3 piston trim vs. single piston trim mercury

[johnmiffco]

the bass mid will break off the mounts
the 3 ram breaks at the pivot
and as stated lots of times the motor will kick up in rough conditions
single ram has beefier clamps,,,,thicker 1 piece tuner and offshore mid is thicker
iver ran offshore since the 80s,,,,,even with the offshore set ups I have broke off gearcases ,,,,,cracked mids
when using the the 260 offshore set ups,,,,,,,the offshore 280 mids are lots stronger than the offshore 260
the bass production fishing 3 ram is no comparison to the offshores

[Coryc]

So is it worth switching to a single piston trim and keeping the 2 piece plate and bass mid or waiting until I can get a one piece plate and offshore mid? Although I go in some rough water it's still just for recreational use.

[vnemous]

The three ram cylinder is held in with three bolts on each side on the clamps. These tend to break out of the clamp under hard running. Had that happen on my 250 efi on my challenger. Went to single ram for strength and piece of mind.

[90 5.0]

the bass mid will break off the mounts
the 3 ram breaks at the pivot
and as stated lots of times the motor will kick up in rough conditions
single ram has beefier clamps,,,,thicker 1 piece tuner and offshore mid is thicker
iver ran offshore since the 80s,,,,,even with the offshore set ups I have broke off gearcases ,,,,,cracked mids
when using the the 260 offshore set ups,,,,,,,the offshore 280 mids are lots stronger than the offshore 260
the bass production fishing 3 ram is no comparison to the offshores

Thats interesting, I did not know there was a difference between 260 and 280 offshore mids.

I have a 15" promax and a 15" 280 and never noticed any differences(but I wasn't trying either I just assumed the can and clamps were the same on all 15" offshore)

[johnmiffco]

280 is a lot different
as I stated breaking off the gearcase used to happen by breaking the studs out the mid
I have a 260 mid here that I lost gearcase last summer,,,,big hole in mid where stud nuts broke out mid flange
the 280 mid 1 piece tuner is thicker at the power head thus the 4 bolt instead of the 5 bolt wings
and at bottom at gearcase is lots thicker on the gearcase mounts

[Coryc]

Wow did not know that either. Looks like a 280 offshore is what to look for.

[90 5.0]

280 is a lot different
as I stated breaking off the gearcase used to happen by breaking the studs out the mid
I have a 260 mid here that I lost gearcase last summer,,,,big hole in mid where stud nuts broke out mid flange
the 280 mid 1 piece tuner is thicker at the power head thus the 4 bolt instead of the 5 bolt wings
and at bottom at gearcase is lots thicker on the gearcase mounts

Interesting, I wonder if it's also a year thing too. I need to look more carefully but it seems like the LU to can mounting is the same on my PM can to my 280 can.

[johnmiffco]

mounting bolt locations in the same location,,,,,at power head and at gearcase
260 to 280 wingplates changed from 5 bolt to 4
in offshore mid housings
the 2.4 ridgeback
to the 260
to the 280
every generation they got thicker,,,stronger,,,,and stud length changed for the thicker flanges
the powerhead studs changes in length through the genns,,,,,production studs,,,to longer studs the same length,even the short studs got longer for the thicker flanges
on 280 mid the studs by the water pump the housing is super thick there
that is where they were breaking studs out mid on ridge and 260 ,,,,then rest if studs sheer off and there goes gearcase to the bottom ,,,lol

and got to understand this was changed for offshore racing,,,,,,severe water conditions at high speeds
im running a triple 260 set up now
and only lost 1 geacase so far from the 260 mid set up
but using the 260 over the 280 for weight reasons
my 260s with ultra light cowls weigh 360 each window
vrsing 280 set up weighing 385,,,,,
difference is cowl,electronics,tuner,mid for the weight difference
the 75lbs lighter means a lot to me on my hull for wave jumping at high speeds for better balance

but any 2.5 boat going in rough conditions,,,,,,,should be using the offshore set up for peace of mind
and better handling with the big ram

[90 5.0]

Gotcha on all that, I swap gear cases around both mids a lot and seems like they have the same amount of bolt clearing the nut on both. Definitely gonna look at that again soon was just wondering if all the cans were built thicker after 280's came out. My supermag can is a 98'year

[johnmiffco]

again the gearcase bolts lengths are all the same,,,,,,
powerhead bolts lengths changes pr generation
production bass mid,,ridgeback and 260 all have a built in cavitation plate above the gearcase cavitation plate
its thin down there as cast flange is hollow as it rises,,,
the offshore 280 mid is straight/smooth at bottom / no cavitation plate and super thick/solid and flat below lower mount
this uses same length stud going through thick housing
I have all 4 mids here,,,,
production,ridge,260 and 280 can see all the differences when all together

[90 5.0]

the offshore 280 mid is straight/smooth at bottom / no cavitation plate and super thick/solid and flat below lower mount
this uses same length stud going through thick housing

thanks I just checked and my promax SS can is exactly like you are describing on the 280, my 280 is on the drag at the shop but I'll look at that area again tomorrow to double check but it sounds like my 98 SS has the exact same can as my 280 15".

It must be a year thing where they just said the heck with it and built all 15" the same after a certain time??

dont know but it is very interesting to hear all the differences that are out there. Thanks for the info I learned some new stuff today!

[Coryc]

Yes same here!!! So the best is to get a later year, correct?

[johnmiffco]

even a ridge is wayyyy stronger than a bass can
260 is stronger than ridge and of course the last design was the 280
yea 1nce they changed designs they were used on all offshore versions
can go by yr or by when they changed with the higher hp,,,,
ive been using hp as my reference
so all in preference and how used ridge lightest 280 heaviest
as stated ive stayed with the 260 style cowl and mid for lighter weight

[90 5.0]

even a ridge is wayyyy stronger than a bass can
260 is stronger than ridge and of course the last design was the 280
yea 1nce they changed designs they were used on all offshore versions
can go by yr or by when they changed with the higher hp,,,,
ive been using hp as my reference
so all in preference and how used ridge lightest 280 heaviest
as stated ive stayed with the 260 style cowl and mid for lighter weight

that makes sense, on my drag I don't have a 280 on the 280 can.
I have a Prostock 2.4 200(used to be a super stock before class combination changes) Bridgeport adapter plate and 260 cowl with a custom Tarver performance clamp and jack bracket to save as much weight as possible.

My 280 adapter plate I took off is much bigger thicker and heavier than the Bridgeport I put I its place,I do however miss the 5 bolt set up as the wing plates seem to flex a lot now

[johnmiffco]

that's what was nice about mercs v6 2.0-2.5 program
from 1976 till the end parts interchanged
mismatch ur own combo for application
kept the bolt patterns the same and retooled the parts to still fit older versions with some finessing
production to F1