2010 mercury 225 pro xs

[Jhenson86]

I know this is a dangerous question but fishenwrench,what are you thoughts on this engine? Or any one else for that matter. I am looking at buying a nitro z-8 with this set up. Engine has 115 hrs on it 110 of them being at less then 1500 rpm .

[nomolites]

So this motor has just primarily been idled...?  Not likely.  I’d bet you couldn’t maintain plane at less than 2300.

Mike

[Jhenson86]

Showed me the pic of the reading off the motor. Clearly states 115 and breaks down the rpm range.

[Gumboot]

That's a bunch of idling around trolling and/or looking at electronics.

[fishinwrench]

Sounds like a Pomme de terre/ Smithville / Jacomo boat.   Pretty common.   

If you want my personal feelings about it I can go off into a rant about how rediculous it is to buy a boat with a 225 on it to fish farm ponds.  But hey, some guys have plenty of money and want a big stable boat with plenty of storage to fish out of.  And it's hard to find a big boat without a big motor.

If you put any faith at all in Mercury's ProXS technology and design then there shouldn't be any problem with it.   The motor was designed to operate efficiently at all RPM ranges, right?   Carbon buildup shouldn't be an issue, and if I was buying a lower unit used then THAT would be the one I would want.   

The belief that 2-strokes are designed to be run wide open all the time is BS, and always has been.   

If you like it then buy it.   The odds that it will chuck a rod out the side of it, puke a compressor, or alternator, are no greater than any of it's brothers and sisters. 

The only thing it may suffer slightly from is aged fuel.   Hopefully the owner didn't keep the gas tank full of 3 month old gas all the time.

[Jhenson86]

I have been waiting for your opinion. I don’t really know why other then I know you know a lot about all engines. I wanted your opinion on this engine to make myself feel better.  truth is I bought the boat. If you recall I had the motor that caught fire from the regulators this weekend. I can’t keep dumping money into that boat. But buying a new to me boat makes me nervous because it’s a lot of hard earned money. Just wanting to get the good and bad of this motor. I have been dealing with a 91 motor for 10 years. I was worried about it having such low hrs. I have heard if it sits it’s just as hard on them as being run hard. I feel like I stole this boat just don’t know much about the motor. Any insight would be appreciate. Wrench thanks for all you do on this forum!

[snagged in outlet 3]

@fishinwrench hooking up guys on the internet for years!!!   Way to go Wrench.  Wish I could help some people out like that.  

[fishinwrench]

21 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

@fishinwrench hooking up guys on the internet for years!!!   Way to Wrench.  Wish I could help some people out like that.  

I'm sure you help out plenty.  

As I've said before, I routinely put you all through alot of crap.  If I wasn't able to be helpful occasionally you'd have booted me out long ago.  😊

[Jhenson86]

Wrench what what would yo do if you were buying a boat with this motor? 

[fishinwrench]

14 minutes ago, Jhenson86 said:

Wrench what what would yo do if you were buying a boat with this motor? 

Just for the sake of knowing that all is as it should be......

Drain the fuel tank, kill weeds with what is in there, and refuel with fresh 87% (no additives whatsoever).

Drain the vapor separator, change the fuel filter, and pump a quart of fresh fuel through the VS, then put the plug back in, clean/dry up the mess of fuel you just made, and prime until the VS is full again.

Hook up a voltmeter and fire it up on the hose. Make sure the charging system is doing its job, and that the battery isn't on its last leg.  Pay attention to the alternator mounts and compressor belt tensioner.....if anything is shaking around or rattling then deal with it. (Common issue on the ProXS and Opti's).

If all seems good, then refresh the water pump,change the gear lube, install fresh spark plugs.....and take it to the lake.