New vs Old Two-Stroke Outboards

gandy

gandy

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Hi,

Could anyone give an opinion as to how much better a new Mercury/Mariner/Tohatsu motor would be, compared to an old (1986) Merc 2.2 with contact breaker ignition?

Our motor's "ok", but still pretty temperamental. I just wondered whether stuff like electronic ignition and maybe other changes makes the new models dramatically better, or whether they would only be better because they're new and unworn.

With the proposed ban on two-stroke sales, I'm wondering whether we should replace the motor this year, maybe with a 3.3 to get the neutral gear.
 
I had a mariner 2 stroke and the reliability of starting was impressive, even on old petrol. eventually it corroded beyond repair at age 15 - they are not everlasting like seagulls but are deffo a much better motor
 
The Merc 3.3 I had, started second pull every time with the breakerless CD ignition. I'm not sure that there have been many other significant mechanical changes, but buying a new one before they become extinct would seem to be a smart move if the existing one is a bit tired. Having the neutral gear is a big plus.

dv.
 
FWIW, I wouldn't be without neutral on a small 2 stroke. They don't like ticking over at the best of times so revs often have to slightly high and the prop is driving. A 3.3 with neutral sounds like a good idea.
 
Same here, have a Johnson 3.3 about 9 years old (hell, I've had it THAT long!) it has electronic ignition. On our summer cruise it was taken off the push pit for the first time this year, where it has lived since last summer. With a tank of fresh petrol it started 3rd pull!

Get a 2 stroke while you can, less moving parts, less to go wrong.
 
We've had a Tohatsu 3.5 for 11 years now and it's never given a moments trouble. It's been flushed through a couple of times a year, the gearbox oil has been changed every 2 years and the spark plug 3 times since new! If it doesn't start on the first pull it always does on the second.

Highly recommended and utterly reliable. We're considering buying another one before the year's out to beat the ban.
 
The move from contact breakers to solid state ignition is a significant improvement
No maintainance, and better tolerance to moisture. HT is better too requiring less initial RPM to generate a big fat spark.
 
Iv'e just made the move from a Mercury 2 stroke to a Yamaha 4 stroke, trust me the Yamaha is great, the only downside is that you can only lay it down on one side, but as its mounted it wont matter.
Dont do another 2.....get a four stroke!! Lean burn, quiet and if your a tree hugger, better for the environment. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tom /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I moved from the merc 2t to a couple of yamaha 4hp 4strokes,, after one season I got rid of the 4 strokes and went back to 2 strokes - Merc 3.3s. The change to 4 stroke was a big mistake due to the weight of them and having to store them either upright or on one side only. I now run the merc 3.3 again and no problems - starts first time (or sometimes second) runs on last seasons fuel, not that there is much left after the kids have their fun in the tenders.

I am considering another 2 stroke to "mothball" for future use.

If permenantly mounted on a transom or in an utboard well then by all means go for a 4 stroke but for use as a "putt-putt" for pushing the tender forget the 4 stroke and stay with the 2 stroke. All IMHO having had both types and am now happily back with a reliable, easy to store and easy to manhandle onto the tender type 2 stroke.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
I bought a s/h suzi DT2 in 93 (£175), starts 1st time every time. I have only had one starting problem about eight years ago which was caused by the points - I didn't know where they were and thought it was contactless ignition /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Previous to that I had a Merc 3.3 (or there abouts), it was a begger to start, would stall on me, then be a bigger B to restart.
 
Cliff
I went for the 2.5 for the tender I agree with you that the 4hp one is heavy and to give credit where it is due Barnet Marine advised me of the fact and stated that many females find it so. Thats why I went for the smaller much lighter 2.5.
I have to say that I am very pleased so far and I do store it upright.
I have never had a 2.2 Merc that I was happy with

Tom
 
I certainly am not a female nor a 7 stone weakling but after the novelty of the 4 stroke wore off even I was becoming disgruntled with the weight. I never tried the 2.5 so cannot comment but the storage was also a hassle I was not prepared to put up with especially as I had one of the 4 strokes hydraulic doe to oil in the bore even with being careful how to lay them down. Fortunately no. 2 sprog tried to start it but could not turn it over so called me to check it - Had I been the one to start it I would probably done a lot of damage to the engine.

