Tender motor research

[Paul S]

I have a collection of signs!

[Kelly Hanson East]

Setup the Nissan 4 HP and Abby can start it from cold without a problem....

[DaveB]

I did just that on my 5 hp Nissan and the 6 hp Carb. is much easier starting. The 4 hp you can do same.
Cost $125 on line.
Dave

... I do have it on authority that the difference in the 4 5 6 HP engine models (confirmed for Nissan Tohatsu, probable for the others) is only carb (and bezel sticker ), so you could turn your 4HP into a 6HP by swapping the carb for about 140 USD or so down the road.....

ModsEdit: just to clarify context ~fc

[Kelly Hanson East]

Thanks Dave !! The 4HP should be good for moment, but Ill probably upgrade this to a 6HP for use as backup power for my Catigale

[Ivan Awfulitch]

I use my 80's vintage Mercury 6hp 2 stroke. Pushes a full load without any problems, and starts by the second pull 95% of the time. Don't have the old Mac 17 anymore, so bought the tender to have a use for the motor.

Has anyone used one of the Briggs and Stratton 5hp air cooled engines? Not too bad price wise and a decent weight.

[bastonjock]

ive just bought the mercury 3.5 4s.i had an old yammaha 3.5 2s.it kept drawing in water and was generally unreliable.I chose the mercury because of its weight and price,at 36lbs its not too heavy as i transferr my motor to the kicker mount everytime i go out,i like internal fuel tanks also,the price on the 4hp was another $200.00

[Kelly Hanson East]

AT Cuttyhunk I would say about 90% of the tender outboards were Mercurys. I believe Nissan makes the Tohatsu, Nissan,and Mercury motors in the 6HP and under size range...the head and controls all looked the same.

I will reaffirm Chip H's observation that a 55# motor is the practical limit for removing from boat mount and mounting to tender single handed. WIth two of us it was easy, so I didnt mind doing it onceoff once on for the 8 day trip, but I could see how easy it would be to drop that puppy by yourself.

[Hardcrab]

A minor point, but Tohatsu is the company that makes the rebadged Nissan and Mercury motors.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Correction to post above

I managed to break the shift lever on my Nissan, so I got the service manual to replace it myself.

Turns out the 4/5/6 HP family differ in both carbs and camshaft lift (presumably just a different camshaft.)

My guess is if you put a 6HP carb on a 4HP you will get more power but not the full rated 6 HP.

[Divecoz]

Correction to post above

I managed to break the shift lever on my Nissan, so I got the service manual to replace it myself.

Turns out the 4/5/6 HP family differ in both carbs and camshaft lift (presumably just a different camshaft.)

My guess is if you put a 6HP carb on a 4HP you will get more power but not the full rated 6 HP.

With 20 years behind me of building some fire breathing Cars and Motorcycles ...... long before all the computers programs where available to help you with set up.....
Cams.. lift height and duration are a MAJOR factor and NOT always on the Positive side.
Ignition timing ...... again this is very important when changing carbs and cams.
Plug Heat range again.... LOTS involved here .
Potential Carb volume again more is NOT always better without changing the rest of the equation and lets NOT !!!!! Forget exhaust.
The exhaust exit must not exceed the noise exiting the final port. the underlined is most often why The New Harley Guys who do nothing but reduce or eliminate exhaust back pressure in fact only make their bikes looooouder and in fact are making them slooooower and are.......burning valves and heads and piston tops...
My education started with a 65 Chevelle SS that someone had replaced the original motor with a 283 that again someone had added 2.02 fuely heads to and a pair of 650 Holley double pumpers with a direct linkage..... 0=60 or 50 = 90 but never both / full spectrum ... not with what I had bought.. 1 year later and a LOT of education and a lot of money spent....... I got her running hard fast and the one to beat and then I sold her.... I had reason to suspected her guts would never hold up ..... She needed to have a new forged crank and bigger heavier better bearing and pins and even pistons ......
Back in the day the 283 among most others had variable HP available and it wasn't just a difference in Carbs ...... But alas as I said earlier,I know nothing about small outboards...
I ( at the moment ) KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SMALL OUTBOARD MOTORS !!!!!!!! But I will be Playinggggggggg with my 1987 6 hp Evinrude next week

[irayone]

I have a mercury 6 runs well....I haven't figured out how to mount it on the transom????? I wish I had an old Seagull...Light yet powerfull, easy to rebuild.

[DaveB]

If a internal tank is what you want than get one.
I have had many hrs on Nissan 6 hp than a Nissan 5 hp 4 cycle and since the 4-6 hp is same engine except the 4 hp has internal fuel tank. Buy the online 6hp carberator for that 4 hp and you will have a excellent motor (did it on my Potor 19 with 5 hp Nissan) also did 2000 miles on my CP19 with a new 6 hp Nissan. So I know the carb. for 4-6 hp is the 6 hp carb and will give yo 6 hp on your 4 hp Nissan.
Still a 55 lb motor compared to the 2 hp Honda 4cycle at 28 lbs. but I haven't found anyone in SW FL. to work on a Honda 2 hp, neither my Sailing club WCTSS in Tampa with few exceptions and there are many Sea Pearls 21 with the 2 hp Honda.
Buy a outboard that services your area.
Dave

There are rumblings about 2s being banned in local lakes and I am thinking about that. I can use this motor on the inflatable, the Watertender 10 foot (the CHUNK) or even the Island 17' day sailor

My 'gull did quit on me in C'hunk the other week (as always, dirty fuel in carb) but my girls are getting to the age where they can handle a tender and motor themselves....Im not too fond of long blond hair and the Seagull "spinning flywheel of death" (un-covered flywheel which spins at 4000 rpm).

Ergo a nice clean 4 stroke with FNR and a pull starter that anyone in the family can start and use is the order of the day.

The decision tree was pretty easy since CHUNK is only 5 HP rated, but 4HP is the largest kicker you can get with an internal fuel tank. On the CHUNK I dont want the girls messing with an external tank and fuel lines so 4HP it is. You can cruise for 2 hours on the internal tank btw!!
The 4HP motors can take an external tank so it will also serve as backup on Catigale, our


ITs killing me because I do have a 'modern' Seagull project motor in the basement with FNR but its 12 months from hitting the water at least.

[The Mutt]

We have a Mercury 3.3 hp 2stroke, I'ts light in weight and pushes our inflatable along without a problem.

Glenn

[Kelly Hanson East]

Irayone - once the girls are grown up the 4HP will get sold and I will return to my flock of seagulls. Being able to completely field strip the engine to the bottom end with a spanner and screw driver has its merits on the open seas! Check out John Williams Saving Old Seagulls website if you want to step back in time.