Servicing Outboard Engine Options

[jack]

Hi,

I am not ready to spend 349 dollars plus parts to have my boat that does not see much water serviced by hunts marine. I run it every couple of weeks for about 15-20 minutes and have it on a trickle charger most of the time.
What looks to be a bit worn are the sacrificial anodes but I have no idea how worn they can be before they are gone. Are they easy to replace?

What else should I check before I haul it down to conjola again for it's annual swim?
Should I change the oil maybe?? again, difficult?

It is a 40HP yamaha 2 stroke 2 cylinder

Thanks Jack

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Ah !

The joys of boating

[jack]

In my case more the joys of owning a boat.... not doing much boating


Jack

[nimrod]

Jack. Just one thing I will suggest to you seems as how your boat is not used all that much, you state you run the motor every now and again, how old is the fuel you are running it with ?.
2 stroke fuel goes off and the fuel should not be used ( in my opinion ) after its about 3 months old.
If you don't use the boat much just get a small container 4 ltrs or so and use that.

Perhaps your motor is a oil injected motor in which case, you can largely ignore what I just wrote ( just thought of that ) I assumed like my old donks that yours would be the pre mixed fuel, you know the kind you add the oil to the fuel type, anyhow , just raving on, so hope this may be of some help somewhere along the line.

[jack]

Jack. Just one thing I will suggest to you seems as how your boat is not used all that much, you state you run the motor every now and again, how old is the fuel you are running it with ?.
2 stroke fuel goes off and the fuel should not be used ( in my opinion ) after its about 3 months old.
If you don't use the boat much just get a small container 4 ltrs or so and use that.

Perhaps your motor is a oil injected motor in which case, you can largely ignore what I just wrote ( just thought of that ) I assumed like my old donks that yours would be the pre mixed fuel, you know the kind you add the oil to the fuel type, anyhow , just raving on, so hope this may be of some help somewhere along the line.

it is the same as yours, mix the oil in the fuel. I give the container a good shake before I start so the oil and fuel mix again but I am not throwing out perfectly fine petrol :-)
and I run the carburator dry so no old petrol inside the engine when it is doing nothing

[nimrod]

Jack. Better to waste 20 odd ltrs of fuel rather then feed stale fuel to your engine.

[Spudly]

use it in the mower and get new fuel

[Jumpus GooDarus]

I thought goats ate grass & clothes off the hoist spud

[jack]

Ok, I have replaced the petrol with new 98 petrol....
Took it out for a spin and the warning buzzer came on when going fast (many reasons why it could but mainly overheating)
Bugger..... Quick think....ahhhhh....rookie error.

All those months when it was sitting in front of the house being regularly run WITH EARMUFFS... take them of when on the water. Very embarrasing. Don't laugh Jumpus.....

Take them off , full throttle from our christmas drink location (few will know where that was) to the como railroad bridge and back and all good again.

Fixed the trailer brake lights as both of them had stopped working at some stage during last years road trip. New bulbs fixed that. checked the bearings and they look good.

I am ready for the silly season.

Jack

[nimrod]

Ok, I have replaced the petrol with new 98 petrol....
Took it out for a spin and the warning buzzer came on when going fast (many reasons why it could but mainly overheating)
Bugger..... Quick think....ahhhhh....rookie error.

All those months when it was sitting in front of the house being regularly run WITH EARMUFFS... take them of when on the water. Very embarrasing. Don't laugh Jumpus.....

Take them off , full throttle from our christmas drink location (few will know where that was) to the como railroad bridge and back and all good again.

Fixed the trailer brake lights as both of them had stopped working at some stage during last years road trip. New bulbs fixed that. checked the bearings and they look good.

I am ready for the silly season.

Jack

Jack. You're not alone mate, I done the exact same thing once about 30 years ago.
I always place the muffs with the wire towards the front of the motor and this kept the ear muffs firmly attatched to the engine when driving forward, had I put wire to rear of engine they would more than likely be forced off engine once a bit of speed obtained.
That's a fair run you did and all should be OK for the coming season.

[jack]

Had I place them the other way around I guess they would have destroyed the propellor. So I guess I was lucky in that way.

Jack

[Jumpus GooDarus]

Wot a pair of goobers

[jack]

Wot a pair of goobers

I specifically asked you not to laugh....

[nimrod]

Wot a pair of goobers

I put it down to yet another thing learn through practical experience.

[Fed]

I'm surprised you didn't notice a change in performance & sound Jack.

I picked up a Y shaped stick (not a very big one, 200mm long x 8mm dia) going down the river & I felt the boat slow & the exhaust sound changed. Felt like I picked up a plastic bag.

At least you gave the temp sensor & alarm horn a test, I doubt they would have done that on a regular service.