Stopping corrosion on small outboards

[Rum_Pirate]

I replaced the fuel cock on a 2.5hp Tohatsu outboard.

The small bolt clamp to the line above the fuel cock is made of a ferrous material and had in a few months rusted excessively. It came undone after a bit of finagling.

There were other small signs of corrosion elsewhere.

I am thinking of liberally daubing these nuts and bolts etc under the cover (where you can't [easily] wipe them down after each use) with white lithium grease.

Any other suggestions?

What is the recommended action to retard the corrosion?

 

[dartmoor]

There was a good thread recently on the fact that mild steel seems to be used rather than s/s - presumably a cost thing. They (the manufacturers) sell you a small outboard for £550 plus - they don't want it to last...the plan is when maintenance is needed , it simply won't be economic to do it. The only way to counter act this is to remove the key fixings and grease them regularly. Or plan to buy a new one one day unless you are are handy with helicoils and tap and die sets....

 

[LadyInBed]

Nuts and bolts - As they go rusty you could replace with S/S, or wire brush and coat in grease.
As for the Alu body, scrape off paint where it has bubbled and leave metal bare but with a coat of grease.

 

[William_H]

Yes definitely remove every bolt and grease or duralac it before replacing. Then remove again every few years. It is definitely a case where leaving sleeping dogs lie or if it aont broke don't fix it does not work. I don't think grease on the outside of a bolt will help much it is the steel or SS into ali that is the problem, olewill