Suzuki DF20A DIY yearly service.

[Trello]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Gear oil just get exactly the correct spec of Suzuki or Motul brand (Motul make Suzuki’s oil).

Feeler gauges are generic to car/bike etc so Halfords or online whichever is easier.

I do a lot of work on cars so invested in a couple of reasonable torque wrenches. Both Teng brand and a 1/2 inch drive for the larger figures and a 3/8 drive for the lower figures. About £140 the pair.

Thank you, David. I'll get ordering.

[Trello]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

How old is the engine/hours?

The engine was manufactured in 2020 but I bought it in October of last year. I'm told it has had one service, but I don't have any paperwork.
In terms of hours - I don't know. I suppose I should buy the SDS lead and check. When I looked on the net for them before Christmas they were scarce, but I haven't looked since. Does anybody know of a reliable source for them?

Trello.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Trello

The engine was manufactured in 2020 but I bought it in October of last year. I'm told it has had one service, but I don't have any paperwork.
In terms of hours - I don't know. I suppose I should buy the SDS lead and check. When I looked on the net for them before Christmas they were scarce, but I haven't looked since. Does anybody know of a reliable source for them?

Trello.

I wouldn’t be going anywhere near the tappets on an engine that age. Just do basic maintenance, oils/filters. I wouldn’t change the impeller either unless you have a specific reason to do so.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I wouldn’t be going anywhere near the tappets on an engine that age. Just do basic maintenance, oils/filters. I wouldn’t change the impeller either unless you have a specific reason to do so.

Yep I agree pikey, I'd imagine a higher range torque wrench will be pretty rusty before he needs that too, probably only the flywheel nut thats above the torque range of a small 3/8 torque wrench. Everything else will be 6 & 8mm bolts
Flywheel shouldn't need to be off for a very long time.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Cam belt should be changed at 4 years old

[Trello]

Thanks for that, gents.

Apart from doing some very basic stuff with lawnmower and hedge-trimmer engines (oil changes, carb cleaning and tuning), I haven't any experience of servicing engines. I was intending to take my cue from Fenlander, duplicating exactly what he did in the first few posts of this thread. But if you feel that I (as someone who doesn't have the long experience with engines that he does), might do more harm than good, then I'm happy to do a more rudimentary service, omitting the valve clearance check and the impeller change.

Trello.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Trello go on YouTube loads of info I have a manual but still got more off YouTube but fenlanders info is bang on for you’re engine for what it’s worth just do the basics for the amount of use the engine gets oils filters etc unless you have a problem

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Trello

Thanks for that, gents.

Apart from doing some very basic stuff with lawnmower and hedge-trimmer engines (oil changes, carb cleaning and tuning), I haven't any experience of servicing engines. I was intending to take my cue from Fenlander, duplicating exactly what he did in the first few posts of this thread. But if you feel that I (as someone who doesn't have the long experience with engines that he does), might do more harm than good, then I'm happy to do a more rudimentary service, omitting the valve clearance check and the impeller change.

Trello.

You cant go far wrong with basic servicing, oils filters plugs etc but probably better to avoid the timing belt if your unsure. An impeller change may seem a bit daunting too but its not that hard if your happy to have a go plenty of youtube videos to follow.

[paulbrown22]

Originally Posted by Trello

I suppose I should buy the SDS lead and check. When I looked on the net for them before Christmas they were scarce, but I haven't looked since. Does anybody know of a reliable source for them?

Trello.

I bought a Suzuki lead and software on Ebay a couple of months back for a new to me 50hp engine, and there were loads advertised at that time. Personally I bought this, and it works perfectly for me: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184146982941

[Trello]

Thanks, Paul.

I've looked at that item and it says it's suitable for engines up to 2019 manufacture date. All the others on ebay seem to be twice the price, so I've messaged the seller to see if he has any for 2020 engines.

Thanks for the heads up!

[TwoHooter]

Moving here from https://www.rib.net/forum/f36/suzuki...r-90928-2.html I've got some questions which I hope can be answered here because my motor is the same as the one Fenlander wrote about, a Suzuki DF20ATS.

I think the "S" designates helm steering instead of tiller - is that right? if so for the actual motor I can ignore it and my motor is a "P01" not a "P40" in the Parts List (see image). I have no idea what the DF20ATH designates.

Some parts are for different Transoms, S, X & L. See the second image. Does anyone know how to identify which is right for a particular motor?

Suzuki UK are not listing Parts Kits for my motor and on Ebay the kits being offered are mostly unbranded. I don't want to risk using Chinese rip-off components - does anyone have any experience of buying from a particular UK seller which suggests they might be a safe source?

[paulbrown22]

Any decent authorised dealer should be able to help. If you want to try them, Mike at Boating Mania in Upminster is my nearest official dealer in London, and he's been great in sourcing random parts for various engines at my sailing club, including having to bring in especially from Suzuki Europe.

[smallribber]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it (Break it).

Loads of people on here who mess around with their engines in the name of servicing them are the ones who have issues

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by TwoHooter

Moving here from https://www.rib.net/forum/f36/suzuki...r-90928-2.html I've got some questions which I hope can be answered here because my motor is the same as the one Fenlander wrote about, a Suzuki DF20ATS.

