I think I have done around 6 hours so far and I have lubed every nipple I can see. What do I need to do to service the steering?

Chris

Serviced every year just before the start of the game season. I have averaged 100 hours a year for the last 3 years. This time around the service will be in Febuary as I havent done the full 100 hours. So I'm going to leave it until just before Hohoura.

A service is around $300 to $400 depending on what I have done. So at $350 or $3.50 per hour its not to bad

Naki,

What make of outboard do you have ? I checked my service manual and it says every 100 hours or yearly, what ever comes first. I have never heard of 50 hours one year the 100 then 50

Every year without doubt 100hrs or less. Beginning of November ready for the season, the cost is usually around $500 for a Merc 150 EFI, the bottom end gets removed and serviced also for that cost ..........well worth the money especialy if your out 40 miles off Tutukaka or 30 miles off the Manukau heads. I also take the cover off regularly and spray the motor with marine grade CRC.

Also about May I change out all the spark plugs which rust slightly between the isolator pot and the metal screw boss which causes a misfire.

I have a 1988 85hp motor which still runs like a dream with regular annual services but I learnt an expensive lesson this winter. The bottom end obviously had not been removed for a while and the studs had to be drilled out to replace the impeller (water pump). The labour alone came to over $500. How do you avoid that kind of mistake? Ask to have the bottom end removed as a matter of course during your annual service?

Cheers

Keith

Keith,

        Given the nature of an outboard's work enviroment it is in the best interest of any outboard service provider to make sure everything is checked and then reported to the owner for autherisation of any further work needed, when a car goes in for a 10000K service it would be unlikley that they wouldn't check the brakes, grease the drive shaft and change the oil. I'm a mechanic by trade but I've not worked as that for many years therfore know most of the rorts some guy's pull. When it comes to my outboard I still pay to have it serviced and ask for the "once over" by a service provider that I and most of my mates use. The water pump is more important than the fuel to run the motor, and as you said when you find out there's a problem it's generally too late and you're in the sh*t as it were ! I don't know where you live but I'd be happy to supply the name of the outfit that does all ours.

Yes Naki, I agree with your point in question for late model motors which can be taken to the authorised agents and signed off.

With the change in ownership of the brands and the demise of certain ones, 'authorisation' becomes an issue. With the brand I have got, the nearest authorised dealer for another brand says they only work on their own brand because of the possible difficulty in getting spares (Their excuse, not mine!).

Also, I know a few people who use mobile marine mechanics who come to you and it is often more convenient than towing to the service centres.

With a motor of my vintage or a second-hand rig, you don't (and often can't) necessarily get a service book.

The point I was trying to make is that we cannot take anything for granted and need to be specific in what we want and expect to have done - preferably in writing.

Cheers

Keith