes into the lower 2 cylinders at less than 1800 RPM.-----Not a setup / motor I would trust for long term low RPM operation.

 

[flyingscott]

Agreed---There is nothing special about this motor.---Very little fuel goes into the lower 2 cylinders at less than 1800 RPM.-----Not a setup / motor I would trust for long term low RPM operation.

I will disagree with the trolling aspect. I know a lot of people who have trolled with those and have no issues.

 

[cyclops222]

Tuned intake or exhaust systems do have sharp up and down change points.

 

[flyingscott]

Tuned intake or exhaust systems do have sharp up and down change points.

What are you talking about?

 

[Texasmark]

How is it built like no other 2 strk? All they did was take the idle circuit out of the carb, Hardly groundbreaking. More than likely an attempt at lowering emissions and improving idle quality.

".........and improving idle quality." Ha! My '88 I6 tower of power was the smoothest idler I ever bought! It also liked to run at 6k RPM.

 

[flyingscott]

".........and improving idle quality." Ha! My '88 I6 tower of power was the smoothest idler I ever bought! It also liked to run at 6k RPM.

All I said was they did it to improve idle quality in that motor. What your I6 has to do with anything is beyond me. But it seems to have your undies in a bunch.

 

[Texasmark]

All I said was they did it to improve idle quality in that motor. What your I6 has to do with anything is beyond me. But it seems to have your undies in a bunch.

No, comparing the Mercury 4 cylinder back in the 50's to the OMC 2 cylinder engine, more cylinders firing made for smoother operation.....I had both. So what part of that don't you understand. How can 2 cylinders idle more smoothly that a 4 cylinder engine, much less a 6 cylinder? Makes no sense! If fewer were better, why not just save a lot of assembly costs and just have one big cylinder? I had a couple of those....Mighty Mite 1.7 Hp and 1970's era Mercury 4 or 4.5 HP forget which when I had my smooth running 4 cyl. 85 HP Merc.....I fixed up a boat for the kids when they were old enough so when we went fishing they had their own rig. No way Jose!.......figure of speech.

 

[matt167]

They made a lot of them, and a lot of them are still in Service, so they by virtue of time alone vs how many still exist means they are fairly reliable.. I got one for free once helping an old guy swap a different motor on his boat. He hated the surge in power. As I recall he put a Suzuki 90hp on his boat. I didn’t want the motor, but he insisted I take it, so I kept it around for a while and then sold it cheap to a guy and his son who were looking for a cheap motor.

 

[lgaytan]

I did the compression test today 130 psi even on the 4 cylinders, deal is closed!

 

[redneck joe]

I did the compression test today 130 psi even on the 4 cylinders, deal is closed!

Good deal, glad for you and disregard the noise on this thread about anything else.

Post a video of the first run and speaking from experience DO NOT bri g the family it is bad luck. Do alone or with a buddy that can fix stuff. Then the family.

 

[Texasmark]

I did the compression test today 130 psi even on the 4 cylinders, deal is closed!

The service manual for that engine states that anything below 120 expect problems......looks like you are good to go!

 

[Texasmark]

They made a lot of them, and a lot of them are still in Service, so they by virtue of time alone vs how many still exist means they are fairly reliable.. I got one for free once helping an old guy swap a different motor on his boat. He hated the surge in power. As I recall he put a Suzuki 90hp on his boat. I didn’t want the motor, but he insisted I take it, so I kept it around for a while and then sold it cheap to a guy and his son who were looking for a cheap motor.

No doubt they were/are reliable. My experience with a dozen give or take of the brand proved that point to me or I wouldn't have continued to buy the brand over several decades....converting from OMC back in the 1950's. No doubt they are/were popular especially if you wanted a Mercury in that vintage in that HP class,

I am in Texas and don't troll but It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see verbiage about folks up North do a lot of trolling for Salmon or whatever their specialty. You're not going to tell me that Merc designers didn't entertain the idea of what I said above.....lots of folks troll, trolling is slow motion so you don't want/need a lot of HP...... having to buy a separate engine for slow speed trolling is a an additional cost and something else to worry about/support.....why not build an engine that will take your 18' boat with you and 3 buddies, out on the Great Lakes for a day of trolling and get you there and back on a plane, but will do your trolling too. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out!!!!!!!

