Suzuki DF20A DIY yearly service.

[Fenlander]

Yes it’s a guide for the fuel hose which otherwise puts strain on the connection.

[goldeneye243]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Yes it’s a guide for the fuel hose which otherwise puts strain on the connection.

Thanks

With your pointer I found the image in the manual.

[Da_q-ban_one]

Originally Posted by goldeneye243

Attachment 136576

Does anybody know what the function of the spring like thing on the outboard is for??

Sorry if off topic!

That is to hold the fuel hose in place, to prevent kinks or bends which would cut off fuel supply.

[Da_q-ban_one]

Sorry, I hadn't refreshed the page and didn't see Fenlander's reply

[Da_q-ban_one]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Like you mention after saltwater use as well as flushing an outboard with motor running I give the outside a soapy wash and *very* gently run water over the under cowl area avoiding soaking electrics. I then run until its dried off and us a WD40 type spray over all the under cowl areas. This seems to keep them in really nice condition.

When you flush yours, with the engine running, do you do it in a barrel, with muffs or through the flush port with the adapter/garden hose?

Also, I just thought about this- but I didn't order a thermostat, and given that it's never been changed, and its mild corrosion, I probably should have ordered one right? Or at the very least, take it out and inspect it? Are there any seals or orings of concern if I do take it out to inspect it?

[Fenlander]

My personal choice is to use a medium "bucket".

Re the stat it's not on the service schedule as far as I remember and as mine was only a year old I wouldn't have been worried about it. Removal is covered in the pdf manual. On an older OB I tend to remove them cleaning any salt deposits and test in a pan of water brought to the boil. If they are OK happy to refit.

[Da_q-ban_one]

Well...., I went through it yesterday and today attempted to put in a bucket, and now have a pretty good idea why he put up for sale. It's not peeing water. I can only run it **and get get it peeing** with a hose through the flush port. I ran it for about 10mins.. thinking it might throw some lights but it did not. I checked the impeller and while it's a bit deformed it's still in one piece..
The internal anode was a bit corroded and had quite a bit of buildup, so did the thermostat. I took both out and cleaned them up really well and vacuumed up and cleaned up both openings, spraying a vinegar soap solution, which aided in the cleaning of the passages (the bit I could reach through the openings).
I did all this before putting it in the tank.

I'm extremely frustrated and dont know where to even start. I dont have the knowledge nor desire to open it all up, not to mention how expensive it will be.
Welcoming any and all suggestions..

It doesn't seem to be overheating, while running with the hose through the flush port.

[Fenlander]

Have you tried a bit of flexy wire or strimmer line up the pee outlet to know it's 100% clear?

Are you sure running the motor is OK when fed by water from the flush port... I forget what the manual says? I thought the flush port introduced water above the impellor leaving it dry so while it may cool the powerhead OK it could have fried the impellor hence not pumping from pee hole unless under hose pressure?

Does the red caution lamp light for the first couple of seconds after it fires?

[Da_q-ban_one]

It is not the pee outlet, because I disconnected sand can blow through it (this line comes from the fuel cooler), and it actually pees when running it using the flush port, just not in a tank or muffs.

And as far as the red lamp, it does not stay on after starting, just lights up briefly when motor is started, then shuts off and stays off through the duration.

It does not seem to be getting overly hot however..

[Fenlander]

Ok so the warning lamp operation is OK... but I've just added an edit above re running motor while using flush port.

[Da_q-ban_one]

I had removed the impeller and checked it yesterday, reinstalled today and attempted to run it in a tank first. I'm trying to add pictures, but they were taken with my phone and are too large. How do you guys add your pictures?

I'm going to remove and check impeller again right now.
Will post pics as soon as I've figured a way to reduce in size.

[Da_q-ban_one]

Ok just removed lower unit again. As I had suspected, it is still intact. It's even wet, which tells me it is attempting to pump the water up.

It is a bit deformed, as it is the original 7 year old impeller. No one had is locally, I already have one en route. So I figured it would work for now, at least for testing purposes..

