Why Skipping This Maintenance Step Can Cost You Your Outboard Motor

Hello and thank you for stopping by! Thanks also for the support and subs! We are just ordinary guys who love playing with boats, cars, mowers etc so join us for fun...and disasters! In this episode I talk about the need to flush out your outboard after each use. Thanks for watching!
Edited on Sony Vegas Pro 13.

[@seriksson9721]

Well, the spark plug wasn't tight. Rusted or hard-eroded bolts are not so fun. It can be a lot of work.
Flushing the engine is very important if you use the boat in salt water.
A little oil or marine grease on the threads makes life easier. Thanks for a great program.

[@skipperstan]

Well spotted on the spark plug, yes it was a little loose. I think it was because I borrowed it to use on the Tohatsu 2.5hp rebuild last week, the one I couldn't get started, and I didn't put it back properly.

[@stephenkeogh7901]

Hi what are the correct steps for flushing the Tohatsu outboard in this video? I have just inherited this model and just paid to have it serviced.
Really enjoying your channel

[@skipperstan]

Thank you! I tend to use a Marine Engine Descaler, you can buy them from most marine suppliers. Just run some of that through your engine in the same way as when you stick the outboard in a bucket of water. That should remove all the junk and limescale, clearing the waterways. Check the water outlet flow before and after to get an idea if it is better, and also have a look in the bottom of the bucket after cleaning through to see what junk it has pulled out. Hope that helps, Happy Sailing! ⚓

[@stephenkeogh7901]

@@skipperstan great thanks for the valuable information. When flushing are you supposed to turn the fuel cock to off?

[@skipperstan]

@@stephenkeogh7901 Pop your Tohatsu onto a stand and make sure the prop is in a large bucket full of cold water. Ensure the water inlet and exhaust outlet are fully submersed, and the water teller spout is over the bucket so the water can circulate back into the bucket. Add the descaler in accordance with the instructions depending on how much water is in the bucket. Start engine in neutral and let it tick over for say 30min, or more if you want, then stop the engine and allow to cool. Keep an eye on the outboard and water flowing out to ensure that no junk has blocked the waterways. If needs be, repeat the process again, that should dissolve any salts in the cooling system. Might be worth making a bleed pipe for the water outlet out of a bit of hose to return the water to the bucket. 👍

[@blackbeltchef5750]

Jealous of your workshop

[@skipperstan]

Thank you! It's taken many years to build up but is in dire need of a tidy up. As the boats are expanding in numbers, I expect to be needing a new bigger boat shed in the near future.