Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

[jmj120]

Do the "high performance" reeds help? One company advertises better mileage, smoother idle, more power. Anybody got any opinions?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

Do the "high performance" reeds help? One company advertises better mileage, smoother idle, more power. Anybody got any opinions?

Good reeds are needed for idle. At speed it doesn't make much difference. If you don't change the cages, just the reeds, don't expect any miracles.

The one thing the glass reeds give you is piece of mind. They seem to be much more digestible if the motor eats one.

hope it helps
John

 

[jmj120]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

Thanks John. The more I run this engine the more I think someone might have bored her. It had racing power packs and it looks like both heads have been off at some point.
It just seems really fast for a stock 150. Maybe just being the 2.5 is the difference. The last 150 I had was on a Randlecraft and was a Black Max.
This one is on an old Legend. I've had it to 65 MPH gps before it got a little squirrelly, but was only turning 5100 RPM and still gaining speed.
It's running a 24 pitch four blade. I've got a 21 pitch 4 blade on the way. I'm not interested in going much over 55 mph.......

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

Boring a 2 stroke engine does not add any noticable hp...and the racing packs give a better idle,hole shot and a little on top end(see CDI sales). As for reeds Boysens are the cheapest bang for the buck and expect to replace them within 3 -4 years.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

Thanks John. The more I run this engine the more I think someone might have bored her. It had racing power packs and it looks like both heads have been off at some point.
It just seems really fast for a stock 150. Maybe just being the 2.5 is the difference. The last 150 I had was on a Randlecraft and was a Black Max.
This one is on an old Legend. I've had it to 65 MPH gps before it got a little squirrelly, but was only turning 5100 RPM and still gaining speed.
It's running a 24 pitch four blade. I've got a 21 pitch 4 blade on the way. I'm not interested in going much over 55 mph.......

Well, enjoy the lie of your pitot speedometer. At the numbers you give, if it's an XR6 with the small LU at 1.78:1 gears, your prop slip is exactly 0. That's completely impossible unless you have hurricane force wind at your back and you are going downstream in a raging flood.

"Racing" power packs are little different than fishin' packs except for price. Folks that really know their stuff say they can't tell the difference in a 9000 rpm drag motor. Heads might have been cut a bit, which would give it a boost. You can tell by running a compression test on it. If compression is above 120 to about 145, you need to run at least 91 octane gas in it. If over that, yer committed to racing fuel or avgas.

BTW, the XR6 is about 162 HP right outta the crate, and if it has the slippery little 4" LU, it's a real sleeper.

The other thing is that it might have had some port work done on it. You really can't tell without opening it up and measuring things. It's possible to build up a 250 HP frankenmerc, but I doubt that's what you have. I suspect you just have a good running 150 on an inadequate boat, or just don't have the butt pucker to drive it. Inadequate steering, for instance anything less than a dual cable rack and pinion steering, or a dual cable not perfectly adjusted, can make em downright dangerous to drive. Set up right, it's like general aviation equipment. You can kill yourself with em, but you have to be pretty stupid to do it.

hope it helps
John

 

[jmj120]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

You're not kidding about the butt pucker. 20 years ago, maybe, not today.
The speed was GPS (bird 978 si). I'm guessing then you're suggesting the tach may be wrong?
The boat is rated for a 200, so I don't think it's inadequate. The lower unit could have been changed, I don't know. I may can take it out this afternoon if it's calm around here.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

You're not kidding about the butt pucker. 20 years ago, maybe, not today.
The speed was GPS (bird 978 si). I'm guessing then you're suggesting the tach may be wrong?
The boat is rated for a 200, so I don't think it's inadequate. The lower unit could have been changed, I don't know. I may can take it out this afternoon if it's calm around here.

If it's not the 4 inch LU, the probably gear ration would be 1.87:1. That, yer prop, yer speed, and about 5700 comes out about right. I'd check the tachometer before you go buying props.

You don't really need a shallower prop, you just need a throttle stop at about 60%.

If the steering is in good shape, and the transom isn't spongy, that boat should be easy to handle at WOT. On reasonably smooth water, I can let go of my steering at over 60. Not recommended, but it'll fly nicely with little steering input.

You might have a 200 with a 150 cowl on it. Check serial number against mercurypartsexpress database, then check carburetor part numbers, compression etc. We can figure it out.

There should be a serial number on the clamp, and maybe one on a welch plug in the top of the block.

hope it helps
John

 

[jmj120]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

S/N: OD 167051
It sure has more kick than my old 150. 'Course the old one could have had more wear. I checked the compression and got 120 across the board.
I'm just fooling around with it getting it ready to sell. It was sitting in a guys yard under an old cover. He needed 2600 bucks, I had 2600 bucks......you get the story.
Transom seems fine. I've talked with several folks who remember when the guy bought it new. Life in a small town.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc 150 after market reeds opinion

S/N: OD 167051
It sure has more kick than my old 150. 'Course the old one could have had more wear. I checked the compression and got 120 across the board.
I'm just fooling around with it getting it ready to sell. It was sitting in a guys yard under an old cover. He needed 2600 bucks, I had 2600 bucks......you get the story.
Transom seems fine. I've talked with several folks who remember when the guy bought it new. Life in a small town.

That's a 2.5. Probably stock. They're pretty spunky.