HELP!! Tohatsu outboard age needed please

[EDDYSTONE EEL]

Hi ALL

I need to know the age of two tohatsu outboards, both 9.8hp

Engine 1= TOHATSU 9.8 MODEL NO. B18D/serial no,14351
Engine 2= TOHATSU 9.8 MODEL NO. M9.8A/serial no,17962

I think they date from around 1992. Is that correct ?
Any help please. Have tried age checking files but cannot find accurate age ?

Thanks in advance

 

[pvanv]

Re: HELP!! Tohatsu outboard age needed please

Those are pretty old. More than 20 years old. My shop does not have model/serial records that go back that far. I'm not sure why you would need the year of manufacture, but you could call Tohatsu at 214-420-6440 to see if they have records.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: HELP!! Tohatsu outboard age needed please

Older than dirt. Pre 85.

 

[badabing]

Re: HELP!! Tohatsu outboard age needed please

b18d 1974-1975 (no thermostat)
m9.8a 1976-1984 (99% same parts as b18d but with thermostat and ac lighting output)

These are great!
Very similar to the also very popular later/current model m9.8b but they share NO parts that I know of.
Perfect size, loop-charged, economical, lots of torque, really light weight, 67lbs, mostly aluminium, be really careful not to strip threads!

Built for professional use, japanese pacific fishermen, and salt water use.
Very reliable, indestructible, like the toyota hilux of outboards.
Of course USELESS for idling/trolling like all old 2 strokes.

 

[badabing]

Re: HELP!! Tohatsu outboard age needed please

BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING:

-no parts available except rare finds on the interwebz at ridiculous prices, sellers almost always confused about compatibility :facepalm:
many parts but not all are shared with the very similar:
m8a / b13b (both 8hp)
m12a / b18c (both 12hp)

-no gaskets/seals available anywhere, NEVER take anything apart where there is a gasket/seal, make absolutely sure the lower unit is already tight when you buy it!

-shear pins have always been available and still are, and regular nails work well too!

-impellers, very rare, but available right now @ ebay australia (cost=arm+leg+intl shipping), so be prepared to cut/modify some other impeller with the same inner diameter (which btw is HUGE for a 10hp! )
make sure the the drive shaft still comes apart so you can mount a new impeller
if it is stuck (rust) very tricky to force it apart without screwing up

 

[badabing]

Re: HELP!! Tohatsu outboard age needed please

BOTTOM LINE:
You MUST make sure they are dirt cheap and still common in your area because when you need a part for it in the future there really are two options only:
-get a 2nd working one and keep the 1st one for parts
-get a 2nd dead one for parts, but never buy anything without a nice lower unit, in real life, with these, 95% of the time, that is the only important unique spare part you'll need, and remember to check that oil a LOT more often than on newer outboards!

Old outboards like these really only make sense if your plan is to get at least 2.
I have 3 of these working: one on the sailboat, one on the zodiac, one extra.
I have a friend with one and we each have a dead one for parts.
If I see one with a working lower unit dead or alive I buy it.
These will serve us for decades at virtually NO cost.