Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

[moseslake]

Just curious what engine would perform the best. Assuming conditions were identical.(year, hull, weight, water condition, ect.)

 

[JB]

Re: Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

That's a Ford/Chebby question, moseslake. With only two possible answers you will get at least six.<br /><br />My answer is the one that is most ideally rigged and propped.<br /><br />Five to go.

 

[OperativeK]

Re: Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

Wow just when I was thinking of starting this very subject. I have both a 1971 merc 1350 and a Johnson 1973 135. I was more or less wanting to know the likes vs dislikes of each though.<br /><br />I rebuilt the Merc last season and just finished the Johnson recently. I am not sure I have the Johnson running just right yet but they both seem to be good runners. I like the Merc because it is an easy starter, has been reliable, and is easy to understand system(electrical). What I guess is the only bad thing bout the Merc is it is louder (I like the looks of the Merc better). The Johnson has been good so far but doesn't seem to be as easy starter until it is warmed up, and plus it seems to flood easy, though it is nice and quite we can easily hold a conversation and drive around. Don't like the thermostat and cooling system even though it has a tell tale this was a modification by the original owners(Johnson).<br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/Johnson135TaleTell/photos/photo2.jpg <br /> The thermostat system in the Johnson restricts flow of water to the head covers tell it warms normally but I removed the check valve allowing for better flow. I also installed the next years base plate for the impeller which blocks the return water flow and provides better water pressure for the block now, plus the modification of the tell tale with the cooling system that restricts flow to the heads prior to the head covers with the return flow system I don't think was good without having a free flowing system without the stat. (just my amature boat motor mechanic analysis.) These are the first two boat motors I have owned and worked on, just FYI.<br /><br />The Mercontrol unit only had three teeth on the control lever and those broke leaving me to modify the unit. Also the starter bracket was broken on the Merc and I had to customize that a bit. I still need to also replace or fix the clutch dog since reverse is slipping. I kinda add this stuff up to short sightedness on the engineer who designed it got all the important stuff right but kinda looked past the small details. All in all though I really like my Merc. I would most likely run with it if I didn't have the wife and kids liking the other so much. Also the tilt trim system is much stronger on the Merc.<br /> <br />Erverthing seems to work just like it should with the Johnson. No gear problems or control unit problems. I guess to be fair you would have to know the history of both units to fairly compare them but I don't know the complete history of either. I did find alot of easy mechanical mistakes with the Merc that the original owner should have spotted though, ex the fuel pump diaghram was never installed correctly and fuel was leaking into crank.<br /><br />What I presume lead to the scorred pistons and need of the rebuild of both was: In the case of the Johnson poor cooling, In the case of the Merc the fuel diaghram leak.<br /><br />The Johnson (the recent rebuild)<br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/johnson135.wmv <br /><br />The Merc:<br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/Boat_0002.wmv <br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/highspeed.wmv (my 4yr old in the back)<br /><br />Pictures of the Merc starter bracket modification due to break prior to me owning it.<br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/boatproject/photos/photo6.jpg <br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/boatproject/photos/photo7.jpg <br />Was easy fix once I realized how to do it.<br /><br />Boat prior to all work with Johnson:<br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/boatproject/photos/photo10.html <br /><br />The Merc:<br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/boatproject/photos/photo14.html <br /> http://opk.gotdns.org/boatingdays/photos/photo15.jpg <br /><br />All in all they both push my boat top speed around the 30 - 35 mph. Props are probably different and the modifcation in the control unit of the Merc doesn't allow me to get it up to 6000 rpm. I haven't gotten the tach working on the johnson yet so not sure what rpm I have been running at with WOT.<br /><br />I love the Merc though its loud, and the Johnson is growing on me and still learning the ins and outs of the solid state ignition system, family really likes it, seems to give the better family boating experience.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

I had a '72 Johnny 125 and any red banded Merc that wanted to could whop up on me.<br /><br />Mark

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

i have a 71 1350, wish it was a johnny/rude. because of noise but it's a great motor.

 

[DJ]

Re: Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

That Evin. needs the thermostats and reliefs to operate properly. Without them, you will have hot and cold spots in the combustion chambers. That will lead to premature failure.<br /><br />Also, the rubber diverters, under the head plates, MUST be there.<br /><br />Also, without a tach., you can't judge. The Evin needs to be able to turn 5500 (min) with a light load.<br /><br />Don't judge all V-4's by the 135. That engine never did idle very well and it probably wasn't 135 HP. The 85 and 115, of that vintage, were better performers, in my book.<br /> <br />My experience with V-4's vs. in-lines is:<br /><br />85 John. v. 950 Merc. The 85 would outpull/ outrun and you could hear yourself think.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Evinrude 135 V-4 vs. Mercury 135 inline 6

When we raced the V4 crossflow we never met an inline Merc we weren't faster than. Same rules as to mods, same weight. Pretty much as even as it gets. Now granted, it wasn't much but we were still faster.<br /><br />V4 loopers weren't allowed in the circle race class. They were allowed in that drag class. A V4 looper vs. an in-line Merc wasn't even close to fair.