honda 4 strokes

[igrumps]

I'd like to know if anybody out there has a honda 4 stroke 40 hp. What would be a good crusing rpm? and how have they been holding up? Is there any general information I should get that isn't in the handbook??? I've got this attached to a 16' Alumiweld fishing boat.<br />Thanks a lot,<br />Mike-

 

[hondon]

Re: honda 4 strokes

I've seen these things in action here on humbolt bay with the local oyster growers .With a conventional two stroke they were lucky to get a years use out of them. With Honda 50s we now are going on three years with most.Keep in mind these things work 40 plus a week with multiple users in the mud and shallows.Gearcases have held up .Powerheads have held up despite overheats.Make sure your deal includes a water separating fuel filter.

 

[Hitman65]

Re: honda 4 strokes

Hondon,<br />Do you guys have problem with the 40-50's having a rough idle? I have worked on at least 10 that have been brough in just because they idle like do-do. I have resynced, I have cleaned the carbs, I have run the valves I have adjusted the carbs but nothing seems to help.

 

[Navigator]

Re: honda 4 strokes

igrumps,<br /><br />I have a 2000 Honda 40 Tiller on a 16' Aluminum Modified V Jon Boat "Welded" not rivited. I've run it hard in Saltwater its entire life and she's never stumbled once. Typically I cruise around 4-4.5k rpm. On my boat that puts me at 21mph. Wide open, it will run 32.<br /><br />Only regrets? Well I wish I would have gotten the Remote version and put it on a different boat. The boat I put it on doesn't really do that well in moderate chop and with the tiller, its hard to get my balance right. But thats only me. I love the engine. Lots of grunt at the low end, and when I dont run WOT, I can run all day on just 6 gallons of fuel. Once I ran almost 40 miles and only used 2.5 gallons of fuel. (My old force would burn that amount up just getting avay from the dock!)<br /><br />As for rough Idle, It only seems rough until it warms up, then it smooths right out.<br /><br />Nav

<br /><br /><br /><br />------------------<br />Sold the Force and bought my Honda...Oh how I miss those days of Screaming at my Outboard.

 

[my new fishmaster]

Re: honda 4 strokes

I owned a 8hp 4stroke like a 97 and loved that engine. It will be around for the next 20 years I am sure.

 

[hondon]

Re: honda 4 strokes

HITMAN, set your idle speed at the high end of the spec on these triples and do not rely on the boat tach for that reading.Use your shop tach .Ain't got one ? Go get one. Also have seen people put these things on large packages and overprop leading to poor idle and lugging in all RPM ranges. Water in fuel on the older 35s and 45s can make tiny cracks in the lift tube that are only discernable if you are really on your toes and know what to look for. Honda has addressed this problem.

 

[Hitman65]

Re: honda 4 strokes

So Nav,<br />You say yours smooths out after warm up???<br />The ones we have worked on have been watermen boats and nothing seems to help. Dont get me wrong I still think they are the best thing going, but as a mechanic on these motors is just sometimes a little fustrating when you cant find a direct cause.

 

[Navigator]

Re: honda 4 strokes

Hitman,<br />The unstable idle, is that in gear or in neutral? I typically am not in neutral for more than the time it takes to warm the engine up. Heat it up, drop it, and go. When I'm in gear in it seems to run smooth. <br /><br />Now I do get a bit of unstable idle with the muffs on, but I always attributed that to the lack of back pressure from not being submerged. Its really more of an occasional stumble but I never thought anything of it.<br /><br />Nav