Is it worth getting it serviced?

[chubby]

Outboard that is! Had our honda 4 stroke serviced over the winter, about £50, took it back to the yard, filled with fresh fuel ( not from tescos) and coaxed it back to life in the yard tank, eventually started!

The lawnmower engine, also a little 2HP 4 stroke has been totally neglected all it`s life, never serviced as cost of a service is a reasonable percentage of the value etc, fuel left in it over the winter, tut tut but I forgot !, started first pull!!!!

Yes I know I won`t be caught out in the tide and a head wind trying to get back from the mooring in a lawn mower but just makes you wonder if it is worth getting these things serviced.

Before I get told I am totally irresponsible we get the main inboard diesel servced by the yard each year!

 

[landlockedpirate]

We have a 2hp Mariner 2 stroke of unknown vintage (about 20 yrs old best guess). Its been used, abused and neglected all its life. Its seen service on everything from bilge keeled cruisers to home made tenders. Its slung in the garage of one family member or another at not used for years at a time.

And yet every time its needed it starts second pull, every time. Amazing engine

 

[Malcb]

Took my Mariner 4hp 2 stroke home the other week, changed the gear box oil, stood it in a bin of fresh water, 4th pull, it started, on the fuel that was still in the tank. It hasn't been used since last September.

I had a Yamaha lawnmower, never seviced it for 5 years, (lived in France for 3 years and never used it) never drained the petrol, never ran the carb dry. It would always start second pull at the worst.

 

[steve_cronin]

It is easy to get complacent, even smug on this topic...

...until you consider the effects of a marine saline environment.

Having lived with Honda 4Ts for many years I can assure you that if you don't clear the brass idle bypass jet of crud and check the seating of it's seal , you will have the most difficult to start - unless on fully opened throttle, and totally unable to idle outboard in the harbour and end up cursing the beast. Also, if yours is one with a pressed steel flywheel core incorporating plastic magnet holders, you will after only a couple of seasons, have these magnets colliding with the cores of the stator coils due to the expansion of rust behind them pushing them inwards.

Yes, unless you are aware of these and the weakness of the lower unit filler seals and can DIY the remedies, you need to have it serviced.

Steve Cronin