 

[flyingscott]

No, comparing the Mercury 4 cylinder back in the 50's to the OMC 2 cylinder engine, more cylinders firing made for smoother operation.....I had both. So what part of that don't you understand. How can 2 cylinders idle more smoothly that a 4 cylinder engine, much less a 6 cylinder? Makes no sense! If fewer were better, why not just save a lot of assembly costs and just have one big cylinder? I had a couple of those....Mighty Mite 1.7 Hp and 1970's era Mercury 4 or 4.5 HP forget which when I had my smooth running 4 cyl. 85 HP Merc.....I fixed up a boat for the kids when they were old enough so when we went fishing they had their own rig. No way Jose!.......figure

 

[flyingscott]

No, comparing the Mercury 4 cylinder back in the 50's to the OMC 2 cylinder engine, more cylinders firing made for smoother operation.....I had both. So what part of that don't you understand. How can 2 cylinders idle more smoothly that a 4 cylinder engine, much less a 6 cylinder? Makes no sense! If fewer were better, why not just save a lot of assembly costs and just have one big cylinder? I had a couple of those....Mighty Mite 1.7 Hp and 1970's era Mercury 4 or 4.5 HP forget which when I had my smooth running 4 cyl. 85 HP Merc.....I fixed up a boat for the kids when they were old enough so when we went fishing they had their own rig. No way Jose!.......figure

No, comparing the Mercury 4 cylinder back in the 50's to the OMC 2 cylinder engine, more cylinders firing made for smoother operation.....I had both. So what part of that don't you understand. How can 2 cylinders idle more smoothly that a 4 cylinder engine, much less a 6 cylinder? Makes no sense! If fewer were better, why not just save a lot of assembly costs and just have one big cylinder? I had a couple of those....Mighty Mite 1.7 Hp and 1970's era Mercury 4 or 4.5 HP forget which when I had my smooth running 4 cyl. 85 HP Merc.....I fixed up a boat for the kids when they were old enough so when we went fishing they had their own rig. No way Jose!.......figure of speech.

Well I would imagine your 115 with all the jury rigging done to it doesnt idle all that great. When I hear people talk about the tower of power Smooth idle is not the first thing mentioned. More cylinders does not mean better idling , the best idling motors are the old OMC 2 cylinder outboards. 3 cylinders tend to idle better than 4 and so on. The 2+2 is an incredibly good idling motor when set up right. And if 4 cylinders idle better than 2 why did Mrrcury make it a 2+2? Considering what you did to your 2+2 I don't think I will take your opinion on good idling. But hey you be you.

 

[lgaytan]

Good deal, glad for you and disregard the noise on this thread about anything else.

Post a video of the first run and speaking from experience DO NOT bri g the family it is bad luck. Do alone or with a buddy that can fix stuff. Then the family.

Good advise, I bought this boat with 2 friends, so we'll make the first run together, unfortunately I'm the only one that can make any fix but at least the pressure of my wife and kid will not be there.

 

[flyingscott]

No, comparing the Mercury 4 cylinder back in the 50's to the OMC 2 cylinder engine, more cylinders firing made for smoother operation.....I had both. So what part of that don't you understand. How can 2 cylinders idle more smoothly that a 4 cylinder engine, much less a 6 cylinder? Makes no sense! If fewer were better, why not just save a lot of assembly costs and just have one big cylinder? I had a couple of those....Mighty Mite 1.7 Hp and 1970's era Mercury 4 or 4.5 HP forget which when I had my smooth running 4 cyl. 85 HP Merc.....I fixed up a boat for the kids when they were old enough so when we went fishing they had their own rig. No way Jose!.......figure of speech.

Well I bet you I can get a 50s OMC 25 hp to idle better than you can't get a 50s Mercury 4 cylinder 25 hp to idle.

 

[lgaytan]

Well I would imagine your 115 with all the jury rigging done to it doesnt idle all that great. When I hear people talk about the tower of power Smooth idle is not the first thing mentioned. More cylinders does not mean better idling , the best idling motors are the old OMC 2 cylinder outboards. 3 cylinders tend to idle better than 4 and so on. The 2+2 is an incredibly good idling motor when set up right. And if 4 cylinders idle better than 2 why did Mrrcury make it a 2+2? Considering what you did to your 2+2 I don't think I will take your opinion on good idling. But hey you be you.

Maybe the comparison is not fair but my old Merc 50 hp with 4 cylinder trolls and idles much better than my force 85hp 3 cylinder, it simply sound and feels smoother and more even, but I'm also aware that force is not as good as Mercury.