Honda Trouble

[Bob Herrick]

The old Johnson Sailmaster that came with our Typhoon Senior finally bit the dust at mid-season last year. We replaced it with a brand new 8hp Honda four-stroke.

We have had consistent problems with the Honda that seen to be related to the fuel distribution system. We've replaced the gas. We've also had it to the dealer several times. His mechanic swears there's "nothing wrong with that engine" despite the fact that it has a tendency to die at the worst possible time.

We simply don't trust the engine. The dealer says he's had no problems with any of the Hondas he's sold but we seem to have one.

We're wondering whether anyone else has experienced problems with Honda outboards.

Bob Herrick



bob@twne.com

[mike]

The old Johnson Sailmaster that came with our Typhoon Senior finally bit the dust at mid-season last year. We replaced it with a brand new 8hp Honda four-stroke.

We have had consistent problems with the Honda that seen to be related to the fuel distribution system. We've replaced the gas. We've also had it to the dealer several times. His mechanic swears there's "nothing wrong with that engine" despite the fact that it has a tendency to die at the worst possible time.

We simply don't trust the engine. The dealer says he's had no problems with any of the Hondas he's sold but we seem to have one.

We're wondering whether anyone else has experienced problems with Honda outboards.

Bob Herrick

I don't pretend to know but wonder if it might be just too large of an engine and it runs at such an odd angle it shuts down somehow. We powered our Pearson Triton (28.5', 8500#s, also an Alberg) design for a few years with a 8 hp Nissan. It pushed the boat easily at hull speed at 2/3rds throttle. An 8 hp engine is much larger than you need on a typhoon. Mike



michaelconniesmith@home.com

[Bob Herrick]

I don't pretend to know but wonder if it might be just too large of an engine and it runs at such an odd angle it shuts down somehow. We powered our Pearson Triton (28.5', 8500#s, also an Alberg) design for a few years with a 8 hp Nissan. It pushed the boat easily at hull speed at 2/3rds throttle. An 8 hp engine is much larger than you need on a typhoon. Mike

Mike,

Yes, 8hp is more than we need--6hp seems ideal for the Ty Senior which is 22'and displaces 3,300 lbs (you may have been thinking of the 19' Typhoon?). However, the Johnson Sailmaster with the long shaft is no longer made, according to the Johnson dealer. The long shaft and the ability to charge the main battery were features found on only one or two engines and the Honda 8 was the lightest and lowest horsepower, as I recall. The other issue was the motor well on the Ty Senior which seemed just right for the Sailmaster. As it was, we had to move the mounting board foward four inches to accommodate the Honda.

Bob



bob@twne.com

[bill willis]

The old Johnson Sailmaster that came with our Typhoon Senior finally bit the dust at mid-season last year. We replaced it with a brand new 8hp Honda four-stroke.

We have had consistent problems with the Honda that seen to be related to the fuel distribution system. We've replaced the gas. We've also had it to the dealer several times. His mechanic swears there's "nothing wrong with that engine" despite the fact that it has a tendency to die at the worst possible time.

We simply don't trust the engine. The dealer says he's had no problems with any of the Hondas he's sold but we seem to have one.

We're wondering whether anyone else has experienced problems with Honda outboards.

Bob Herrick

Bob,
I have a 5hp Honda on my CD25 and have had no trouble, however, a neighbor has an 8hp that he uses on a fishing skiff. He told me of a fuel problem he has experienced that deals with the Honda's susceptability to moisture. Seems the fuel filter material is so fine that a single drop of water will osmosisfy (sp?)and block fuel thus causing motor to die out. Seems this is a problem common to Hondas and Yamahas. Solution is simple...put some Sta-Dry additive in fuel tank. I always add the Sta-Dry to fuel and keep the can handy- so far no die outs. Hope this helps, bill



wawillis@shore.intercom.net

[John MacArthur]

The old Johnson Sailmaster that came with our Typhoon Senior finally bit the dust at mid-season last year. We replaced it with a brand new 8hp Honda four-stroke.

We have had consistent problems with the Honda that seen to be related to the fuel distribution system. We've replaced the gas. We've also had it to the dealer several times. His mechanic swears there's "nothing wrong with that engine" despite the fact that it has a tendency to die at the worst possible time.

We simply don't trust the engine. The dealer says he's had no problems with any of the Hondas he's sold but we seem to have one.

We're wondering whether anyone else has experienced problems with Honda outboards.

Bob Herrick

I had a Honda 10 for about 15 years, two boats, and several thousand miles. The only time it gave me trouble other than in the charger diode department was once when I didn't have the fuel connector to the motor quite latched in place. Of course, it died when I was moving around a point at dusk to a safer anchorage. The next morning, after quite a bit of messing around, I found the problem. I have heard of people getting tiny debris in the jets, causing the motor to cut out. If you can solve the problem (either fuel delivery or filtering), I think you will be happy with the motor.



jmac@laplaza.org

[Richard Stephens]

Bob,

I had constant problems with my Johnson 2-stoke the first year I had the boat. The problem was basically lack of use (I am lucky enough to have a mooring I can drop and pick up under sail). When you run the motor, then leave it for a few weeks, the fuel in the carburetor turns to goo, eventually stopping the motor from running.

My routine nowadays is as follows:

+ Storage stabilizer in the fuel, year yound.

+ When stopping the motor, if it might not be used for a few days, I disconnect the fuel line. The motor will run for a minute on fuel inside the carburetor, then stall. If you turn off the ignition, the system is full of fuel; this procedure drains it.

+ Frequent use of a spray carb cleaner.

I don't know if this is the cause of your problem, but it might be worth a try.

Regards,
Richard (Ty. "Blue Diamond")



richard@memory-map.com

[Mel Vincent]

Mike:
I have had a 7.5, 9.9 and 15 hp honda's and I do not think I would buy anything but a honda in the future. The only problems I have ever encountered are 1.) Small amounts of dirt plugging up the filter and 2.) not enough air getting to fuel tank vent. It was this problem that fooled me. I felt I opened the vent screw enough but over long periods of motoring vibration was slowly closing the screw. I would also check to make sure the fuel line is not being restricted in anyway.
Good luck.

Mel

I don't pretend to know but wonder if it might be just too large of an engine and it runs at such an odd angle it shuts down somehow. We powered our Pearson Triton (28.5', 8500#s, also an Alberg) design for a few years with a 8 hp Nissan. It pushed the boat easily at hull speed at 2/3rds throttle. An 8 hp engine is much larger than you need on a typhoon. Mike

Mike,

Yes, 8hp is more than we need--6hp seems ideal for the Ty Senior which is 22'and displaces 3,300 lbs (you may have been thinking of the 19' Typhoon?). However, the Johnson Sailmaster with the long shaft is no longer made, according to the Johnson dealer. The long shaft and the ability to charge the main battery were features found on only one or two engines and the Honda 8 was the lightest and lowest horsepower, as I recall. The other issue was the motor well on the Ty Senior which seemed just right for the Sailmaster. As it was, we had to move the mounting board foward four inches to accommodate the Honda.

Bob

mawv@nbnet.nb.ca