All things considered I am very happy with the 3.3 2 stroke mercs and will nurse them along - should see my sailing days out!

As I said if for a "fixed" installation then by all means go for a 4 stroke but not if lifting of a tender and storing either on the pushpit or in a locker. You get more hp per Kg with the 2 strokes.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
i bought a mariner 2.5hp last week from my local chandler and i went in this morning for a mooring buoy and came out with a mariner 3.3hp as it was the last one he had and i got a good price.
these two should last me the next 20yrs or so..
 
Alternatively.

Get a 2-stroke while you can. They use so little fuel you will never spend the savings over an equivalent 4-stroke motor.

Edit - OK rash statement - I would never spend the savings, and I'm on a swinging mooring, and my daugher likes to go for a spin for the hell of it from time to time in the dighy.

2-stroke water cooled MILES quieter than a popular air cooled 4-stroke, and less jarring mechanical whirring than all other 4-strokes.

Much less energy used to manufacture a 2-stoke than a 4-stroke - if you are a tree hugger.

Also 2-strokes:

Use no more 2-stroke oil / year than a 4-stroke uses sump oil / year, and you are far less likely to spill in transit.

Easier to start, far more firing strokes / pull, and lighter pull on the cord needed. Wimin and children find them far easier.

Hp/Hp 2-stroke is lighter, and likely to have better mid-range power, and better top end torque (recent tests in PBO proved).
 
I and many here have said often - 2 strokes are lighter, more oomph per kg and generally cheaper. Easy to maintain, don't give a monkeys which way you lay them down as long as not upside down.
SWMBO can start them ...

I for one will continue to run 2's till I have sheeted my last sail !! If necessary buying s/hands if new not available.

There are plenty of good s/hand ones out there from service agents etc. My Mariner 2.5 has given fab service since buying as a s/hand deal from a local yard ...... that was a number of years ago ... only service was to blow out the waterways ...
 
I've had the 2 stroke Mariner 2hp - great little engine but the waterways eventually bloked due to lack of flushing on my part, then 4 stroke Honda 2hp - too heavy & too noisy, sold it after 2 years. Now have the Mariner 3.3, 2 stroke with neutral gear. Only down side is it's water cooled (unlike the Honda) so you really need to flush through regularly for a long life. I broke the plastic gear lever when I went over a sleeping policeman with engine lying on its side in the boot of the car and lever down. Supplier replace lever under warranty but advised to always transport in car with tiller side down. Otherwise I'm very happy with the engine, it starts first pull every time. This is my second season with it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I broke the plastic gear lever when I went over a sleeping policeman with engine lying on its side in the boot of the car and lever down.

[/ QUOTE ] So that makes it a lot better than a 4 stroke then? Not arguing about it's value and usefullness, but that seems to be a lot of forumite's main plank of reasoning for choosing a 2 stroke "you can chuck it in the boot/locker any way"
 
You can! but a little padding or should one say common sense is needed. ANY ob laid down on a hard surface on its gear shift is liable to break the gear shift. The difference is with a 4 stroke not only are you liable to bust the shift lever but also loose the oil out of the sump.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
[ QUOTE ]
... Dont do another 2.....get a four stroke!! Lean burn, quiet and if your a tree hugger, better for the environment. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tom /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ] I think I'm settled on a two stroke, although it's alway worth hearing other opinions. A few people in the Bay have Honda outboards and seem happy with them, but they must be outnumbered about 10:1 by the Merc/Mar/Toh two strokes. The small Hondas are noisy, like a lawnmower engine.

I probably count as a tree-hugger, but on purely environmental grounds buying anything made in Japan is a pretty bad idea. I reckon I will use max 10 litres a year in the Merc, or similar. Supposing I change to a 4-stroke and cut that by (say) four litres a year. How many years to break even on the damage done by Mr Honda in making my new engine?
 
Thats the great thing about this forum.............we all have opinions?

One point that I will make is that my Yamaha water cooled 4 stroke is it is much quieter than my old Mercury 2 stroke!

You pays your money and takes your chances. me,........ I know which I prefer!

Tom
 
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