Outboard engine tappet adjustment

C08

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I have had a number of outboard engines some dinghy sized and some 15/20/25 hp main outboard engines and I have never adjusted tappet clearances on any engine although some being 2 stroke that might be quite hard.
My current main engine is a 25hp and there is no discernable tappet noise but has done only perhaps 1500NM. Are other meticulous about this bit of maintenance or am I just being lazy as I would prefer to spend a day sailing?
 

DownWest

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I have had a number of outboard engines some dinghy sized and some 15/20/25 hp main outboard engines and I have never adjusted tappet clearances on any engine although some being 2 stroke that might be quite hard.
My current main engine is a 25hp and there is no discernable tappet noise but has done only perhaps 1500NM. Are other meticulous about this bit of maintenance or am I just being lazy as I would prefer to spend a day sailing?
Just thinking about how often one does them on a car? (OK not many now have them..) but every 10,000 miles or so? Mrs DW has an ancient Twingo with the pushrod engine. (Third engine..) I don't think I have ever adjusted them apart from after lifting a head for valve work.
Do many 4T's have OHCs?

Back in 69, I used a Homelite 55 OB on a Fletcher to commute from Porto Rafael to the port where we were fixing up an Atalanta to bring her back to UK.
I was quite surprised to see it was a 4T 4 pot OHC engine. Apparently based on a UK design.
 
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