Most reliable consumer V6 two stroke ever made?

2.5 200 was on my first STV. I was 18 years old and a total hammerhead who had motocross in my veins. We drilled the exhaust, blocked off the oil injection, milled .020 off the heads, LWP nosecone, solid mounts and added a set of reeds the day I got it. That motor spent more time at 7K then any motor ever should, I couldn't get enough time in that boat cold weather didn't matter-still some of my best memories but I was just young, dumb, and out for fun. Back then 97 mph was king of our lake and then the Bridgeport showed up (bolted one on to my 2nd STV in 1990)-the rest is history.

The only motor I might have put more time on was my 35hp evinrude that was bolted to my 13 whaler from age 6 to 14.

The third would be my third boat that I got when I was 11. 235 Johnson modified by Alex Hledin (not really mine but I was the only one who ran it-my dad took it on trade and I was lucky enough for him to keep it until I got my first STV in 1988). The 235 used up lots of fuel "I mean stupid amounts of fuel", lots of starters, and a few jackplate motors. The Skater ran 81 mph and was howler with drilled exhaust, LWP, port work, heads were tightened, and velocity stacks to add to the noise factor. I learned all of this at a really young age hanging around Skater back when Alex was there with Pete full time. This was Pete's personal Skater in 1981 and we got it early 1982.

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Joe

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Originally Posted by skialot2

In reality, if you are using them as a fishing motor, all the consumer outboards are very reliable. Especially the carbed ones WITHOUT oil injection. Not much to go wrong. But, if you are going to be running hard all the time. Nothing beats a carbed 2.5 Merc. Super reliable and parts are readily available.

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I think this is mostly what I'm getting at with the original post... are carbs actually more reliable than efi? I know they're simpler, but I have had the opposite experience. Carbs always seem to gum up and can lean out a cylinder. What are your thoughts?

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Originally Posted by rdoaner

I think this is mostly what I'm getting at with the original post... are carbs actually more reliable than efi? I know they're simpler, but I have had the opposite experience. Carbs always seem to gum up and can lean out a cylinder. What are your thoughts?

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I think the carb motors are more reliable just because there is less electronics to go bad. I cannot stress the importance of good clean fuel. I have cleaned an uncountable number of carbs. Always for the same reason. Dirty gas/ improper storage. Add Fuel stabilizer and run gas out of carbs for storage and something like seafoam in the tank every once in a while, works really well. If your carbs are gumming up during use, it's coming from your fuel tank. Injectors can gum up too. When they do they require professional cleaning. This is just my opinion. I am sure some of the experts will chime in about this.

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Originally Posted by pcrussell50

It cannot be over emphasized, how true this is.

I’m quite sure the carby 2.5 Merc V6 is the pinnacle of this, even though I’ve never had one and only been boating for just shy of 15 years.

But the 2.0/2.4 family is what I blundered into by accident early on, after not knowing anything about Merc V6’s, (it’s the girl I came to the dance with, so to speak). And it has yet to let me down or give reason to move on.

If my 2.0/2.4 family ever lets me down, on the good word of you gobblers here at S’n’F, I’ll probably move into 2.5’s.

-Peter

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Your 2.0/2.4 purchase is not a blunder. Both super reliable. The 2.4 is chrome bore. Works great. Just cant be bored out. Needs to be sleeved. The 2.0 is basically the same motor as the 2.4 with smaller pistons in steel sleeves. After around 1992 The 2.0 is based on the 2.5. So it is just as reliable. Maybe even slightly more because it has thicker cylinder walls.

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Originally Posted by rdoaner

I think this is mostly what I'm getting at with the original post... are carbs actually more reliable than efi? I know they're simpler, but I have had the opposite experience. Carbs always seem to gum up and can lean out a cylinder. What are your thoughts?

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I don’t let my carbs get gummed up. Same with lawn mower, leaf blower and weed wacker. Stabilizer in the last tank of the season, drain the carbs after the last run (super easy on a V6 Merc). The jets come out with the drain screws. make sure the jets are clear before re installing. Almost couldn’t be easier.

Edit to add… Got nothing at all against EFI. In fact, I like EFI. The collector in me wants one. I’d probably snatch up a 2.4 or 2.5 EFI if one came along for the right price, Just to have it. But keeping my carbs clean has been easy peasy, and thus has given me no practical reason to switch to something else.

-Peter

To be very specific, Merc 2.4L 1980 225. Would still be running today if I didn't do something stupid. Tore the heads off many times just to inspect only to find no problem, couldn't believe it. . The engine was always driven hard for 40+ years. Put it on the shelf for a few years, went back into service, never a problem.

Started life on a Glasstron Carlson, then 3 different Hydrostreams.

I would buy another one tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Dd24skater

To be very specific, Merc 2.4L 1980 225.

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agree.... my first real hot rod.. ona really short kober kat!!! was a real ride way back when.......................

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Originally Posted by Dd24skater

To be very specific, Merc 2.4L 1980 225. Would still be running today if I didn't do something stupid. Tore the heads off many times just to inspect only to find no problem, couldn't believe it. . The engine was always driven hard for 40+ years. Put it on the shelf for a few years, went back into service, never a problem.

Started life on a Glasstron Carlson, then 3 different Hydrostreams.

I would buy another one tomorrow.

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The 1979 Mercury 200 HP is the first motor I hurt with too much compression and not enough octane.

I remember sending parts to California to be ceramic coated, like the exhaust divider plate, milling the heads,

So I bought my first OMC 235hp, took off the never-run powerhead, and drove it to Michigan to get ported by an OMC factory team

member for MVP racing, I stuck a few pistons in those also, not the motor's fault operators , not enough octane :cheers:

You guys finish arguing and I will show you why the V-6 OMC Looper is king.

Hint, got find all the running motors of your choice, cont them, and well compare notes.

If the question is most reliable two stroke V6...ever made....I would have to vote for the 1976 and early 1977 OMC cross flows. (Pre high ring pistons) I have seen several of those that just would not die. Friend of mine owned one and that poor motor got used and abused and never failed to run.

This is 2 hrs from me.

https://sandusky.craigslist.org/bpo/...725992801.html

These things are like the small block Chevys and 318 Chryslers.

Keep clean oil in em and they run forever.

The ‘88 - ‘92 loopers didn’t make enough compression to hurt them selves and never die.

In ‘93, as this one is listed, got finger ports and better trim.

Its 25” but that’s easy to fix.

Put late era carbs on it, fill the exhaust bleeds, install 2.7 heads and you’d have 230+ hp.

Like all of the old motors, the ignition is the weak link.

You can do power pack, stator and coils for a $1k.

Pull it down, open the exhaust ports and raise them to 1.650” and you now have 300 hp, 7k rpm motor for next to nothing.

Being steel sleeve motors, you can burn down a hole and buy a gallon of muratic acid at Home Depot to eat the piston off the sleeve, run a hone through it, $150 for a piston, rings and head gasket and your back on the water the next day!

2 liter 150 Mercury. You really had to do something wrong to wound one of those, or be a non maintenance dickhead.

There's probably a difference between the "toughest" and the "most reliable"... but those 2L are like a Timex watch!

"Takes a licking and keeps on ticking!" :cheers:

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Originally Posted by David - WI

There's probably a difference between the "toughest" and the "most reliable"... but those 2L are like a Timex watch!

"Takes a licking and keeps on ticking!" :cheers:

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I have an OG 1976 2.0 175 in my yard now. Still runs great.