Honda BF 2 and 2.3 - a few observations from a long term owner

[dylanwinter]

I have owned three of these and used them on at least 15 different boats from a flub dub to Katie L at 22 feet.

One I sold with a boat, one jumped off the bracket (Honda have now improved the clamping arrangement) and the third is still going

however, that does not mean they are perfect

 

[silver-fox]

I too am a Honda fan but disappointed at the same corrosion you experienced.

I bought mine as a package together with a Honwave Aerodeck 2.7 inflatable which had a problem too with some eyelets corroding badly. Honda UK were brilliant arranging for me to collect a warranty replacement in Mallorca and the problem has not recurred. The design and tube size of the inflatable make much more buoyant and drier than most and I have been delighted with it.

7 years on I am thinking of getting a bigger outboard to get us up on the plane when laden - maybe a 8 hp - but I am a bit wary of Honda now, whereas last time I simply trusted the brand.

So my message is the same as yours but maybe a little blunter.

Honda, you have a hard won reputation for well designed durable products and customer service. The 2.3 HP outboard is not up to your normal standards and damaging your reputation. It is simply too prone to corrosion to be used in a saltwater environment.

 

[dylanwinter]

I too am a Honda fan but disappointed at the same corrosion you experienced.

I bought mine as a package together with a Honwave Aerodeck 2.7 inflatable which had a problem too with some eyelets corroding badly. Honda UK were brilliant arranging for me to collect a warranty replacement in Mallorca and the problem has not recurred. The design and tube size of the inflatable make much more buoyant and drier than most and I have been delighted with it.

7 years on I am thinking of getting a bigger outboard to get us up on the plane when laden - maybe a 8 hp - but I am a bit wary of Honda now, whereas last time I simply trusted the brand.

So my message is the same as yours but maybe a little blunter.

Honda, you have a hard won reputation for well designed durable products and customer service. The 2.3 HP outboard is not up to your normal standards and damaging your reputation. It is simply too prone to corrosion to be used in a saltwater environment.

they are fantastic little engines

but

"there but for a haporth of tar"

I gave up on the bolt and took it to my car man mark

he pulled them out in return for a bottle of wine

good man

he said it was a pretty poor show - one of the bolt heads was really badly corroded

incidentally, two of the four rust, two are not nearly as bad, so I assume there is something galvanic going on

D



D

 

[sailorman]

they are fantastic little engines

but

"there but for a haporth of tar"

I gave up on the bolt and took it to my car man mark

he pulled them out in return for a bottle of wine

good man

he said it was a pretty poor show - one of the bolt heads was really badly corroded

incidentally, two of the four rust, two are not nearly as bad, so I assume there is something galvanic going on

D



D

They are brilliant engines, IN A LAWNMOWER :encouragement:

 

[AngusMcDoon]

You may like them, but I think they are expensive shoddy rubbish. It's not just those bolts that rust, loads of stuff rusts on them because they have penny pinched. Here's what happened to mine...

- Fuel cap leaked allowing water in to the fuel. Replaced it.
- New fuel cap still leaked allowing water into the fuel. Couldn't drain the carb because the outside of the float chamber had rusted and the area around the drain plug had turned into a rusty furball. Unbelievable that the float chamber is also made of rusty steel. Not surprisingly, all this made it a pig to start. Sometimes dribbling petrol into the cylinder was the only way to make it go.
- Water in the fuel rusted the inside of the float chamber on the carb. This caused bits to flake off and partially block the jets meaning it would run only with the choke on.
- Tried to remove the carb for an overhaul - couldn't get it off because the bolts had rusted and seized solid.
- Traded it in for a Yamaha. Got £100 for it. I reckon that engine cost me £50 per hour to run.

The Yam might be a bit heavier, but all the bolts are stainless, and I will never have to fight with the Honda's stupid badly designed awkward finger trapping shyte fitting useless rubbery cowl catch designed by Scrooge himself (can you tell how much I liked that feature?) Honda, I will never buy anything you make ever again. Pity. Everything else has been great.

 

[dylanwinter]

They are brilliant engines, IN A LAWNMOWER :encouragement:

the lawnmower has been faultless

as was the moped, the car and the chainsaw

the lawnmower has been thoroughly abused over the years and comes back for more

the engine on the outboard is marvelous - starts every time, runs on tickover without choking on its own grunge, runs at full blatt all day without overheating, very fuel efficient

does not suffer from sucking weeds into the cooling system

noisy of course

but......

they could do with upgrading a few bits and bobs on it

D

 

[sailorman]

the lawnmower has been faultless

thoroughly abused over the years and comes back for more

the engine on the outboard is marvelous - starts every time, runs on tickover without choking on its own grunge, runs at full blatt all day without overheating

does not suffer from sucking weeds into the engine

but......

they could do with modifying a few bits and bobs on it

D

a mate had one of the first honda 2hp motors it was replaced under warranty due to rust, nothing has changed in the past 15 yrs has it

 

[AngusMcDoon]

does not suffer from sucking weeds into the cooling system

That's not a problem I have ever had on any type of outboard.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

they could do with upgrading a few bits and bobs on it

They could do with making it suitable for use in a marine environment. I'm sure it would be fine as it is for use on the lawn though.

