Quesion about Yamaha outboards

[Joker2]

I am looking to buy a motor and the guy is telling me that he does not recomend Yamaha motors because they sometimes have big electrical problems that can be expensive to fix, curious to know if this is true? also he told me that motors starting in 2001 use o-rings instead of head gaskets, he said they are very unreliable, is this true? Thanks

[THEFERMANATOR]

As far as YAMAHA electronics, they aree probably the best in the business and hardly ever fail on the old school carbed outboards. You just don't here of many problems with YAMAHA's and the electrical or ignition system. As for the head gaskets, I'm not sure. I know the high HP engines went to O-rings as head gaskets would blow out often under high compression.

EDIT: I went and looked at some of the last 2 stroke YAMAHA's on there parts website and it still shows head gaskets on them. Sounds like you found somebody with a distatste for YAMAHA's. I personally prefer made in the USA, but theres nothing wrong with the imports. Look at boats used in far off places and third world nations, most of them will have YAMAHA ENDUROS and such on them that have been in service for 20 or more years. That in and of itself should tell you something about the YAMAHAS.

[Joker2]

Yeah, that's what I thought, I had only read that the Yam's were workhorses, He aid he would rebuild whatever I wanted but he was favoring Merc's (1999 175 to be exact ), I'm just not sure about this guy, He told me he would warranty everything for 1 YR, He will deliver it and help me install it so we can test it Price 4,300, What do you think ? Thanks for your input.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Sounds a bit high when you can buy a good running outboard for less than that and install it yourself. YAMAHA's are expensive to rebuild when they need it though, I will say that. I've got a 250 that I bought to rebuild until I priced out just the bearings for it at over a grand.

[Joker2]

Thanks for your advise !

[Phillip]

I am looking to buy a motor and the guy is telling me that he does not recomend Yamaha motors because they sometimes have big electrical problems that can be expensive to fix, curious to know if this is true? also he told me that motors starting in 2001 use o-rings instead of head gaskets, he said they are very unreliable, is this true? Thanks
Sorry to say this, but I completely disagree with that statement. Yamaha outboards are the best in the business, they are one of the best companies which manufacture top class outboards. I am personally using a Yamaha outboard from past 3 years and I have not faced any such problems, the regular services will keep it fit and fine.

[RidgeRunner]

No way to pin a bad reputation on Yamaha. Parts are high, but so are my Merc and OMC parts. I mean you can get a bad one in any brand. Too many people swear by their Yamaha motors for there to be any widespread problems. Good luck with your search for a good motor, whatever the brand.

[spareparts]

Yamaha makes a very good engine, parts are expensive, regular maintainance items are expensive, their electronics are probably the best. They corrode pretty bad, trim motors usually the first to go. They are very sensitive to low quality fuel

For Mercurys, I can't say anthing on the Verados, I don't have any experiance with tehm, they are heavy, majority of the assembly is now being made offsore. Their electronics have gotten a lot better. I like the opti's(probably what I would buy if I could afford a new motor), parts are avaliable anywhere. They do like expensive oil, they are lighter than most motors. The optis are equal to the e-tecs in fuel consuption and better than most four strokes.

Suzuki makes a good engine, they are far less picky about fuel than a Yamaha, weight is on par with all the other four stokes. They offer a 175 four stroke(Yamaha doesn't). Sem to be a bit cheaper than Yamaha when sold loose. Their warranty sucks, they corrode horribly. If it wasn't for Suzukis, Yamaha would have the worst reputation for corrosion

Johnson /Evinrude. E-tec are the lightest of the bunch, very fuel efficient. Don't use alot of oil. They are the most expesive. You have got to have a good dealer, its a must. The dealer must be very familure with tehm, if they don't know what they are doing, you're going to have problems. Can't say abotu corrosion(not that many around here), they do use the same Showa trim system that Yamaha uses.


