The Mercury Connecting Rod Assembly 818141 (MSRP $457.49) is a genuine Mercury Marine factory OEM part found on many legacy Mercury, Mariner, and Mercury Racing V6 two-stroke outboards equipped with top-guided pistons. This rod links the piston to the crankshaft and handles the constant load of combustion and high RPM, making correct fitment critical during any rebuild.
If you are rebuilding a 2.0-Liter, 2.4-liter, or 2.5-Liter Mercury V6, the 818141 connecting rod assembly is the OEM rod family commonly used with top-guided piston combinations.
Why correct rod fitment matters
On Mercury V6 engines, the difference between top-guided and bottom-guided piston/rod combinations is important. A top-guided piston uses the piston to locate the rod at the wrist pin end, so the rod must match that design. If your engine uses top-guided pistons, Mercury OEM 818141 is the rod family to confirm against your parts diagram.
Genuine Mercury OEM quality
This is a genuine Mercury Marine factory OEM part, not an aftermarket copy. For builders who want factory geometry, proven materials, and correct compatibility with top-guided piston combinations, OEM Mercury rods remain the safest choice—especially in performance or high-RPM engines.
Fits Mercury 2.0L, 2.4L, and 2.5L V6 engines with top-guided pistons
The Mercury 818141 connecting rod assembly fits many legacy 2.0 Liter, 2.4 Liter, and 2.5 Liter V6 two-stroke outboards with top-guided pistons. Common model and horsepower searches include 115 HP, 135 HP, 140 Jet, 150 HP, 175 HP, and 200 HP, along with XR4 / Magnum II and XR6 / Magnum III families.
Common Mercury model listings associated with this rod include 105 Jet, 110 Jet (2.5L), 115 HP V6 CYL (2.5L), 135 HP V6 CYL (2.5L), 140 Jet, 150 HP V6 CYL (2.5L), V-135, V-140, V-150, V-150 HP (2.5L), V-150 HP (MAG/EFI), V-150 HP XRi, V-175 (MAG/EFI), V-175 (SKI), V-200 (EFI), V-200 (MAG/EFI), V-200 EFI (2.5L), V-200 XRi (EFI), XR-4 / Magnum II, and XR-6 / Magnum III.
It is also commonly relevant to higher-performance Mercury Racing 2.5L platforms built with top-guided pistons, including 260 EFI, 280 ROS, S3000, and SST-120, along with SportJet / Jet Drive applications such as 175XR2 Jet Drive, 210 Carb Jet Drive, 210 Carb M2 Jet Drive, 240 EFI Jet Drive, and 240 EFI M2 Jet Drive. Because many engines have been rebuilt or modified, always confirm by serial-number-specific Mercury parts lookup and by verifying that your engine uses top-guided pistons.
Confirm top-guided pistons before ordering
Many Mercury V6 powerheads have been swapped, rebuilt, or mixed over the years. A 2.4L or 2.5L block may no longer contain its original internal combination. Before ordering, confirm that your build uses top-guided pistons. If it does, 818141 is the correct OEM rod family to match.
When to replace connecting rods
Connecting rods should be inspected during any full teardown. Replace the rod if you find out-of-round big-end condition, heat discoloration, bearing damage, scoring, or any sign of overload. On performance builds, many builders choose genuine OEM rods to create a known, reliable rotating assembly baseline.
Helpful ordering note
Before ordering, confirm three things: your engine is a Mercury/Mariner/Mercury Racing 2.0L, 2.4L, or 2.5L V6, it uses top-guided pistons, and your Mercury parts diagram calls for OEM part number 818141.
The Mercury Connecting Rod Assembly 818141 is a genuine Mercury Marine OEM rod for legacy 2.0L, 2.4L, and 2.5L V6 two-stroke outboards with top-guided pistons. It fits a wide range of classic Mercury, Mariner, and Mercury Racing applications, including 115 HP, 135 HP, 150 HP, 175 HP, 200 HP, XR4, XR6, XRi, 260 EFI, 280 ROS, S3000, SST-120, Jet Drive, and SportJet families. If your engine calls for Mercury 818141, this is the correct OEM rod to use.
Contact Mike Hill at +1-714-697-1716 or email mike@buckshotracing77.com for technical support.