4 Stroke Outboard Maintenance

[Inselaffe]

I'm just about to service my outboard, could anybody give me any basic advice/list of things to do?

I've worked for a few years as an car mechanic and have nutured various air cooled VW's through many thousands of miles including complete engine rebuilds (what a puzzle!), but have no experience of outboards whatsoever.

I have a Yamaha F 9.9 AM 4 stroke (2 Cylinder) outboard in the well of my ETAP 22.

Thanks

Leigh


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[oldharry]

Get a Clymer manual for your engine, a bit like the Haynes 'Wreck it yourself' series, and gives all the service and strip down info you will hopefully never need! Usually a good bit cheaper than the manufacturers workshop manual.

Otherwise all the ususal engine checks for a 4 stroke, like valve settings, oil change, filters, plugs etc, plus changing gearbox oil, and checking the gbox oil seals (which also prevent ingress of water). Check on HT components for damaged leads, connectors etc. Water pump impellor check, manual starter checked and lubed as necessary, and all external moving parts involving the bracket and steering checked and lubed as required. Flush the cooling system with fresh water (but you did that on lay up anyway didnt you...?) Then any other external bits - gearshift level, throttle etc checked and greased as required. errr... cant think of anything else offhand.

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[Inselaffe]

Thanks!

I was hoping that there was a book, Amazon are sending me a copy.

I have only just bought the boat, but it was on a lake before so I thought the outboard wouldn't need to be flushed?

Leigh

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[oldharry]

Flushing mainly is to remove salt water deposits which can block and corrode engine internals. But if the engine has been used in shallow or muddy water, silt and sand may have been also drawn in. If the silt then hardens during lay up it can be fun to remove... however if you have a lakefull of fresh clean water, that will be just as good!

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[domlee]

Try:
http://www.iboats.com/forums/boat_engines/
This is a very interesting site regarding boats. Information is a bit dated but offers a good introduction to engine maintenance etc.

regards.

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