When it comes down to it, I'll stick to my old school 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 mercs

[Monkey Butler]

I like my old carbed Yamahas and have found them to be reliable. Except for the corrosion issues they are solid motors as far as I can tell. That said I have run into many people who feel the exact opposite and in almost all cases their opinion was caused by having a bad mechanic try to fix a simple problem by throwing parts at it. I have bought two different motors for cheap money because the owners could not get them to run right even after having spent hundreds of dollars on "professional" repairs. I got both running for less than $200. Ferm and Spare and some other guys on this site seem to be able to diagnose these things in their sleep but for everyone of them there seems to be a dozen so called pros that I wouldn't trust to even change my spark plugs.

[macojoe]

I have had 3 Yamaha now 2 carb and my new to me 4 stroke

The first one was a 175 and a great motor!! The issue was the trim motor rotting and the shift rod, it was a 1989 and the shift rod was fixed after 1994
I also had a power pack go bad but thats it

The 2nd was a 150 Yamaha 1994 that i bought and it came with heat issues and i never kept it, but if I had today and knew what i know now i bet i could have fixed it.

I have nothing to say about the 4 stroke as I have had it ine season and man what a machine!!

All makes have had and will always have some problems! Ask 100 people and get 100 opinions!

Parts can be $$$ and if you are not handy you are going to pay a guy $$$ to maintain!
Get a book and ask questions here or on other sites and you be surprised how easy most fixes can be.
I have had Mers, OMC, Yamaha and they all have had there problems

Good Luck!

[redfish chaser]

That mechanic that tried to steer you from a Yamaha was meerly trying to keep you in a relm that he was comfortable with and probably could make the most profit. Chances are he had the parts in stock and such. I own a 2001 Yamaha 150 ox66 saltwater oil and fuel injected model that I bought used in 2006 with 52 hours on the clock for $6500. I now have 660 hours on it. I run 3100 rpms @ 30 mph making roughly 3 mpg swinging a well worn 23 pitch prop. Top speed 41 mph @ 4800 rpms. I don't dog this motor but I run it in some extremely shallow water (sometimes no water) and use all it has to offer on occasion. My hull has a short tunnel at the transom that allows my prop shaft to be even with the keel. My only problem was the screen at the bottom of the fuel pump that feeds the injector pump plugged up. Cleaned it myself and its been "fish on" since then. Yamaha has a top notch product.

[jasoncooperpcola]

I have two 86 150 Yamahas on my 250 Sportsman. As far as electrical problems the only problems electrical i have had are the oil injection black boxes. First one tank started overflowing and then the other tank on the other motor began overflowing. We ended up trashing the whole injection system and going to premix. Probably a good thing to do anyways. Other than that they are very reliable motors. They never skip a beat and as long as they have fuel they will run. (i probably just jinxed myself, i will let yall know tomorrow if they still run)

[macojoe]

my 87 did the same on the motor tank, i had to buy a new float for $130 yamaha parts don't come c heap!! but i still own one

[bksah2]

Hi jasoncooo I dont want to steal this thread but can you give a step by step of how you removed the oil injection,, I know yamaha's oil injection system is more invoeled then merc evinrude and johnson ..I think when you get to disconnecting the alarms is where it becomes a pain ,,also did you replace the pump or use a home made blank

[jasoncooperpcola]

When i de-oil-injection-systemized my outboards i just unplugged all the connections and hoses then pitched the tanks out. I also had to take the oil injection pump off and take the worm screw gear drive out then put the pump back on. I plugged all unused hoses with 1/4 bolts and clamps

[bksah2]

Kind of what i was thinking did you also puts caps over the nipples at the carbs.

[jasoncooperpcola]

No i left all the hoses that run to the carbs from the oil injection pump attached. ALso the engine oil tank has a float sensor on it. I had to take the sensor apart and use a piece of 3/8 hose to hold the float at the "full" level. This keeps the thing from screaming at you about being low on oil.

[leeprice72]

That mechanic sounds like he is trying to sell you that 99 mercury, which is priced on the high side. I would run far away from that guy and lose his number. Yamahas are great engines 2 stroke and 4 stroke. I really do not think that guy has any idea about what he is talking about. Mercurys are real good motors also his just seems a bit high, and he sounds like a d.a..