suzuki dt85

[so]

saw an ad for a suzuki dt85 from the 80's. seems like a good deal. what is general opinion of these motors? are they pretty reliable? are parts hard to come by? i searched ebay, seems not very common.

 

[99yam40]

very old motors are all a gamble,
use the motors info to look up parts to see if you can still find them

 

[so]

i meant to ask if the 80's Suzuki outboards are hard to get parts for, seems they're a lot less common than OMC

 

[racerone]

About 1/2 the parts are listed as ---NLA --- for this motor.

 

[QBhoy]

Loads of them still about over here in the UK. Have a great reputation for being bombproof. Were well made things back then. Not sure I’ve ever heard a bad word spoken about any of the DT range from the 80’s. A friend just picked up an old DT16 from 1981 there. Hadn’t ran for a decade or more. Started 3rd pull with fresh fuel…bogged a little on test…carb clean after…and it’s been incredible ever since.

 

[so]

for transporting it in a car, does it matter which side to lay down on? (throttle side or the opposite side?)

 

[racerone]

On a 2 stroke it makes no difference.

 

[so]

video shows the outboard turns over when you turn the key but as soon as key is let go, it dies, what could it be?

 

[99yam40]

you never said it started, just turned over.
so how can it die

 

[saltchuckmatt]

What video?

 

[QBhoy]

video shows the outboard turns over when you turn the key but as soon as key is let go, it dies, what could it be?

Likely a choke use misunderstood issue, I’d guess.

 

[so]

What video?

seller sent me a video over the phone. i paraphrased it wrong.

Got another video, it attempts to start, sputters a little then dies. he thinks it's a igntion switch problem, i'm guessing more like fuel/carb/plug etc.

thanks all.

 

[QBhoy]

seller sent me a video over the phone. i paraphrased it wrong.

Got another video, it attempts to start, sputters a little then dies. he thinks it's a igntion switch problem, i'm guessing more like fuel/carb/plug etc.

thanks all.

As long as the compression is ok. She will be fine. These old things have a certain knack to their starting usually. Mixture between some throttle and choke use, has then firing up no probs

 

[99yam40]

buying an old motor that you cannot run with load to make sure it will run properly and not overheat or something else is always a gamble.
if you are handy and you get it at a good price you can spend time and money to get it running well most of the time

 

[so]

decided to pick it up. seller inherited a bunch of boat things and didn't want to mess with them. motor has been sitting, turns over, came with control and power tilt, price was right.

question, what kind of fuel line connector (tank side) do i need for this ?



here's a overall pic of the motor.

 

[99yam40]

I would think if the motor was Suzuki the connector would be Suzuki too

 

[so]

serial number is 8501-819767. would that make it a 1988 model? (according to brownspoint.com data below)

1987​	08501-716504​	DT 85TCLH​
​

1988​	08501-801001​	DT 85TCLJ​
​

1989​

08501-920698​

DT 85TCLK​

 

[99yam40]

yes it would