So of it's not the tell tale line (pee hole and line), then what could it be?

[Da_q-ban_one]

Here are the pics I took yesterday as I dismantled the lil motor, going through it and inspecting it and thoroughly cleaning and replacing and or lubing what I could get to. Mind you I do not have any spare parts yet as they were ordered this past week and are still en route. This pics will hopefully be able to also show the condition of the outboard, which aside from today's surprise, looked very promising.
(Files were attached, though I don't see em anywhere)...

[Da_q-ban_one]

I took it all the way down to the powerhead to check the condition of the belt (images in previous post).
I checked the thermostat housing and anode, which you'll see in this and the following post(s).
Soaked and cleaned it all up and put everything back together.

[Da_q-ban_one]

I had to actually remove the throttle body to get to the thermostat housing (bottom) bolt. Manual says to remove coil and undo a few sensors, which I left on.. just removed the air silencer, and the one other sensor that's attached to the bracket that is held on by the anode housing bolt. Other than that, fairly straightforward.. (pics continue for several posts)

[Da_q-ban_one]

This what the impeller looks right now after I attempted to run outboard in a tank. Again, only pees with a hose flowing (or rather flushing) water, but will not pump via impeller. My guess is passages around cylinder walls are blocked or... not sure where to go from here..

I should clarify... I did all the thorough inspection, disassembly and cleaning yesterday. As it was too late yo run the motor, I waited to do it today. I did and have no impeller water flow and therefore cooling.

Using the garden hose connected through the flush port seems to just allow outboard to stay running without overheating.. but the water coming out of the pee hose is cold, not hot or even slightly warm, it is as cold as what's coming out of the garden hose.. which is strange..

[Da_q-ban_one]

Just removed thermostat again and it was wet, and it looks clear of corrosion/debris. I also put a hose through it and blew and can feel the air coming out through the water pickup tube on lower unit leg (exhausthousing), so at least I know that passage isn't obstructed.
I did buy a new thermostat today (they unfortunately didnt have any impellers in stock), I will install and see if anything changes tomorrow (perhaps old therm was not opening)..??

In any case, I just thought of something. Perhaps the impeller just isn't producing enough pressure to actually pick up water..? Would it be feasible to test the lower unit with impeller assembly installed on lower unit/gearcase but test it outside of the system (meaning by itself, not installed/bolted on to the rest of the outboard)..?

I thought to perhaps wrap a cloth and/or some tape on the shaft spline (the one that goes to the powerhead (although doing the same to propeller shaft would in theory work too...) and attach a drill to spin it and see if it'll make the impeller spin and verify if, once submerged of course, it produces enough pressure inside the impeller housing, so as to actually pick up water and shoot it up and out the housing grommet (the one that connects to the water pickup tube inside the exhaust housing or 'outboard leg')...

Please share your thoughts.

It's already late here so I will pick this back up in the morning. I have a glimmer of hope that it's just the deformed impeller failing to do its job and pick up water.

[Oldman2]

You would do well to watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOE_VRda52A

good luck.

[beamishken]

Are you sure its deep enough in the bucket? They need to be quite deep not just in past the intake vents. If your sure its deep enough then I'd be tempted to run it in an acidic tank or if you cant get it circulating water then force an acid solution through the flush port.
You can use acetic acid, oxcalic acid phosphoric or my favourite is brick acid remove the anodes first though rydlyme & barnical buster use hydrochloric acid ( brick acid) and phosphoric acid as their active ingredients & are sold specifically for flushing engines, both contain large amounts of very expensive marine water[emoji6]

[Fenlander]

Two observations. That is a very tired impellor and I'd not make any judgement until it's replaced.

Secondly those waterways have a lot of hard deposits and it needs far more than the usual cold water flush/run to remove them so follow beamishken's advice above.

Re the bucket yes a bit deeper is better with an OB with a pump that doesn't prime well but I have a similarly small bucket for flushing and all my outboards would pump with water not much over the inlets... inc my DF20A.