Yamaha Malta

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QBhoy

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Hi
Having always wanted a wee 3hp yamaha Malta.....ever since cradling the brochure with scantly clad women carrying one along the pier in the early eighties......I just picked up what seems to be a mint original first edition model. One owner all its life.
It's apparently just had a new plug, water pump and gear oil. I'm fine with all of this, perhaps apart from the water pump. The chap tells me it doesn't have a tell tale ? No reason to not believe him, but being a massive boat and outboard geek, I'm pretty sure I've seen yamaha Malta with a tell tale. Perhaps this is just later models ?
I have used it yet, but she will be ideal for both the wee maxcraft fishing boat and the wee suzumar inflatable. From what I know, they are one of the best small 2 strokes ever made.
Other than responses and opinions on the above...these engines (along with my other 8hp yamaha) say 100/1 oil mix....does anyone still mix at this ? I don't trust it and still go for 50/1.
 
I used to have a Malta, no idea of the vintage. When I got it, it didn't have a tell tale. Then the water stopped flowing because the impeller died, so I stripped it down, replaced the impeller and cleaned out the gunk from the water passages between the leg and power head. In doing so I reopened the tell tale hole... If you invert the engine and examine the underside of the powerhead, you'll soon see if there's a blocked telltale hole. If there is, a gentle attack with a fine screwdriver should reopen the hole.
I always followed the Yamaha recommendation of 100:1 for the mix, never had any problems at that ratio.
 
I have an early Malta and there is no tell tale on it. The 'newer' one that I have does have a tell tale. I try to mix the fuel 100:1 but over mixing is ok but the plug does get fouled. If using in saltwater try and 'rinse' the engine in freshwater as much as possible. The cooling waterways do block up quite easily.
 
I'll have a look to see if there is an outlet

hi malta's have a telltale its the holes halfway between block & waterline that spit /mist water , the theory being that the water thats blown out can only have been to the block & is on its way back down cooling the exhaust, this was considered ok solution to stop the complaint that on swiveling for reverse dinghy helm wasn't squirted with telltale jet . if you would feel happier a small hole is easily drilled ,& learn to dodge the wet leg /foot.

NB good choice for that Maxcraft
 
coaster63 said:
I'll have a look to see if there is an outlet

hi malta's have a telltale its the holes halfway between block & waterline that spit /mist water , the theory being that the water thats blown out can only have been to the block & is on its way back down cooling the exhaust, this was considered ok solution to stop the complaint that on swiveling for reverse dinghy helm wasn't squirted with telltale jet . if you would feel happier a small hole is easily drilled ,& learn to dodge the wet leg /foot.

NB good choice for that Maxcraft
Click to expand...

Later 3 hp Maltas did in fact have a tell tale from below the power head at least according to the owners manuals I have found on line, even if earlier ones did not.

AFAIK all outboards have the back pressure relief ports you describe on the leg from which some water will normally be blown
 
We used a Malta for quite few seasons, giving it hard and frequent use.
66:1 using good quality 2T oil did not seem to cause plug fouling, but we mostly used it at full throttle, driving a well laden boat.
Biggest issue was the clamp screws seizing.
ISTR the tell-tale was lower down, so it didn't pee into the boat when rotated to go astern?
 
Thanks guys. I can understand the reverse thing. Think I'd rather that and the visual proper indication. Seems a great wee engine. Ideal for the wee maxcraft with shaft and prop protected by keel and will also suit the wee suzumar inflatable a treat!
 
QBhoy said:
It's a 1992, so guessing there isn't a traditional tell tale. Had a look earlier.
Click to expand...

This diagrma I think may explain the differences between the true tell tale of 4 and 5 hp models, the 3 hp Malta and 2 hp models for engines around that age

Yamaha%20pee.jpg
 
Thanks for the above. Bit worried now.
I wouldn't say it was a constant flow from the two relief ports on the shaft casing. More a constant spurting. Impeller just changed....apparently.
 
QBhoy said:
Thanks for the above. Bit worried now.
I wouldn't say it was a constant flow from the two relief ports on the shaft casing. More a constant spurting. Impeller just changed....apparently.
Click to expand...

I would have thought that normal. Some outboards only blow out a few droplets or a mist.

So long as some water is being blown out you should be OK. Worry if it stops or if there is steam coming out!

The 4 and 5 hp models obviously have proper tell tales that pee at full pump pressure.

Morer recent manuals on line show the 3 hp model peeing like the 4 & 5 hp

If you have doubts about the impeller having been recently changed change it for peace of mind.

BTW I'd run it on 50:1 but if you do run on 100:1 fog it before storage.
 
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Yeah. Thanks. I'll do just that.
Hate to drag this out, but what prop would be normal on this ? Was thinking 7x7. This seems to be 7"1/4x6"
 
QBhoy said:
Yeah. Thanks. I'll do just that.
Hate to drag this out, but what prop would be normal on this ? Was thinking 7x7. This seems to be 7"1/4x6"
Click to expand...

According to the manual I cribbed the diagram in #11 from 7¼ x 6 but there are several sizes listed in the parts catalogue

Did you not get the owners manual with the engine?
 
No. I'm afraid not. Probably a rare thing to get that with these old engines.
Can't stop collecting 2 stroke outboards it seems. Now have 2 Yamaha 8's (tremendous engines), Suzuki 2.2 (amazingly light), yamaha Malta and a 4hp evinrude twin (great smooth wee thing and so light compared to other 4hp).
It wild seem I'm a boat geek ��
 
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