Honda 2.3 Outboard - no tell-tale.

[ash2020]

I've just acquired a Honda 2.3 4 stroke outboard from a friend and have noticed that, unlike all the other engines I've had there is no cooling water tell-tale squirting out. Is this normal? There's also no mention in the online manual I found.
If it should have, where's a good place to start looking? Thanks.

 

[Davy_S]

It could be because its aircooled!

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

It could be because its aircooled!

It can even be run out of water if only briefly.

 

[ash2020]

It could be because its aircooled!

Now I feel stupid!

 

[Davy_S]

Now I feel stupid!

Never feel stupid! if you do not ask a question, you will never gain knowledge.

 

[ash2020]

Never feel stupid! if you do not ask a question, you will never gain knowledge.

Thank you. That's a very sympathetic answer, in a lot of forums I'd be mocked and derided for a mistake like that.

 

[jamie N]

If you miss that feeling, please let us know your anchor preference?

 

[rotrax]

Thank you. That's a very sympathetic answer, in a lot of forums I'd be mocked and derided for a mistake like that.

Don't be too upset.

Last year while on the Yealm RNSA mooring rafted alongside some fellow members the skipper had the same issues.

He was, like you, a little embarrassed when I told him.

He was a retired submarine engineering officer.....................................................

 

[ash2020]

Don't be too upset.

Last year while on the Yealm RNSA mooring rafted alongside some fellow members the skipper had the same issues.

He was, like you, a little embarrassed when I told him.

He was a retired submarine engineering officer.....................................................

And I've been taking engines to bits since I was 16!

 

[ash2020]

If you miss that feeling, please let us know your anchor preference?

 

[Frayed Knot]

When I had my first boat, a 17’ plywood cruiser with (in my defence) no nav lights, a nearby owner with his mast on blocks beside his boat in the yard asked me to see if his tri colour was working when he touched the ends of the wires to his car battery.
I told him the red & green were ok but I couldn’t see the white as it was too close to the ground…

 

[mil1194]

Don't be too upset.

Last year while on the Yealm RNSA mooring rafted alongside some fellow members the skipper had the same issues.

He was, like you, a little embarrassed when I told him.

He was a retired submarine engineering officer.....................................................

I tried to buy a Fairline 36 Sedan from a a guy which had no floodlights and no radar. He was ex RN and his response was that he never went out in the dark and certainly not when it was foggy. He was a d1ck for other reasons as well. The boat stayed there.

 

[Kelpie]

It's a wee bit early for April 1st!

I remember watching somebody land their dinghy with the Honda still running, flip the wheels in to position, and then casually tow it up the slipway to his car, as he waited for the carb to empty. It just seemed very very wrong!

 

[William_H]

The real advantage of the Honda air cooled engine is just that. I think the major problems with o/b is with the water pump and cooling. ol'will

 

[Offshore57]

Its the only advantage with that engine. Any increase in throttle just produces more noise with no noticeable increase in anything else....

 

[snowbird30ds]

I watched a cruiser on the broads fire up and run down the river with a 30hp outboard still tilted to just below the water, it was a very pretty water feature but not very useful, a while later someone from the yard had to go out and tow him in as he "lost his steering", funny it wouldn't steer in that position.....
No amount of shouting and pointing would get him to acknowledge a problem as he cruised away and I don't suppose it did the impellor any good either.

 

[Arcady]

Yes, the little Honda has an air cooled power head, but if I’m not mistaken, it does actually pump sea water to cool the exhaust leg. Not that there is a tell-tale to let you know!

Edit: I may be wrong on that. It seems that was the case with the earlier (pre centrifugal clutch) version. Either way, it’s a rugged little engine, oft maligned in these fora.

 

[VicS]

Yes, the little Honda has an air cooled power head, but if I’m not mistaken, it does actually pump sea water to cool the exhaust leg. Not that there is a tell-tale to let you know!

Edit: I may be wrong on that. It seems that was the case with the earlier (pre centrifugal clutch) version. Either way, it’s a rugged little engine, oft maligned in these fora.

ITYWF that it was only the early BF2 models that actually had a pump ( pre 1999 ??). Later 2 and 2.3 models rely on water being forced up the water tube.

Steve Evans will clarify if he comes this way

 

[jamie N]

No, there's not a pump on these Honda, the exhaust simply goes a little way down the leg. It's a 2.3, so there's not a great amount of heat to dissipate, which the leg copes with very well.

 

[NormanS]

I have one of these, and it's a joy. I always prefer to run the carburettor dry, so it's frequently lifted off the dinghy, up onto its storage bracket, via its davit, while still merrily ticking over. No problems with salt crystals in water galleries.