Use it or lose it: kicker woes

[Two Bears]

Just returned home with my rebuilt kicker, a 6 hp Suzuki - to the tune of nearly $500. I'm the 3rd owner of a 5 yr old boat/ motor with the main a Suzuki 90 which had 200 hrs when purchasing last April (2010). I didn't pay much attention to the kicker, which would not have made much difference in any case. Kicker spent most of it's life lifted out of the water lying horizontally across the transom, just along for the ride. I ran it just once last summer to insure that it did run, and when winter came I lifted it off the transom and stood it on its keel in my barn. I remember looking at it and wondering if it had ever been used, as there were no nicks or marks on the prop or any place else on motor. Come spring the shifting mechanism was frozen up. After trying many different times to get it free I took it to a Suzuki shop in Spokane - 3 hrs away as no one locally would work on it.
They found the mechanism full of rust, gunk and other troubles and had to enter the main power unit to reach the problems. Most of money was labor, not parts. Also found a lot of gunk in gas. Need to run dry after use. I always did that on my sailboat motor, don't know why I didn't think this motor needed that. In any case the problem was lack of use...sigh.

Chuck

 

[Tug]

I`m in the same boat, i replaced/ carburetor kit in the two years i have owned the 8 hp 2 stroke that came with the boat. I have run it once in the backyard , i have a hard time starting snowblowers/lawn mowers and two stroke outboards because of my back. I would sell it if someone wanted to buy it in a flash. An electric start kicker is on my bucket list of things to buy for my boat.

 

[chimoii]

Maybe something to be said for the oldies.

I have a 3.3 2-stroke Mercury that I used for our old sailboat when we had one. Only used it for 10 minutes to get in and out of the dock because I couldn't get the board down close to shore. Ran it dry when the memory worked at the end of the season but often forgot. Did run it dry before bringing it up to Canada 4 years ago. In the fall of last year I dropped it on the back of the inflatable, added some mix and it fired up on the second pull. Left it alone for the winter and it started on first pull last week. It has never had any maintenance and now I feel guilty. I've abused my outboard

 

[Matt Gurnsey]

Leaving for 4 years might have been the key- no ethonal 4 years ago.

We are seeing HUGE problems with engines due to the ethonal in fuel. It is nasty, evil, vile stuff that should never have been introduced into motor vehicle fuel, and certainly not marine engine fuel.

We are making a LOT of money because of ethonal. And we feel bad every time we slide that bill across the desk, and empathise with the frustration our customers feel.

So many wonder why the stuff is even in the fuel, and are quite angry. But I'll bet not one of them has contacted their representatives or senators about it. These people need to hear about just how much this boon doggle is costing the American consumers.

/rant

 

[localboy]

But I'll bet not one of them has contacted their representatives or senators about it.

I think they're like most Americans Matt. They have no faith in their elected "leaders" anymore and feel their concerns will fall on deaf ears.

I recently waited to fill the boat in Port Orchard Marina, thinking I could get 100% dino gas there. Wrong; E10 like everywhere else. I'm gonna try that farm co-op in Snohomish.

 

[matt_unique]

Maybe something to be said for the oldies.

I have a 3.3 2-stroke Mercury that I used for our old sailboat when we had one. ...

You and me both. My 3.3 Mercury 2 stroke (I think actually made by Tohatsu if you look inside) has been completely submerged twice in salt water since I've owned it (oops). I removed the carb, cleaned it out at home, emptied the gas tank, removed the spark plug, covered everything good with anti corrosive, etc. and it's still running like a champ. It starts first pull (I now leave locked on the transom of my dinghy) and runs good.

I replace the impeller every 4-5 years and winterize it each year.

I have read other threads here on C-brat's about the pitfalls of the kicker with little use. Sorry to hear about the $$$. We all feel your pain as boaters.