Honda 40 HP twins

T

tejohnsrude

New member
Hi everyone. I have a prickly problem to relate.
About a year ago my starboard 40 HP outboard began shaking while idling, was difficult to keep running at idle speed and would surge at speed. It would be OK at 3000-3500 RPM but above that would go from 4000 to 2500, back up to 3500 and down again. The boat went to a licensed Honda Dealer near here a few months later for annual tune-up and to fix this problem. By the way, it was hard to start also.
The dealer told me (after being at his shop for THREE WEEKs, no return phone calls or E-Mail), it was put back in the water and when I went to pick it up he said" By the way, the engine was "tweaked" but it should be OK for awhile, but the carb needs changing--since Honda does not allow repairs (??) and this would be a quick-on-the-water job (about an hour or so". Well-----didn't happen. Other things happened, the details of which are too long to relate at this time.

So, I called another Honda-Certified-Repair Person (?) who said that the carb could be overhauled but that my problem was also with the fuel pump(s?). In the meantime my engine Trim-Hydraulics sprung a leak and pink goo went onto the ground. I was the painting the bottom since the boat lives in a marina, on the water year-round. so the boat was hauled out (again), towed to the repair facility, had carb repair/rebuild,new fuel pumps,new fuel hose assemblies, and a whole new Trim Mechanism hydraulic system. Of course this could not be repaired. Shoulda guessed.

Total bill? Repair facility #1. $ 640 and change
Repair facility #2 $2400
Grand total $3040......and it still shakes, but the surging problem OK now . and it runs at full-throttle just fine.
My port engine is perfectly beautiful and runs like a good OB should.

Any helpfull hints? I live in Kitsap County, Western Washington
 
You haven't named any repair folks in your post. Take it to Matt Gurnsey at Kitsap Marina....He's a regular poster here, a good C-Dory guy and will treat you right and fix the things that he didn't the first time, if there are any.

Charlie
 
Take it to EQ Marine. They do Honda work and they know what they're doing. I drive past several other Honda repair places to get there.
 
There is a mobile mechanic in the Kitsap Area that is certified for Honda Service. He's the guy we call for Honda help.

May Mobile Marine
Monty Riley
360-621-1239
 
Speaks well of the dealership. And of Matt. Little things are what makes or breaks a business. :lol:

Good to have people like Matt around!
 
tejohnsrude,
The Honda carburetors have only "TWO" moving parts, the "float valve" and "venturi damper". Unless you have excessive hours on the motor, its unlikely they need attention. At this time I'm rebuilding my carburetors due to "clogging" of both the "idle" and "main jets" from ethanol (biofuel)! The "jet" passages are very small, about .010" or less and it does not take much to foul them. This leads to "rough idle", "hard starting", and loss of smooth transition from idle to high speed. My suggestion is to find an experienced mechanic (not necessarily Honda) and have the carburetors cleaned, not replaced. Incidentally the intake manifold needs to be removed from the engine with all carburetors attached. Not a job for a vessel that is "in the water". Good luck and please report back with your findings.
 
Something that my Honda repair guy shared with me about my 10 hp kicker is since the jets are so small that if any water got into the fuel that it can clog the jet/s. My kicker was running rough, he blew out the jet, all was well.

Good luck,
Jim
 
I know this is an old post but did you find out what caused the shakes? I just bought a boat with 40 hp twins and am starting to go thru it.
 
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