Caldwell Racing Technologies (CRT), led by engine design specialist and winning outboard drag racer Matthew Caldwell, continues to advance marine race technology with the release of the CRT Forged Strutted Piston Kits offer exclusively by Buckshot Racing #77—an elite piston solution purpose-built for Mercury Racing 2.5L V6 2-stroke outboards.
 
Manufactured by Wiseco Performance Products in Mentor, Ohio, these pistons are produced from exclusive, high-strength forgings and precision-machined to meet the uncompromising demands of competition-grade race engines.
 
Designed specifically for applications pushing beyond 10,000 RPM, these kits are ideal for Mercury's highest-performing models including the 260 HP EFI, 280 ROS, 300 Drag, F1 tunnel hull, and S3000 platforms.
 
Each CRT piston features Wiseco’s ArmorGlide™ skirt coating, which reduces friction and promotes superior wear resistance under high load.
 
In addition, Electra-coating technology is applied to minimize wrist pin and ring scuffing, extending the life of both the piston and cylinder bore. The advanced surface treatments complement the piston’s thermally balanced architecture, ensuring consistent performance through the intense thermal cycling that typifies high-RPM 2-stroke racing environments.
 
The pistons utilize an integrated strutted (often referred to as a "boxed" design) inner build, structurally reinforcing the skirt and crown junction to prevent flex and collapse under extreme acceleration and deceleration forces. This robust design supports consistent ring seal and combustion stability, which is essential in both Nikasil-lined and steel sleeve cylinder configurations.
 
Optimized for light weight and high strength, the pistons accept both long and short slip-fit, lightweight wrist pins, providing engine builders with flexibility in setup without compromising durability or pin boss integrity.
 
The 1.5MM ring lands and profile are race-cut and tuned for ideal flame propagation and scavenging efficiency, supporting high-compression setups without sacrificing longevity.
 
Our CRT Forged Strutted Pistons are designed to run with the Mercury Gold Ring Set—specifically the 1.5mm top-pinned Mercury Racing 840663A12 ring set—in both Nikasil (3.500" bore recommended with a diamond hone finish) and Steel Sleeve (3.503 to 3.504" bore with a heavier 45-degree cross-hatch recommended) applications, making them a true race-ready, drop-in solution.
 
Each kit includes six (6) 1.5 mm duel-ring top-pinned pistons with six (6) wrist pins circlips—all closely balanced and weight-matched to extremely tight tolerances for rotational harmony. 
 
Optional: Add our Light-Weight Wrist Pins and Mercury OEM Gold Rings.
 
These piston assemblies are engineered as direct replacements Mercury Racing OEM piston and are compatable with part numbers, including 848200A12, 840663A12, 848201A12, 827352-8, 827352T20, 827352T9, 827352-6, 827352A13, 827353T20, 827353T9, 827353-6, 827353A13, 8273538, and 2717-827352-8.
 
With CRT’s foundation in billet race component engineering and Wiseco’s legacy in high-performance piston manufacturing, the CRT Forged Strutted Piston Kit offers a no-compromise solution for Mercury 2.5L powerheads operating at the highest level.
 
Whether you're building an F1, S3000, 280 ROS offshore motor, chasing maximum RPMs in a 300 Drag outboard, or dialing in a lightweight F1 tunnel boat for closed-course racing, these pistons deliver the resilience, precision, and output demanded by professional racers.
 
Contact Mike Hill at +1-714-697-1716 or email mike@buckshotracing77.com for technical support.