Mercury info needed

[fireattackvdf335]

Anyone have any info on a 1995 Mercury 225? Were they decent motors if maintained properly? Any issues with this year Mercury? Hammer, do you have a picture of one? Thanks for any help you guys can provide.

[Airslot]

About as solid as they get. I think that you'll find good reviews of mid 90's outboards from all major manufacturers. By then they have the carbs and oiling issues qorked out. Merc, Yammy, and JohhnyRude all put out good motors in those years. JMO YMMV

[fireattackvdf335]

Thanks Air, that is helpful! Sometimes turds are produced like the Ficht (rumor) that I want to know about before I invest $ in a used outboard.

(I'm gonna remind you of your invitation in a few weeks. Thanks again and hope that you are catching some!!)

[reelapeelin]

I caught some...got a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get rid of 'em ::) ...

[Airslot]

Invite is still there. If we get a sunny day or two I think the bite will be red hot by the weekend. I fully intend to find out either way ;D

[dragn3]

fireattackvdf335 i presume that you are a fire fighter? volunteer department or paid? i have a 96 merc and so far i am tickled pink with it.

[fireattackvdf335]

Commissioned Forest Warden (State) and 1st LT. Volunteer.

Thanks for the feedback on your engine, I appreciate it!

[Seacrets]

Had a 96 225 carburated. The 3.0 liter is a good, strong engine. Never any problems in 800 hrs. Sold the boat three years ago and the motor is still running great.

[reelapeelin]

Mercs are GREAT motors ... it's the plastic gear in the auto-oiler that fails that worries me...disco the oiler and she'll run FOREVER ;D ...

[dragn3]

disco the oiler? r ya meaning get rid of it? what do ya do mix the oil in the gas? i noticed the alarm wires (i think thats what the are there is two of them connected to the bottom of the oil tank) are disconected on mine and when i connect them a alarm sounds continously.

[reelapeelin]

disco the oiler? r ya meaning get rid of it? what do ya do mix the oil in the gas? i noticed the alarm wires (i think thats what the are there is two of them connected to the bottom of the oil tank) are disconected on mine and when i connect them a alarm sounds continously.



Yep...of course it boils down to personal opinion I guess...but I'd do it and mix in a heartbeat ;) ...get Accu-Mix (or similar) mixin' bottle...makes it REEL easy ... $3.99 8) ... I did it for years ;) ...

...specially if yer already havin' problems w/alarms...

[macojoe]

I have a friend that has a merc that has the same problem, oiler sounds all the time, he to cut the wires.

I told him what I am going to tell you now,

FIX THE DAM THING!

Its bad enough that there is no way to tell when the oiler fails under way till the motor blows! (Been there done that :'( ) Let alone to have a safty sounder disconnected! What you think its there for??

All my motors will be disconnected for now on!

I have no idea why people say OMG you have to mix :o ?? It takes you extra 1 min to do it using the mix bottle that reel mention, I got mine for $4

[phatdaddy]

dragn3, it is probally the sending unit to let you know if the tank is out of oil. these tend to fail in the mercs, not a hard fix, but you have to buy the whole assy, you can't just change the sending unit. mj's right though, if your gonna use the system, all components have to be working. more important to me is the changing out of the hoses in the system. i have had 3 failures( 1 Johnson, 2 merc) due to split or rotten hoses. pump was pumping, oil was in tanks so no alarms went off, but the oil was going into the cowling pan not the carbs. My merc is 13 years old 1100 hrs and i still use the oiler. i worry but i still use it.

[reelapeelin]

Phat...that's the kinda stuff that lead me to a conclusion: if the motor ain't under warranty, DISCONNECT the auto-oiler and go to MIXIN' ;) ... TOO many false readings and other failures you'll never detect til yer motor is FRIED :o ...mix it and yer SURE ;) ... and SURE won't leave ya out on the water w/a rebuild waitin' on ya on the shore ;D ...

[phatdaddy]

yeah your probaly right. i think 80% of the people that keep a 2 cycle over 5 years disconnect it. there are 3 or 4 guys that i fish with and i am the only hold out. all i know is i seem to have less problem with carbs needing cleaning and a smoother running engine. of course, i'd rather rebuild a carb than a powerhead........

one day you'll see a post "OK RAP You were Right!!!

[Seacrets]

If you premix your Merc, you'll be cleaning your plugs on a regular basis. They'll foul if you troll alot. I've replaced one sensor on one Merc. My last four motors were Mercs in the 150-225 hp range and I've trusted the pumps on all of them. You're looking at a 1995 which isn't the first generation of VRO. If you're worried, buy a four stroke and eliminate the potential problem. I had over 800 hrs on a 225 with no problems and an 86 with the original pump still hooked up. It's personal preference. Good lluck.

[Airslot]

I trust the pump on my 88' Merc 150

[THEFERMANATOR]

My dad was a half owner of a PRO-LINE 231 that had a 225HP CARB'D MERC on the back. The whole package was a 97 I believe. The engine ran great, was pretty good on fuel to boot. We could run 70 miles out(about a 170 mile round trip) and back on 125 gallons. But it had the oil injection on it and it was a thirsty SOB. It had a 3.4 gallon tank and would easily go through the whole tank with fuel still left in the tank. We always carried extra oil with us. And it would load up SEVERELY at idle and trolling with the oil injection and QUICKSILVER oil in it. That was our only dislike about it was it's thirst for oil and loading up at low speeds.

[phatdaddy]

sounds like it was over pumping the oil. there is a calibration adjustment for the pump. you are supposed to pump a certain amount @ 1000rpm for 1 minute. more or less by turning a screw. 125 gallons of gas @ 50 to 1 is 2.5 gallons of oil @ WOT.

[fireattackvdf335]

Good stuff, everyone, thanks!!!!!! So, if these motors tend to load up after trolling for awhile I should firewall it every hour or so - I could do that... ;D I had a late 70's 40hp Merc years ago and I loved the sound it made at WOT!! I don't know if it loaded up trolling or not cause I ran it WFO or it was off. ;)

Thanks again for the feedback!

[Airslot]

Fire, I wouldn't say they "tend to load up", cause mine will troll all day long and run just fine afterwards. I think alot of it has to do with the tune and calibration of the engine.

[fireattackvdf335]

I would really look forward to "having to" firewall it though... haha "Honey, stop screaming, I have to clean the engine out!"

Thanks Air for sharing your experience with your Merc, that helps alot.

[Airslot]

3" of rain might get you off fire watch? Then I can prove it to you ;)

[fireattackvdf335]

Dang right, it's getting close!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to it!! ;D

[macojoe]

May be 5" here?? :'(

[Airslot]

You on high ground MJ?