I think the "S" designates helm steering instead of tiller - is that right? if so for the actual motor I can ignore it and my motor is a "P01" not a "P40" in the Parts List (see image). I have no idea what the DF20ATH designates.

Some parts are for different Transoms, S, X & L. See the second image. Does anyone know how to identify which is right for a particular motor?

Suzuki UK are not listing Parts Kits for my motor and on Ebay the kits being offered are mostly unbranded. I don't want to risk using Chinese rip-off components - does anyone have any experience of buying from a particular UK seller which suggests they might be a safe source?

Pikey Dave put me on to these https://dulasboats.co.uk/pages/servicing.

Prevention better than cure

[Fenlander]

>>If it ain’t broke don’t fix it (Break it). Loads of people on here who mess around with their engines in the name of servicing them are the ones who have issues.

Oh do give it a rest, that statement is a total fabrication. Your deep rooted obsession with not looking after anything properly is no benefit to those that seek help with a problem. TwoHooter has a significant issue with his engine which others will try and help with.

[Fenlander]

Mine was a DF20AS... the S being short shaft and the L model is long. It doesn't refer to the tiller steer. I see you mention models being sold called a DF20ATS... I think that is a elec start power tilt model for remotes.

Re the service kits I see several folks offering genuine Suzuki ones on Ebay. I have picked this one as these guys are decent sellers in my experience...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202622651...Bk9SR9Sgx9_5Yw

As I said earlier in this service thread you will probably find you only need to use some of the parts from the kit if the originals check out OK then you have the remainder left for next time.

[TwoHooter]

Thanks Fenlander. Yes, ours is electric power tilt + remote control. That's why we bought this RIB, I got fed up sitting sideways on the tubes of our old tiller-steer tender and cricking my ageing neck to look forwards. And I got fed up with the 2 stroke noise. And the sloping floor. The electric tilt, quieter engine, and flat floor are luxuries not necessities but I wouldn't be without them now.

I've dealt with Seamark Nunn before. But on this occasion I'm paying a bit more after following up Paul's suggestion of Boating Mania. My call was answered by Carol, who said Mike wasn't available right now but could she help? And my goodness yes she could. Definitely knew what she was talking about. Started by asking for the serial number and checked exactly what I needed.

I'm suddenly feeling more confident about this whole modern engine thing and I'm definitely going to try DIY servicing from now on. Changing the impeller will be a good place to start.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by TwoHooter

Thanks Fenlander. Yes, ours is electric power tilt + remote control. That's why we bought this RIB, I got fed up sitting sideways on the tubes of our old tiller-steer tender and cricking my ageing neck to look forwards. And I got fed up with the 2 stroke noise. And the sloping floor. The electric tilt, quieter engine, and flat floor are luxuries not necessities but I wouldn't be without them now.

I've dealt with Seamark Nunn before. But on this occasion I'm paying a bit more after following up Paul's suggestion of Boating Mania. My call was answered by Carol, who said Mike wasn't available right now but could she help? And my goodness yes she could. Definitely knew what she was talking about. Started by asking for the serial number and checked exactly what I needed.

I'm suddenly feeling more confident about this whole modern engine thing and I'm definitely going to try DIY servicing from now on. Changing the impeller will be a good place to start.

I'm sure it will all go well. Keep us all informed as to how things progress, especially with regard to your weak tell tail.

[Fenlander]

>>I'm paying a bit more after following up Paul's suggestion of Boating Mania.

Glad you are sorted, it may be you have ordered the larger service kit as there are two at different prices.

[TwoHooter]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Keep us all informed as to how things progress, especially with regard to your weak tell tail.

Thank you for not referring to my weak pee .
Yes I will post updates. Very annoying when threads die and readers are left wondering what happened.

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Glad you are sorted, it may be you have ordered the larger service kit as there are two at different prices.

Yes, oils too, and I think they account for the difference. But no mention of grease. Does one just use a generic silicone grease, or Morris Marine Grease, or what? I did a search for "grease" in the parts manual and it isn't mentioned.
EDIT: found it in the service manual - Grease 99000–25350 (SUZUKI Water Resistant Grease EP2 (250 g))
I need all this to be on board on Monday because the forecast suggests we might be setting off on Tuesday.

Diagnostics. I asked about these and was told (a) the official kits are very expensive, and (b) Suzuki don't really like customers having them and (c) the self-employed guys with vans use the ones off Ebay! There seem to be 2 offers at the moment, both in Lithuania, but different towns.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223574809936 (has a card of some kind with the software, and there is a photo suggesting the in-built PCB is genuine)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202420976065 (this has a disk and I soon won't have a CD player - hopefully I could transfer the contents to a USB stick)
Edit 2: Just received this from Boating mania: These engines need to be flushed out regularly as they suffer from blockage in the head. Well I've been flushing after every lift-out but only with the hose attached to the flushing port. In future I'll run the engine in a tank on board. May even treat it to some RydeLyme if I can get it.