School a newbie on outboard maintenance

[jyasaki]

Let us know how it works for you. Best test (pain in the butt, I know) would be a comparison with and without the PT installed.

Luck;

jky

[F470]

Screws flipped and will report back when I test drive it.

I'd like to get some advice on routine maintenance as I am getting motor and boat ready for this season. I bought the motor used last fall. What should be done? Lower unit gear oil change? I have an impeller replacement kit but how complicated it that to do? Any routine maintenance that I am missing?

[jyasaki]

2-stroke? Plugs, LU oil, any fuel filter that happens to be there, and impeller, should you wish to tackle it (if it cools alright, you could leave it as long as you watch for signs of it failing.) Not really a whole lot else to do unless you want to strip and clean the carbs, at least as far as I know (not really a 2-stroke guy.)

jky

[F470]

Anyone have suggestions for where to take the Suzuki in for service in Portland, OR? I'd like to do the impeller and oil before my next trip.

What are the signs that the impeller needs replacing? How do you know if it cools ok?

[Squid Boat]

Originally Posted by F470

Anyone have suggestions for where to take the Suzuki in for service in Portland, OR? I'd like to do the impeller and oil before my next trip.

What are the signs that the impeller needs replacing? How do you know if it cools ok?

I do mine every season, it lets you inspect the housing for scoring and any signs of damage to the impeller from debris of melting due to a stray plastic bag or kelp/weed blockage of the water inlet. My boat usage is only in the open sea so I only expect what I inspect, if the impeller is in my hand I'm replacing it with a fresh OEM part even if the water was peeing out the lower leg.

Cheers, Squid

[F470]

Impeller and oil change looks pretty straightforward actually so I've decided to do it myself since I have all the parts.

Where do I get an oil hand pump with a threaded fitting that fits the oil drain hole? Would an auto store have it? Also do you use grease anywhere in this process? If so, where and what kind?

[F470]

Next to the oil vent/drain screw there is a flush screw. Do you flush it here after every time you've run it in salt water?

[jyasaki]

Either flush with the adaptor through the screw plugged port (motor off; the adaptor may be hard to find depending on the motor brand), or put it on muffs and run the motor at idle for several minutes.

I generally try to flush after every trip; I don't feel too bad if I miss once in a while.

As to the other post, grease parts that fit closely together (splines on prop and driveshaft) to keep salt water from getting in and crystalizing. Makes it hard to get stuff apart.

Impeller should be changed every year or two. Problem isn't simply that it stops pumping water; it's more that you don't want it to happen when you really need the motor (think many miles from recovery point, in current or with decent sized waves.) Replacing before it fails means it will be as dependable as it can be.

jky

[F470]

I got what I needed from Worst Marine. Will hopefully get to it this week.

[F470]

I didn't get to the oil/impeller change yet but I did notice today while on the water that the water doesn't stream out the top of the motor, its more like a sputter. Could this indicate that the water impeller is not functioning correctly?

I am also having what I believe to be a loose cable related to the ignition switch. Lately it will not always start when turning the key. No 'clicking' noise so I don't even think the starter is engaging. It pull starts just fine.

[jyasaki]

Take a piece of solid wire or similar (trimmer line if it fits) and run it up through the telltale hose. May be blockage. You can also try running a high pressure water jet up the telltale (worked on my Honda 40.)

Check your killcord is firmly in place and if you can get to the contacts, check operation (simple on off so not really complicated.)

Switch itself is going to be more complicated.

jky

[F470]

I don't have a kill cord. Only a kill button on the handle. I will try to unblock with a water jet. From the behavior it appears to be a loose wire or if there is a feature to prevent you from starting in gear it may that this feature is acting up. It wouldn't start then when I took the top off and checked the cables, closed it and tilted the motor up and down then it would start again. I don't think it is the starter itself. we'll see.

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by F470

I don't have a kill cord.

Suggest you get one before the RIB.net police come round and put water in ur gas.

[jyasaki]

LOL.

Hmmm. Now that I think about it, there was a Brit asking about coming to the US west coast...

[F470]

I'm in the process of removing the lower unit bolts to change the impeller and seals. It appears that it has been a while since this service because the bolts are corroded in place and very hard to remove. Two of the bolts are bending as I try to remove them and I'm afraid they'll break. I have tilted the motor upside down and applied generous amounts of Liquid Wrench but it doesn't seem to make much difference. Any advice? Should I apply heat on the bolts? I'm afraid they'll snap.

I also noticed while disconnecting the gear shaft that the jam nut was on the bottom and I was under the impression that the jam nut goes on top. Does it matter?

[F470]

I snapped one.

[F470]

So I need to order a new set of bolts and lock washers for the lower gear case unit. Will 316 or 18-8 from Mcmaster do or do these need to be ordered from a Suzuki Dealer?

[F470]

So the plate on my motor says Suzuki DT-40. That's the impeller kit I ordered but it turns out the DT-40 impeller kit doesn't fit on my DT-4 as mine has a larger bolt pattern. The impeller kit that was already installed appears to be for DT-55/65. Any idea why? Is it possible that the lower unit has been replaced with a DT-55/65 unit?

[SIBRider]

That appears to be 84+ DT40 pump not earlier DT40 1980 DT40MLT Suzuki Marine Outboard Water Pump Diagram and Parts
wron part number

[F470]

Ok. Thanks. So will the 17400-94701 Water Pump Kit fit this? Is there a way to look up what I have using the serial number?