Fed up with rebuilding British Seagulls...

ghostlymoron said:
Well, now that he has a 99% diagnosis, the problem shouldn't occur again. Presumably he'd have found that out if he' gone back to the supplier as I suggested.
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Although unless the item is still under guarantee and you are demanding either a new one or your money back then I would steer well clear of suppliers, marine engineers and garage mechanics as 99% of them are useless, to varying degrees. :(

Richard
 
RichardS said:
Although unless the item is still under guarantee and you are demanding either a new one or your money back then I would steer well clear of suppliers, marine engineers and garage mechanics as 99% of them are useless, to varying degrees. :(

Richard
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Did you know that exaggeration went up 99% last year?
I've had the engine serviced by the supplier each year. When I mentioned the occasional stall (twice in the season) they said, predictably " could be many things", which is true. It's been at least as reliable as any other outboard I've owned. Ghostlymoron, would you really only consider 100% reliability as acceptable?
 
I would say that 99% reliable could mean that of a 100 outings, it doesn't malfunction 99 times. I accept that I interpreted your 'occasional' as slightly more than twice a year. It's tricky when you start bandying percentages around especially when they are only based on perception not hard evidence as in 99% of breakdowns due to water in fuel and the same percentage of mechanics being useless.
If my car broke down twice a year, I would find it unacceptable. My only problems I've experienced with outboards has been due to operator error - usually failure to loosen fuel tank vent screw.
 
ghostlymoron said:
I would say that 99% reliable could mean that of a 100 outings, it doesn't malfunction 99 times. I accept that I interpreted your 'occasional' as slightly more than twice a year. It's tricky when you start bandying percentages around especially when they are only based on perception not hard evidence as in 99% of breakdowns due to water in fuel and the same percentage of mechanics being useless.
If my car broke down twice a year, I would find it unacceptable. My only problems I've experienced with outboards has been due to operator error - usually failure to loosen fuel tank vent screw.
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I didn't count those! :)
86% of percentages are unreliable.
 
You can replace the cam with a decompresser cam for the honda. I have never replaced one as I have never had a problem. Like another poster said pull the cord gently till you find the compression peak, then start it. On a positive note it shows your engine is in top condition. A full set of Stainless fasteners are available for your Honda on ebay (shameful plug sorry)
 
I used to drill out every welch plug on carbs on all Suzuki I worked on. I stopped repairing them now due to very weak and expensive clutch dogs. Honda are more reliable, and cheaper to repair
 
steve66 said:
Have you bought Chinese again Dylan???
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I thought all new engines are chinese

that aside - I was given a little Honda non runner

got it going - it leaked oil and petrol a bit

changed carbs with the one from the Honda I dropped in the Briny and now going jolly well

so I have a Honda back

still a bit of a gap in the garage where my lovely Tohatsu once sat

I assume two blokes are rather pleased with the great bargain they got and are even now gracing the back of a boat belonging to a scrotes - just as bad a man who buys from scrootes

Makes me sad

D
 
I've had a Honda 2.3 for 10yrs.
It just died (siezed) . I have a spare newer engine I bought from a friend that had a misfire but honda couldn't fix it because the Mild steel steel screws wouldn't undo.
I cannot make a good engine from either because of all the failed fixings.& rusty carb bowls.
I'll buy a new engine tomorrow, but despite years of excellent service from Honda motorbikes I wont buy another Honda 2.3.
 
Niander said:
YOur title sounds a bit dising to British Seagulls ...whats wrong with it ?
And how old is it? 30/40 years?....No Jap outboard will last as long as a Seagull!
they are easy to fix and all spares are available.
I could find one in a shed unused for 30 years probably in 30 mins it would be running!
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Agreed: Why on earth are you constantly rebuilding a Seagull? The two I had just worked. Always first pull starting.

Apart from when the 40+ spent two tides underwater the only "rebuilding" I ever did was turning a long shaft 40+ into a short shaft one with a hacksaw in about 30 minutes. A few years later after a trip to a metals supplier for three bits of metal tubing I turned it into an "extra-long shaft" one. The underwater episode involved a hose, screwdriver, spanner and some fresh 10:1 mix fuel, and it was running again, and did so thereafter faultlessly. Once a year I'd clean the carb, change the plug and put fresh gear oil in.

If you can live with the oiliness a Seagull is a superb piece of machinery. I can't, I now use a 3.5 50:1 mix two-stroke, which needs carb cleaning pretty regularly, and has had a few other (all fixable) problems, like stuck gear lever, impeller failure, leaking tank.
 
Like?
Niander said:
YOur title sounds a bit dising to British Seagulls ...whats wrong with it ?
And how old is it? 30/40 years?....No Jap outboard will last as long as a Seagull!
they are easy to fix and all spares are available.
I could find one in a shed unused for 30 years probably in 30 mins it would be running!
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chewi said:
I've had a Honda 2.3 for 10yrs.
It just died (siezed) . I have a spare newer engine I bought from a friend that had a misfire but honda couldn't fix it because the Mild steel steel screws wouldn't undo.
I cannot make a good engine from either because of all the failed fixings.& rusty carb bowls.
I'll buy a new engine tomorrow, but despite years of excellent service from Honda motorbikes I wont buy another Honda 2.3.
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I'll probably be happy with 10 years' service.
 
I have a Johnson/Suzuki 2.5 and a Yamaha 2.5
Johnson is reliable starter, light 13kg, heavier on fuel, has withstood a fair amount of abuse, some rusty parts
Yamaha is reliable starter, quite heavy 17kg, more fuel efficient, took a saltwater swim last year and survived, no rust, better build quality
 
Actually I might have to eat some humble pie about not buying another Honda.
Having looked at the others yesterday, they are all water cooled and have impellers in inaccessible places, not good for use in shallow waters, and at 17kg vs 13kg + fuel that's quite hefty to get from the tender to the pushpit.alone on a swinging mooring.



I may have to stick with the Devil I know, and replace the mild steel fixings with stainless on day 1, so if I get trouble later in its life I can undo them and fix it, not write it off. Also I will have some spares.
 
chewi said:
Actually I might have to eat some humble pie about not buying another Honda.
Having looked at the others yesterday, they are all water cooled and have impellers in inaccessible places, not good for use in shallow waters, and at 17kg vs 13kg + fuel that's quite hefty to get from the tender to the pushpit.alone on a swinging mooring.



I may have to stick with the Devil I know, and replace the mild steel fixings with stainless on day 1, so if I get trouble later in its life I can undo them and fix it, not write it off. Also I will have some spares.
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Or rebuild the one you have, you will be doing your bit for recycling, save a ton of money and will have the pleasure of knowing you have repaired it!!
 
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