Anyone runing 2.5 offshores?
#11
Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: houston tx
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is a world of diff between the 260 and 280, if you want all the details go to screamandfly.com that is the outboard site.
I personally want an alt, with the electric fuel pumps, gps etc, I would be worried about getting stuck.
I personally want an alt, with the electric fuel pumps, gps etc, I would be worried about getting stuck.
#13
If they're 95's they are 260's. The first 280's didn't come out until late 1998. Check to see if the hours are original or since re-build. If they are original then the motors have side-pinned pistons which can be a problem. If they're re-built (and they were done right) the person who built them should have put top-pinned back in.
If it's the flame one on Ebay, they do have sportmasters which is good, and the cowlings are the newer style but appear to be aftermarket and not factory.
The 2.5's can be good motors if when re-built, done by a reputable shop and/or person. They will live if the rpm's are kept under 7500. You need to run premium oil, not just the Merc. premium plus, so that can get expensive with 3 motors. (i.e., I run Klotz in mine, which is $30+ a gallon.) 40:1 is the ratio most people run.
Definitely, have a leakdown test done. If it shows much more than 5% it will most likely need rings. (Compression alone will not always tell the whole story.)
Good luck.
If it's the flame one on Ebay, they do have sportmasters which is good, and the cowlings are the newer style but appear to be aftermarket and not factory.
The 2.5's can be good motors if when re-built, done by a reputable shop and/or person. They will live if the rpm's are kept under 7500. You need to run premium oil, not just the Merc. premium plus, so that can get expensive with 3 motors. (i.e., I run Klotz in mine, which is $30+ a gallon.) 40:1 is the ratio most people run.
Definitely, have a leakdown test done. If it shows much more than 5% it will most likely need rings. (Compression alone will not always tell the whole story.)
Good luck.
#14
Charter Member #232
Charter Member
You couldnt give me one, you would have to give me 8 so i would have enough to get me through a race season. Last year with only a few boats running them 15 died. This season at the end of race two, 2 dead. They are a piece of **** and you should never buy one or remotely consider a boat that requires them. Dont get me wrong, they go real fast for half a race. Every team has changed to the 300 and one ov them died last weekend as well. Jas
Jon
__________________
Put your best foot forward!
Put your best foot forward!
#15
Charter Member #232
Charter Member
My biggest complaint is that they are LOUD. A LOT of noise comes out the intake snorkle.
Jon
Jon
__________________
Put your best foot forward!
Put your best foot forward!
#16
Registered
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: nokomis florida
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if the motors are running good i would consider selling them and replacing with the 300xs's, as you could sell the 260's for about 8000 ea and run 2 of the 300's and run all day and very econimical on fuel,noise,reliability, the 260's are not my favorite but there not that bad, the 280's are bad-ass and mine run great , but i dont spin them over 8000 rpm's, but if i were buying new i would go with the xs's as merc doesnt make the 280 any more..
another thing about outboards is you can have a powerhead off and on the floor in half hour, lower unit in 20 minutes and you donr need a lot of tools and have to be a contortionist to work on in a nasty hot bilge
another thing about outboards is you can have a powerhead off and on the floor in half hour, lower unit in 20 minutes and you donr need a lot of tools and have to be a contortionist to work on in a nasty hot bilge
Last edited by copiercat; 02-12-2007 at 10:34 AM. Reason: added
#17
Registered
#18
Registered
That boat will struggle to break 110 with 3 motors. I would run 2 you can run a consistent 100+ with less headaches. 2 300x's would be best for speed, 2 300xs's would be best all around. The lower unit on the center motor will take a beating being exposed in the middle of the tunnel.
#19
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta / Ft. Myers Fl.
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My first set of 280ss on my 28 skater went to 220hrs before they blew.So I rebuilt,upgraded to 325hp,Spent a bunch of $$,promised my wife they would last a long time at least 100-150hrs before rebuild,got some Bad gas in Ala.and blew them up @ 26hrs Now i am saving more $$ for new 300xs . Hell the only reason I got into outboards is I was lead to believe they lasted longer than I/O`s.I will try the 300xs if they let me down I will go back to Real motors that sound good!
Last edited by offshoresteve; 02-12-2007 at 01:26 PM.