 

[dylanwinter]

That's not a problem I have ever had on any type of outboard.

when I go upstream in katie L the canals and rivers are often very weedy

choke a water-cooled outboard before you can blink

D

 

[Tintin]

Well I am loving my Honda air-cooled - saying goodbye to water cooled woes is great, and actually people say they are noisy, but it is no more than my old 2hp 2 -stroke.

Any thoughts on what to coat the bolts in to stop the corrosion? a bit of hammerite? Or some grease? Or zinc paint?

 

[sailorman]

Well I am loving my Honda air-cooled - saying goodbye to water cooled woes is great, and actually people say they are noisy, but it is no more than my old 2hp 2 -stroke.

Any thoughts on what to coat the bolts in to stop the corrosion? a bit of hammerite? Or some grease? Or zinc paint?

YES
Why dont Honda do it in the first place

 

[Talulah]

I've had three Honda 2/2.3.
Each time the protection from the elements had been slightly improved. Bigger plastic covers etc. However, they never corrected the fundamental flaws.
The corrosion on the last one was the last straw. Now switched to Suzuki. Too soon to say if it was a good move or not.
But Honda should be in no doubt that their brand in my eyes is severely tainted.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Funny when I complained about my Honda 2.3 some years back , when I couldn't get part for the gearbox , Main agent Honda Greece wanted money up front and said it could take some months before they could get them in because Honda was very slow in parts delivery , Honda dealers in the Uk none seen to have the part and couldn't tell me when they could get it , has it may have to come from japan and Honda UK was a totally waste of time didn't want to deal with me and kept telling me to go to one of there dealers , but everyone on here through the Honda outboard where wonderful and if one dare to talk about Honda , you commented a sin . I see people views have change , on the other hand we had the same problem as Angus almost since new , but it still running , but only because it has loads do maintenance each month.
I wouldn't buy a Honda outboard again .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

 

[dartmoor]

Well I am loving my Honda air-cooled - saying goodbye to water cooled woes is great, and actually people say they are noisy, but it is no more than my old 2hp 2 -stroke.

Any thoughts on what to coat the bolts in to stop the corrosion? a bit of hammerite? Or some grease? Or zinc paint?

I had one - rusted badly - but ran faultlessly whilst I had it. Fundamentally what it has going for it is that if you have to adopt the evils of a four stroke, it is air cooled and under 13 kilos. For less than 4hp power in marine environment, air cooling avoids so many issues and problems. Interesting that really ancient Tomos's and Yam 3.5's are still fetching good prices. Why? Because some people absolutely don't want the issues around salt build up and replacing impellers.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Why? Because some people absolutely don't want the issues around salt build up and replacing impellers.

I agree it is a good idea but in the BF2.3's case it has been badly executed and sullied Honda's reputation. If Honda had spent a little bit more it would be an excellent engine. Yamaha can make a decent product at that size for £50 more. I'm sure Honda could have done so too.

 

[dartmoor]

I agree it is a good idea but in the BF2.3's case it has been badly executed and sullied Honda's reputation. If Honda had spent a little bit more it would be an excellent engine. Yamaha can make a decent product at that size for £50 more. I'm sure Honda could have done so too.

Yes, it does smack of complacency by Honda - due to lack of a competitor doing an air cooled small light outboard, and the fact that people still buy them in numbers. Only hope is that the Chinese continue to improve year on year on quality and in a few years time come up with something marketable, very good, and at a cheaper price. That would provide the much need wake up call to the Japanese suppliers!

 

[ghostlymoron]

Well I am loving my Honda air-cooled - saying goodbye to water cooled woes is great, and actually people say they are noisy, but it is no more than my old 2hp 2 -stroke.

Any thoughts on what to coat the bolts in to stop the corrosion? a bit of hammerite? Or some grease? Or zinc paint?

Take them off and replace with stainless. Grease the threads.

 

[steve66]

Take them off and replace with stainless. Grease the threads.

True.... i replace all of mine with plated zinc mild steel. Easier to drill out if the worst case scenario happens.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I suppose a good plan would be to slacken and retighten once a year to stop them seizing. It could be part of the winterisation routine.

True.... i replace all of mine with plated zinc mild steel. Easier to drill out if the worst case scenario happens.