Honda 90 Maintenance?

[52Alumacraft]

I'm considering buying a Honda 90 in a new boat package but the closest Honda dealer is probably 100 miles away. Is it tough to do the general maintenance on a Honda engine yourself? I'm capable of the mechanical work but I'm wondering if you need special tools, diagnostic instruments, double jointed limbs, etc.
Thanks,
JB

 

[gss036]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

Other than periodic oil change, I wouldn't think it would need much of anything else. Hondas are pretty good on the water pump impeller, probably change it every 3 ot 4 years. I actually went about 13 on my 15 hp Honda, not that I recommend that long, but I just use mine for trolling.
Change the oil in the lower end at then end of the season. Just buy the pump and adapter and a qt of lower unit oil. Takes about 15 minutes, that way you know you don't have water in there to freeze if you are in cold climate.
Run a bottle of Chevron Techron through the carb/injectors occasionly to keep them clean.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

I'm considering buying a Honda 90 in a new boat package but the closest Honda dealer is probably 100 miles away. Is it tough to do the general maintenance on a Honda engine yourself? I'm capable of the mechanical work but I'm wondering if you need special tools, diagnostic instruments, double jointed limbs, etc.
Thanks,
JB

If you're refering to the new for 2007 BF90D, 90hp Honda, then I have one, and a Honda Marine Shop Manuel for it, and I do all the maintenance and repair myself.

Is this the motor you're talking about or the 9hp one?

 

[52Alumacraft]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

Yes Skinnywater it is the 90hp motor that I am considering buying. Thanks fellows for the input.
JB

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

Yes Skinnywater it is the 90hp motor that I am considering buying. Thanks fellows for the input.
JB

Then the Honda Marine Shop Manuel BF75D, BF90D, part #61ZY900 is a requirement.
It can be purchased through the Honda Marine website in the owners drop down menu.

General maintenance is easy to do for the mechanically inclined and is well laid out in the SM.
Repairs are easy and diagnosis is more involved.

The only special tools that I needed was a fuel pressure guage to test the high pressure system and the special jumper wire to pull or erase diagnostic codes, or to set base idle.

The motor smoothly purrs at idle and absolutely screams above VTEC activation.

I have absolutely no regrets spending a higher purchase price for this motor.

 

[52Alumacraft]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

Thanks for the additional information. I think with a good manual I would get along OK. It sounds like you are very happy with your motor Skinnywater. That is good to hear.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

Thanks for the additional information. I think with a good manual I would get along OK. It sounds like you are very happy with your motor Skinnywater. That is good to hear.

Only had one very intermittent "bogging" problem that would occur very sporatically in between 25-30 hours on the engine, have 85hrs on it now and hasn't happend since.

You will notice a significant power increase at about 10 hrs. and another at 80hrs. I was told to expect it by the dealer. It was noticeable enough to make me think it was programed in the software though the dealer swore it wasn't.

Keep us posted.

 

[52Alumacraft]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

It is interesteing to know about the performance boost at 10 and 80 hrs. It does make you wonder about the program. I am still leaning towards the Honda even though it is going to cost about $500 more than the Merc. I don't want a Merc, and I am not crazy about a Yammi. The E-tec does interest me a litttle though. If their sales info had a little more fact and a little less hype I would be more interested.

Wish I could find some hard facts on fuel consumption of the Honda relative to other brands.
JB

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

It is interesteing to know about the performance boost at 10 and 80 hrs. It does make you wonder about the program. I am still leaning towards the Honda even though it is going to cost about $500 more than the Merc. I don't want a Merc, and I am not crazy about a Yammi. The E-tec does interest me a litttle though. If their sales info had a little more fact and a little less hype I would be more interested.

Wish I could find some hard facts on fuel consumption of the Honda relative to other brands.
JB

I will state as fact what I know as fact.

My daughters '04 F90 Yami is quieter at WOT, but my Honda is quieter at idle.
That is mainly because my Honda gets a lot louder when VTEC engages @5200 RPM. My Honda also twists 600 RPM more at WOT and therefore has a higher top-end.
My Honda starts faster, hot or cold.

All things are equal between the two, identical boats and identical jetpumps and both are at 75-85 hours, same rigging, same oil and fuel, same guy(me) setting them up.
Our fuel consumption is very close.
Her motor was considerably cheaper to purchase.
I have 2 more years of warranty then hers.
I like her motor, I like mine more.

The leanburn program on the BF90d is designed for economy but it is programmed to be in effect at cruise around 3500 RPM. This feature won't help outside of it's mapped parameter.
Although I'm presently looking into changing the ECM software to allow for a higher parameter for leanburn to approx. 4500RPM and a VTEC solenoid activation around 5000RPM.

I'm sure there are some economy tests that were run with this engine and compared with others on identical hulls.

 

[Format]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

This thread was exactly what I was looking for! I recently just purchased a new Lund Classic 1775 with a 2007 or possibly an 08' Honda 90 (and 20 kicker). We've been running up and down the Ohio river west of Pittsburgh PA and have been following the normal break-in procedure specified in the manual. We noticed that the RPM guage seemed to be a little off and took it to the dealer explaining that it wouldn't go above ~2900RPM on the guage. The dealer's explanation was that the boat was initally configured for a 20hp motor and that the RPM guage needed adjusted (which he "did"). After taking the boat out again and testing the "adjusted" RPM guage to see if it would read the appropriate max RPM of ~5000-6000RPM, yet again, nothing more than ~2900RPM.
After reading this post I've come to realize that Honda Marine is smarter than the average bear and accomidating those of us who are not. It seems as though (according to other posts) that once you break in the motor around 10 hours you get a significant boost in power, thus explaining the lack of umph from that whopper on the back of our boat. We will continue to reach our goal of the 10 hour mark (and the 80hr mark) and note if there is an increase in power.

Until then...

 

[tommays]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

What dealers are close to you as 200 miles (twice) for a minor problem which is pretty common on a new install would be a -

 

[Format]

Re: Honda 90 Maintenance?

Im from the North Pittsburgh PA area and there is one off of Rt. 422 going north on 79N. For me its only about 30 miles or so. (if it was me you where asking ><)