40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

[Bill C.]

I plan to buy a 40 HP 4-stroke for a 18 ft. x 48" wide jon boat. I really like what I've heard about the Suzuki 4 strokes but at 243 lbs. I am concerned that it will be too mch weight on the back. The lightest 4-stroke seems to be the Yamaha at 183 lbs. (that may be without power trim/tilt as I see some performance test weights listed at 196 or so). Anyway, the Yamaha has 3 carbs vs. fuel-injection on the Suzuki. I've had different carbed motors thoughout the years and found them to be utterly reliable. Is there anything really different about the carburators on these new small 4-strokes that makes them more likely to gum up, get plugged jets, or require more maintenance? Thanks.

 

[JB]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Howdy, Bill.

Welcome to iboats.

You need to read the menu of fora, and you need to understand what "not engine topics" means.

Moving to Non-Repair Outboard. . . .

 

[yukonpike]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Maybe I am wrong but I do think that it is a good question for this form. It is not a repair question but about the choice of motors to use. i am buying a Suzuki motor and all that I have read is that they are great motors. Standard and Poors rated them the same as Hondas. And yes I have also owned a Honda in the past. If the weights that you are that different like you said make sure that everything is equal.

 

[JB]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Really a no-brainer to me, Bill.

EFI is cleaner, more economical, much more user-friendly and more reliable than a multi-carb setup.

I don't think 243lb is even close to too heavy for an 18 foot boat.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Also remember that the Suzuki 40hp is a detuned 50hp with more cubic inches, EFI, timing CHAIN (no belts to check/change) over the yamaha. If your boat can handle the extra 55-60# weight then get the Suzuki, it will be easier on gas and probibly cost less then the Yamaha new.

 

[Bill C.]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

You guys are just reinforcing my initial plans to buy the Suzuki. An old salt dealer whose opinion I respect and trust was the first to talk me out of the Yami and into the Suzuki, talking quick starts, timing chains vs. belts, EFI the way to go, computer diagnostics, etc. Then I read all the information on the Suzuki website about their motors and I'll just say they sold me. Then I stopped by and talked to our local outboard mechanic (small town) about EFI vs. carbed motors. He steered me towards the EFI.

So, I'm sold on the Suzuki! My very only concern is the heavy weight. This is just a jon boat. Yes, it's 18 ft long but narrow for an 18 ft boat -- just 48" bottom width. Boat only weight probably about 375 lbs. Tiller steer. 12 gal gas in the stern. Battery too. On the other hand it does have a large front deck, will have a trolling motor up front, does have a 6 ft. gun box along one side. Maybe 243 lbs. will be ok on the back. But I know 183 lbs. will be fine.

I go back and forth between the two motor options. Your input is clear and appreciated. One thing I could do would be to put my battery up front in the bow storage area. And I guess if it really helped to balance the heavier motor on the back I could even go 24 volt on the trolling motor and put two batteries up front!

Well, thanks again! You've reconvinced me which is the clear motor choice. Now if you can help me feel warm and fuzzy about having 243 lbs. back there on the back it really will be a no-brainer!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Well, look at it this way. Would you take a kid fishing and let him sit in the back? Cause that's all the weight you will be adding to it with the Suzuki. It's all about weight distribution. I don't know if you currently have a motor on there now, but either way, have a large guy sit in the rear or add some concrete blocks to the back to simulate the weight. See how it sits in the water and decide if it's too much. I think you will be fine if you add some countering weight up front like the troller, battery, supplies, Etc.....

 

[Bill C.]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Well, I don't have the boat yet -- will be about 2 weeks before I get it. And Suzuki looks like they just have their Gimme Six warranty through the end of May. So if I'm going to buy a Suzuki I need to do it real soon.

Anyway, seems like most of you think fuel-injection and timing chains vs. belts is the way to go. But what about carburators themselves? I'm still curious if carb reliability or tendency to get plugged/gummed up is different on 4-strokes vs. 2-strokes. Like many of you I've used various 2 cycle outboards for years and personally only had to do something to one carb one time. Do the 4-strokes carbs have any design details that make any less reliable than the carbs on 2-strokes?

 

[Bill C.]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

Bought a Suzuki 40 HP Saturday. It's the motor I really wanted and seems to come highly recommended. So I get the longer Gimme Six warranty and will find out later just how it sits on my boat. I can always put my battery in the bow storage area, even go to a 24 v trolling motor and put 2 batteries up front if necessary to balance the boat better.

The dealer I bought it from had a very strong opinion on the particular carburators on the Yamaha I was considering. I don't know how much of this is fact based but it seemed like honest information he was providing.

The dealer said that before Mercury marketed their EFI 40 HP 4-stroke that Yamaha and Mercury used the same powerhead for their 40 HP 4-strokes. Both had the same 3 carbs. He said that there were special tools required (the dealer had to purchase them just for this work) to synchronize these 3 carbs and that they were a pain to set and maintain for customers. He told me he used to actually cringe when he sold one of these 40 HP Mercs with the carbs because he had so many problems keeping them running right for his customers. So his input was that if Yamaha was still using this same technology on their current 40 HP he would "run the other way".

Well, if it was a sales pitch away from the Yami it worked. But I did not need much more encouragement to buy a Suzuki anyway. Just the same I'd be interested if someone has information or experience that can confirm the above carb problems the dealer described.

 

[BillP]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

In my humble opinion the carb bashing is pure sales hype. I bought a new Merc/Mariner (yamaha powerhead) carbed 50hp 4 stroke in 1996 and still have it. Never had a problem with the carbs. I also work pt in the marine industry and talk to plenty of boat owners and dealers...NEVER hear of carb problems with mercs or yamahas that weren't caused by owner neglect. However, there are plenty of complaints with efi due to voltage issues from faulty wiring and low batteries, so neither type is perfect.

BP

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: 40 HP 4-stroke -- carbs or fuel-injection?

In my humble opinion the carb bashing is pure sales hype. I bought a new Merc/Mariner (yamaha powerhead) carbed 50hp 4 stroke in 1996 and still have it. Never had a problem with the carbs. I also work pt in the marine industry and talk to plenty of boat owners and dealers...NEVER hear of carb problems with mercs or yamahas that weren't caused by owner neglect. However, there are plenty of complaints with efi due to voltage issues from faulty wiring and low batteries, so neither type is perfect.

BP

I'd have to agree, most carb problems are caused by neglect but there is still the fact that a carbed 4 stroke sucks more gas than an EFI outboard. I just clean the carbs on every carbed engine I own just before the season starts (outboards, snowmobiles, lawnmower, ect.)