Honda 2.0/2.3 outboard - sloppy power head

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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www.keepturningleft.co.uk
I love my Honda 2.3

good starter, sips petrol and keeps my feet warm

but the other day I noticed that the power head was a bit loose on the main shaft

had a look and the casting that joins the two has broken

all three lugs

as luck would have it a few years ago I dropped another Honda over the side and it went down singing

the crank burst through the cylinder wall

my fault

kill cord attached to the outboard handle

I recovered the unit and chucked it in the garage in the outboard museum


whenn i saw what had happened I pulled it down and swapped the legs over between the old 2.0 and the newer 2.3

no probs

But I wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar casting failure

if they have I shall mention it to Honda

if they haven't I shall also mention it to them

D
 
We also have had long good service from out 2.0 Honda.
However when the rocker cover started to leak oil due to corrosion, we had to seek professional help to dismantle it due to extensive corrosion/seizing of various bolts. Cold this be the source of the OP's problem.
I have commented to Honda (with no response) that there seems to be little anti-corrosion protection to convert a lawnmower/generator engine foR marine use. After all, the relevant section of the company is Honda MARINE!
 
some signs of rust

blenkinsop said:
We also have had long good service from out 2.0 Honda.
However when the rocker cover started to leak oil due to corrosion, we had to seek professional help to dismantle it due to extensive corrosion/seizing of various bolts. Cold this be the source of the OP's problem.
I have commented to Honda (with no response) that there seems to be little anti-corrosion protection to convert a lawnmower/generator engine foR marine use. After all, the relevant section of the company is Honda MARINE!
Click to expand...

some signs of rust on the bolt heads

however, it always starts and is really economical - it sips petrol

I would buy another in a second if this gives up the ghost

I love the air-cooled engine

no worries about weeds

it shifts my 23 footer along at almost five knots

Dylan
 
I've just bought one to use on my Avon tender. I looked around on here at what people recommend. Not used it yet in anger, just fired it up in a tub of water to check it's got all its marbles.

It was the air cooling that sold it to me - no need to flush through after use and no impeller to die. Frankly it isn't going to get a lot of maintenance beyond an occasional oil change, so the Honda looked a good option.

Against that I'm expecting it to be noisy. Is this Wembley? No, it's Thursday. So am I, let's stop at that pub.
 
I have just seen this. I never ever have seen all lugs broken. Occasionally 1 but never any more than 1
dylanwinter said:
I love my Honda 2.3

good starter, sips petrol and keeps my feet warm

but the other day I noticed that the power head was a bit loose on the main shaft

had a look and the casting that joins the two has broken

all three lugs

as luck would have it a few years ago I dropped another Honda over the side and it went down singing

the crank burst through the cylinder wall

my fault

kill cord attached to the outboard handle

I recovered the unit and chucked it in the garage in the outboard museum


whenn i saw what had happened I pulled it down and swapped the legs over between the old 2.0 and the newer 2.3

no probs

But I wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar casting failure

if they have I shall mention it to Honda

if they haven't I shall also mention it to them

D
Click to expand...
 
Honda, air cooled?

Does that mean that my annual trip home with it, to run it up in the wheelie bin is a waste of time and effort?

Can I run it out of the water...test purposes?

As I use it so rarely and never as primary source of propulsion I haven't paid it much attention.

Should I read the manual?
 
dylanwinter said:
I love my Honda 2.3

good starter, sips petrol and keeps my feet warm

but the other day I noticed that the power head was a bit loose on the main shaft

had a look and the casting that joins the two has broken

all three lugs

as luck would have it a few years ago I dropped another Honda over the side and it went down singing

the crank burst through the cylinder wall

my fault

kill cord attached to the outboard handle

I recovered the unit and chucked it in the garage in the outboard museum


whenn i saw what had happened I pulled it down and swapped the legs over between the old 2.0 and the newer 2.3

no probs

But I wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar casting failure

if they have I shall mention it to Honda

if they haven't I shall also mention it to them

D
Click to expand...

It really bemuses me that you still love this engine so much despite the problems you and so many others have with it. Even in this short thread there are reports of casting failures, extensive rust, bolts seizing, corrosion induced leaks and inability to dismantle the sods when they inevitably go wrong. The quality of materials and build of the small Yam is in a different league to the price-engineered cost-reduced penny-pinched throwaway piece of Honda rubbish. The Yam sips fuel and produces the same power too. It's a bit heaver and it has an impeller, but that's a price well worth paying. Oh, it has a proper gearbox too and not a nasty centrifugal clutch. Nor a nasty rubber flap for holding the cover on. Nor a plastic prop. Nor a corroding carb.

Just as well you are prepared to buy another, because before long likely you will have to. I'm sure Honda love you though for your brand loyalty and continued praise for what must be their worst product ever sold.
 
Last edited:
Vara said:
Honda, air cooled?

Does that mean that my annual trip home with it, to run it up in the wheelie bin is a waste of time and effort?

Can I run it out of the water...test purposes?

As I use it so rarely and never as primary source of propulsion I haven't paid it much attention.

Should I read the manual?
Click to expand...

Hi, Even though they are aircooled i suggest and advise that they are still flushed in fresh water after usage. The exhaust pipe runs down the inside of the leg. I have seen these corrode from the inside out. It can be ran out of water but i recommend only on or just above tickover. There is no load on the prop and if you fully open the throttle will over rev and snap the conrod. Biggest tip i can give is to run it out of fuel after use. I always run mine out of fuel and flush and hose the whole engine in fresh water after use. I haven't encountered any carb or corrosion problems with mine
 
AngusMcDoon said:
It really bemuses me that you still love this engine so much despite the problems you and so many others have with it. Even in this short thread there are reports of casting failures, extensive rust, bolts seizing, corrosion induced leaks and inability to dismantle the sods when they inevitably go wrong. The quality of materials and build of the small Yam is in a different league to the price-engineered cost-reduced penny-pinched throwaway piece of Honda rubbish. The Yam sips fuel and produces the same power too. It's a bit heaver and it has an impeller, but that's a price well worth paying. Oh, it has a proper gearbox too and not a nasty centrifugal clutch. Nor a nasty rubber flap for holding the cover on. Nor a plastic prop.

Just as well you are prepared to buy another, because before long likely you will have to. I'm sure Honda love you though for your brand loyalty and continued praise for what must be their worst product ever sold.
Click to expand...

Each to their own Angus, there are also issues with corrosion and other faults on Yamaha outboards too
 
steve66 said:
Hi, Even though they are aircooled i suggest and advise that they are still flushed in fresh water after usage. The exhaust pipe runs down the inside of the leg. I have seen these corrode from the inside out. It can be ran out of water but i recommend only on or just above tickover. There is no load on the prop and if you fully open the throttle will over rev and snap the conrod. Biggest tip i can give is to run it out of fuel after use. I always run mine out of fuel and flush and hose the whole engine in fresh water after use. I haven't encountered any carb or corrosion problems with mine
Click to expand...
Note that the early Honda 2hp DID have a watercooled exhaust and an impellor but not a centrifugal clutch. These early ones correded the leg casting where the exhaust pipe from the engine was fitted. Mine went like that and a new leg was expensive so I stripped it and sold the bits on ebay. Now have a Suzuki 2.2 2stroke which is much lighter.
 
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