Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

[kcole683]

Anyone have any experience with the light weight 4 strokes by Merc,Tohatsu and Nissan?<br /><br />Thinking about a new motor in the 9.9 hp range. I know the three engines are identical.The Mercury has the multi control tiller handle that I like but costs more.<br /><br />I would like to have a 4 stroke and as light as possible these engines seem to fit the bill.<br /><br />I have a 2 cylinder 2 stroke 8 HP merc now. Will these four strokes run as smoothly as my 2 stroke Merc at idle/trolling speed?<br /><br />Anyone with any info on these motors please respond.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

beats me, they are all made by Tohatsu now I think rumors they are going to shift production to the new china facility that brunswick opened. but they do seem to be very smooth and very reliable. at least so far.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

They're about the weight of a 2-stroke 9.9, made by Tohatsu which Merc owns a bunch of. The 30 thru 60 efi 4-strokes are being (as we speak) made in China. 25 and below is made by Tohatsu. Fond du Lac is making 75 and up. Those 9.9s are sweet motors! Probobably not the strongest 9.9 on the market. But it's quiet, lightweight, and idles smoother than most.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

The four-stroke Tohatsu is smoother than any two-stroke in the same size, including the two-stroke Tohatsu 8. Tohastu just moved into their new Japanese plant in February of last year. There is no way they will build anything with their name on it in China. Other than Mercury asking Tohatsu for advice about how to resolve the production problems in China, Tohatsu has not been involved with it. The current 30 and below from Mercury are Tohatsu's with decal changes. The shift/throttle handle that Mercury designed and insisted on being put on their labled engine is problematic and Mercury is now offering a retro kit to convert it to the Tohatsu designed front shift. The Mercury 9.9 2-stroke that was sold in the U.S. was not a Tohatsu. I think Mercury built those themselves...At least I remember it that way <br /><br />On a side note, the Tohatsu 2-stroke 9.9 was a bit heavy at 86 lbs...But, since it was a detuned 15, most people would change the throttle cam and turn it into the 15 hp.

 

[kcole683]

Re: Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

I have the throttle shift control handle on my merc 8hp 2 stroke and have not had any problems. What kinds of problems are you refering to?<br /><br />And Thanks for the replies all.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

It's always been problematic...Much more so than any lever system. Cable breakage, lower unit gear damage and accidents occur with some frequency. That's not to say that it happens that often, just that it happens a lot more often with that system. It is a very convenient feature. It's just not as reliable.

 

[ratracer]

Re: Light Weight 4 Strokes Merc/Tohatsu/Nissan

I have a Tohatsu 9.8 4-stroke w/remote that I use as my kicker/troller. <br /><br />Compared to my Johnson 9.9 2 stroke, the Tohatsu is smoother and much quieter at idle. At higher RPMS the Tohatsu does vibrate more than the Johnson but its nowhere near the point where I find it objectionable. <br /><br />At this point in time, if I had to do it over again I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.