Yamaha 50

tom&shan · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 316 Photos: Dakota

How do you find the hours on a engine?
I see references all the time to the number of hours on a engine, but I have not been able to find out where you see this on the engine. Just got my C-Dory and am trying to verify the hours on the engine.

lloyds · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject:

Hourmeter, usually an optional accessory on the dash. I guess many of the newer engines also have a track in the onboard brain or controller that can be downloaded to give varying pieces of information, including hours.

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject:

Engine hours are usually "recorded" on the tachometer face which is on the dashboard. Some got 'em, some don't.

Charlie

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

The older hour meters (dash mounted) of my experience simply counted the hours the switch was turned on. As such, it counted all the hours one spent fixing or investigating wiring problems, or if you left the ignition on to use a light, etc, or listen to the radio in some situations...

John

Hunkydory · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:02 pm Post subject:

Chris Bulovsky · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:36 pm Post subject:

If they get plugged into a diagnostic computer they can tell hours, RMPS and for for how long,and when.

I'm no expert but a dealer should be able to tell you if your motor has this feature. I know big Mercurys have this and would think newish Yamaha's would have this as well. A Phone call to a Yamaha repair dealer will clear this up. Just have the Serial # and info handy before you call.

This may provide a starting point for you.

Chris

thataway · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:56 pm Post subject:

It probably depends on the year and size of motor. I have a 2003 Yahama 115 and the hours show on the LCD guage if you push the correct switch.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:02 am Post subject:

My 2005 Yamaha 90 has the LCD display with the hours shown as well.

The technician can get a print out out of the motor with his diagnostic computer that shows all the hours logged at the various rpm ranges.

It also reports on operating temperatures and on the condition of all the on board sensors and control systems.

I believe this more sophisticated information comes about with the Electronic Fuel Injection which requires an on board computer "brain" to run all the electronic engine systems.

The Yamaha 40-90 hp engines switched over from carburetors to EFI in 2005. What model year is your Yamaha 50?

Joe.

Wefings · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:

The only motors that can be checked via computer diagnostics are EFI motors . If the Yamaha is a 2 stroke or an older carburated 4 stroke there is no hour logging function within the motor . If the gauges are digital Yamaha , there is an hourmeter built in to the speedometer gauge . The speedometer is not included on every digital gauge package ,only the tachometer is required , the speedo is optional .
With all that said , if there is no hourmeter , a compression test is the best way to determine the motors approximate hours . Comparing the factory spec to the actual reading will tell if there are lots of hours . Our experience has shown that a properly maintained 4 stroke will run thousands of hours without much loss of compression . 2 Strokes will start to lose compression much earlier in their life .
A check of the condition of the lower unit oil is also reccomended .
Marc

tom&shan · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 316 Photos: Dakota

Thanks for all the advice - guess I'll just have to get out on the water and see how it runs. The guy I bought the boat from told me the engine only had about 200 hours on it. Its a 1990 engine, started up and seem to run ok, I'll check the oil before I get out on the water. No hour gauge on the dash, so sounds like a compression check is the only way to tell.

Now if it would only warm up here in Seattle ....brrrrrrr.....