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Do 2 strokes last longer #9702052 02/03/14 03:28 PM
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kirbydog Offline OP
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The thread about engine hours got me wondering. I've got a 2004 2 stroke-replaced the starter and routine maintenance and that's been it. Going on 10 years with lots of hours and running great.

I've always heard 2 strokes last longer (less moving parts?) Do they?

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702085 02/03/14 03:36 PM
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patriot07 Offline
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I've got a 1997 2-stroke that's had the VRO pump replaced and that's it. I honestly don't trust the new 4-strokes as much as the 2-strokes they're supposed to replace.

They'll all blow every now and then, but I'd love to see some legitimate, unbiased numbers regarding the failure rate of 4-strokes compared to 2-strokes.


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Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702146 02/03/14 03:58 PM
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Jake Shannon(Skeet4Life) Offline
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Idk 2004 Yamaha 2stroke running great tons of hours

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702348 02/03/14 04:57 PM
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Bigron119 Offline
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I have seen the computer print out for 2 different Honda Coast Guard Motors. One had over 10,000 hrs and the other had 7,500 hrs. The dealer/mechanic said both motors had not had any problems for repairs. He said the only problem they had was that they kept "ripping off" the Lower Units on Oyster Beds! rolfmao
I don't know of very many 2 strokes that make it past 500-750 hrs without an engine rebuild. Remember that "Years of Service" is very different than Hours on the motor. And if you are talking about minor repairs vs engine rebuilds then each engine manufacturer has those minor problems.

Last edited by Bigron119; 02/03/14 04:58 PM.
Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702381 02/03/14 05:05 PM
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i've blown both yamaha and mercury 2 strokes. kinda depends on how hard you push them. i believe there are only two speeds... idle and wide f'in open!

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: SkeeterRonnie] #9702422 02/03/14 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted By: SkeeterRonnie
i've blown both yamaha and mercury 2 strokes. kinda depends on how hard you push them. i believe there are only two speeds... idle and wide f'in open!


Drive it like you stole it

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702504 02/03/14 05:38 PM
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slim 285 Offline
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I know a striper guide that runs the old style 4 cycle Yamaha and got 2500 hrs out of his last motor. Said he would have got more if he would have been in the habit of back washing it.

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702505 02/03/14 05:38 PM
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JPost Offline
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I've only owned 2 cycles so I can't speak to how they last compared 4 cycle motors. But there are a lot of things the average guy does to their motors that don't help their longevity. Most Mercs will last well over 750 hours, maybe 1000+, if they are not abused.

Many have very bad habits:
1. Dropping the boat in the lake and taking off without letting the motor warm-up enough.
2. Flying into a spot and immediately shutting her down (high RPM to off too quickly)
3. Leaving a spot at full throttle (no RPM to high too quickly)
4. Driving around improperly trimmed (too high or too low)
5. etc...
Motors can handle any of these occasionally but if that's how they are routinely run it's a wonder they last as long as they usually do.

Extended warranty promotions are as common as they are for one major reason -- the companies have confidence that the vast majority of the time they won't be used. I know there are exceptions but for the most part these motors are capable of running many, many hours. And I'm guessing a lot of the time that they don't at least some of the blame needs to go to how they were maintained and ran.

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702616 02/03/14 06:11 PM
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Texasfishing1 Offline
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I have a 2002 Evinrude 150hp 4-stroke motor. I have only had minor maintenance issue which is expected. Great motor!

I also have a 2008 Mercury 25hp 2-stroke motor. No issues with this motor.

As mentioned above, many people abuse their motors. Eventually something will go wrong with the motor and reduce the life expectancy if treated this way.

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9702985 02/03/14 08:04 PM
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I don't think anything can touch a Honda 4 stroke on reliability. I think with all the other brands, something will eventually fail, But I can't recall anybody ever having issues with the Honda... and they were the first 4 stroke I remember hitting the outboard world. If I remember correctly, it's the same engine design they put in their cars too.



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Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: JPost] #9703008 02/03/14 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted By: JPost
I've only owned 2 cycles so I can't speak to how they last compared 4 cycle motors. But there are a lot of things the average guy does to their motors that don't help their longevity. Most Mercs will last well over 750 hours, maybe 1000+, if they are not abused.

Many have very bad habits:
1. Dropping the boat in the lake and taking off without letting the motor warm-up enough.
2. Flying into a spot and immediately shutting her down (high RPM to off too quickly)
3. Leaving a spot at full throttle (no RPM to high too quickly)
4. Driving around improperly trimmed (too high or too low)
5. etc...
Motors can handle any of these occasionally but if that's how they are routinely run it's a wonder they last as long as they usually do.

Extended warranty promotions are as common as they are for one major reason -- the companies have confidence that the vast majority of the time they won't be used. I know there are exceptions but for the most part these motors are capable of running many, many hours. And I'm guessing a lot of the time that they don't at least some of the blame needs to go to how they were maintained and ran.


I guess I look at it the other way around, I rather have motor that gets run hard, that one that sits in the garage for months at a time. Sitting up kills more motors than running them every did.


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Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: Fish Killer] #9703072 02/03/14 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted By: Fish Killer
Originally Posted By: JPost
I've only owned 2 cycles so I can't speak to how they last compared 4 cycle motors. But there are a lot of things the average guy does to their motors that don't help their longevity. Most Mercs will last well over 750 hours, maybe 1000+, if they are not abused.

Many have very bad habits:
1. Dropping the boat in the lake and taking off without letting the motor warm-up enough.
2. Flying into a spot and immediately shutting her down (high RPM to off too quickly)
3. Leaving a spot at full throttle (no RPM to high too quickly)
4. Driving around improperly trimmed (too high or too low)
5. etc...
Motors can handle any of these occasionally but if that's how they are routinely run it's a wonder they last as long as they usually do.

Extended warranty promotions are as common as they are for one major reason -- the companies have confidence that the vast majority of the time they won't be used. I know there are exceptions but for the most part these motors are capable of running many, many hours. And I'm guessing a lot of the time that they don't at least some of the blame needs to go to how they were maintained and ran.


I guess I look at it the other way around, I rather have motor that gets run hard, that one that sits in the garage for months at a time. Sitting up kills more motors than running them every did.


I agree. But imagine if we drove our trucks like some of us drive our boats. Start it up in the driveway and floor it for 20 minutes then shut it down and let it sit for an hour or so, then do it all over again. Don't think we would get the miles on them that we do.

Nothing wrong with running all out as long as we do it with some care. Like maybe gradually getting to WOT rather than neutral to full throttle in 1 second.

Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9703287 02/03/14 09:25 PM
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Ken A. Offline
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The saltwater offshore guys put 10 times more hours on their rigs than most tournament bass guys. I fished with a captain last fall out of Galveston that had over 3,500 hours on his 225 Yam 4 strokes with no issues. He said all he had done to them was change the oil and water pumps as precautionary measure. Of the ten hour trip that day the twin motors may have been off for an hour. They either idled or ran the rest of the time.



Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9703309 02/03/14 09:36 PM
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fouzman Offline
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Same experience for me with saltwater guides in So. Louisiana. Most of those guys are running Yammy 4 strokes and getting about 4,500 hours before a rebuild, with routine maintenance.


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Re: Do 2 strokes last longer [Re: kirbydog] #9703451 02/03/14 10:22 PM
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My son's boat has a 1977 Merc 175, old school 2 stroke that still runs great. No telling how many hours it has logged.

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