Have you ever struggled with removing a fuel line from a barbed fitting? A technician recommends using panel clip pliers to remove the stuck hoses. While this tool is more commonly used in the automotive industry to remove the “Christmas Tree” clips from a door panel, it can be used in the marine industry as […]
Back To Basics: Flushing The Cooling System
Cooling system flushing is essential to prevent system corrosion and clogging from salt, sand, or other debris. We recommend flushing the cooling system with fresh water after each use as soon as possible. The procedure for flushing the engine in a watercraft is different than most marine engines and must be followed to prevent internal […]
Inspecting Your Propeller
As a part of regular maintenance, propellers should be removed and inspected on a consistent basis. This will not only prevent the propeller from seizing on the prop shaft, but it will also allow you to remove any present fishing line to keep the prop functioning at full capacity. You could be seriously injured if […]
Tech Tip Corner: Installing Speed and Water Sensors
When installing a speed or water sensor, it is important to not apply force to the plastic connector. If force is applied to the plastic connector instead of the metal nut, the internal wires will break. This will cause the connector to spin. To check if the connector is broken, look at the blue dot. […]
Did You Know? Stainless Steel Prop Care!
Did you know that the outboard’s propeller is a key factor in the performance of your vessel? This is why it is a best practice to visually inspect the propeller before enjoying a fun day on the water. Checking the propeller for any bends, nicks, cuts, or cracks will help ensure the unit’s performance will […]
Did You Know? Hydrolocking!
Did you know that a bent or broken connecting rod is usually caused by the engine hydrolocking? Hydrolocking is caused by too much fluid, water, or fuel entering the cylinder. Because fluid can’t compress like an air/fuel mixture, the piston cannot reach the top of the combustion chamber on the compression cycle. Either the engine […]
Driveshaft Support Bearing Service
The SIM YAMAHA tech department receives requests asking “what is this squealing noise”—especially one that comes and goes, often noticeable at idle or low RPMs after the engine warms up or following a run—is a very common issue on many Yamaha four-stroke outboards in the F40 to F350 range (including popular models like the F115, […]
Running In a Bucket -How Deep is Deep Enough?
Have you ever tried running your outboard motor in a tank, barrel, or large bucket? As the photo shows the water pump—specifically the impeller—is located at the top of the gearcase (lower unit), just above the gear housing but below the powerhead/exhaust area. While the pump can sometimes draw water upward if the level is […]
Why is my Outboard Overheating?
A overheating outboard can happen for a variety of reasons. If you have ever noticed a lack of water coming from the cooling water pilot hole (also called the “overboard discharge indicator” or ODI or “pisser” or telltale) on your outboard, here are a few tips that can help you quickly analyze the situation. TIP […]
Trim Signal Wire
When rigging or repowering a boat with Command Link® (CL) gauges, (Round gauges, Square gauges, 6YC display, CL5 display, CL7, CLPlus 6Y9 and NMEA 2000 MFD’s) make sure that you connect the trim signal wire. Usually you will see full up reading or one segment blinking of the trim reading isn’t there. The pink wires, […]