Suzuki Periodic Maintenance Schedule

[Tug]

This season i put 137 hours on my 1999 Suzuki DF 70 4 stroke and had the dealer winterize it last month. This brings the total hours on my motor to 478, when i bought this boat it had only 272 hours.I asked the dealer to perform the 400 hour maintenace check.What he did was:
change the engine oil
Change the gear oil
change the engine oil filter
fog and run and put stabilizer in the fuel
i am to replace the spark plugs in the Spring after i run the boat for a few hours

The maintenance chart says to replace the water pump impeller and other engine parts after so many hours or years of service but the mechanic said it wasn't necessary.I just wonder if he said this because they really are not a Suzuki dealer and do not have the parts on hand.


The mechanic said the motor runs and sounds great..basically don't touch it.

Next Spring should i take the boat to a Suzuki dealer ( about 125 miles away ) and have the 400 hours maintenace work done on my boat or just leave it until a problem comes up. Tug

[Captains Cat]

Watch and DIY. Lots of $$ saved!

[thataway]

The question is has the impeller been changed? If not, it definitely needs it from just a time standpoint--especially when outboards are stored for some time the impeller takes a set--and is deformed when the engine is restarted in the spring. The rubber also disintegrates with time. If the engine is run in salt water, or areas where there is sand, it is best to change the impeller every 200 hours or 2 years. You can go longer if the engine is run year around, in fresh water and no sand etc....but at 400 hours I would certainly change it.

[Tug]

Sounds advice, it would be better to be safe than stranded miles away from the dock with a busted impeller or water pump. Will change it next Spring. Thanks Tug

[Matt Gurnsey]

I agree that an impellor / water pump service is in order. The other reason is to be sure that the lower unit comes apart. If it's never been apart in over 10 years it may require some extra persuasion (cursing and flame wrench ).

We have seen the Suzuki water pumps last a very long time, so it would not be unusual to get 10 years out of one- it's just not recomended.

[Tug]

I just got off the phone with the service mechanic in Espanola,Ontario and he basically said the same thing. He said to bring it in next Spring and they would do the 400 hr/waterpump/impellor service the same day so i can wait there. I didn't feel comfortable doing the job myself because if any problems/issues occur ( and most likely will ) there are no Suzuki parts available where i live and that would definitely mess things up. Tug

[fishingmark]

I have the susuki df70 on my 22' Angler when I bought the boat it had 270 hours on it and changed the empeller was very simple just go to I boat forums or purchase a susuki manual.

[mmitchell]

One thing to check is your thermostat if it's run in salt water:)

[JamesTXSD]

[matt_unique]

If you buy the service manual for the engine you can do the work with some basic tools, patience, and of course following instructions carefully. The cost for someone else to do maintenance is so high it provides a good incentive to learn

Anyway great that you plan to get it done. I found the process relatively straight forward on my DF150's. The weight of the lower unit and shaft was a bit of a surprise but you can use some props to help.

[Matt Gurnsey]

[petemos]

I did my Impeller this year also on an 115DF. It’s a 2007, but only has 90 hours of salt water use on it. The biggest pain was that I had to take my Permatrim off first, so I could remove all the lower unit bolts. I had used a generous amount of 3M 4200 on the Permatrim install, so it took me an hour or so to pry the Permatrim plate off, as I was afraid of cracking the lower unit plate.

Once off the rest was pretty simple, just take your time. I only did this job to see how much, if any corrosion I had on the interior bolts and shift linkage bar, as the pee stream was fine. It turned out the impeller and bolts were fine. The impeller and back plate look new and I’m going to keep them for a spare. The shift linkage bar had very little, but some corrosion where the parts connect to the units. Without the Permatrim issue, it’s about an 1.5 hour job taking your time and assuming you have all the right tools.

Lessons learned; don’t put too much 3M 4200 on the Permatrim install if you are going to be changes the impeller yourself. Also these Impellers will last a long time, so the real reason to do this job is to check that the bolts don’t seize, if your pee stream does not have any problems.

Here is a great link from another member on the process:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=12563&highlight=impeller

Here is also a video on the change on a 140, but it’s almost the same process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg23ZkyjXGI

Good luck.
Jim

[Tug]

matt and Jim ..i do have the 1999 2nd Edition Suzuki Service Manual for the DF 60/DF70 4 -stroke from the Suzuki Motor Corporation that came with the boat on purchase. I have been going over the manual and watching YouTude video's on replacing the waterpump/impeller for some time now. Looks do-able, can you buy waterpump/impeller kits on-line. Tug

[petemos]

I get my parts at browns Point marine as they are only 20 mins from my home. They seem to have good prices on Engine parts, but maybe not so great on other things. But no tax for you.

Here is there link:

http://store.brownspoint.com

[matt_unique]