Any experience w/ 4-cylinder, 2-stroke 40hp Mercury OB?

[DaleH]

With the 4 cylinders, I hear these are very smooth and quiet motors for 2-strokes, with a really big power band. She's a '97 that's also oil injected. Some other boards say they are the same block as the Merc 50 & 60hps and that she probably puts out more like 45hp, or at least is supposed to be a very strong OB.

Anyone have any direct experience?

I also did hear that the waterpumps were a weak point (smaller impeller) so I'll be sure to change that out ...

 

[TNtroller]

No experience with a the 40, but I had an '04 60 2s oil injected 4 cyclinder on a Tracker PT175, no issues or complaints about the 60. Ran like a top, was a bit on the cold blooded side at times, but I think Merc 2s are just cold blooded. If the motor is in good shape, and compression checks out, etc., would be a good motor. I did not consider my 60 2s a "quiet" motor, it was not loud compared to others I heard, but my 60 4s is definitely a "quiet" running motor. but most if not all 4s are quiet running motors.

 

[DaleH]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[turbotodd]

Been around a couple 40 Magnums (Mariner). Twin carb, 4 cylinder IIRC. Cold natured pigs. Smokers I called them as they were known to smoke heavily until they were warmed up. Kinda like the old inline 6's. They sound good, but quiet....they are nowhere near quiet. Loud engine, IMO. Try screamandfly .com. SOme of those guys know those motors. Some of the duck hunters out here know them too but they don't let out any info.

Edit: I remember them being quieter at idle but wide open they were pretty noisy.

 

[earl60446]

Got one buddy with the merc 40, 4 cylinder and one buddy with a mariner 40 4 cylinder. Both are very hard starting, even when warm. Mariner has been retired to a parts dealer now, owners spent more time cussing at them than fishing.
Tim

 

[DaleH]

Got one buddy with the merc 40, 4 cylinder and one buddy with a mariner 40 4 cylinder. Both are very hard starting, even when warm.

Yes, I've seen a few posts in that regard. But luckily I believe I have a good one, as it has always started on the 1st turn of the key. And it did so after 2-years storage ... properly stored :wink: of course. I recall about 4-years ago I had put in new controls for the woman who owned the skiff and remember how easy she started, just turn the key and she'd purrrrrrr ...

 

[user 13737]

My cousin has one on his jon/duck boat and has ran it for many, many years - its need a few odds and ends - exhaust housing gasket (water in housing blew out gasket when frozen after duck hunting), replace plastic pieces on throttle linkage, r/r and sync carbs

always starts easily, runs great, noisy/loud but runs great