Is 500 (mostly salt) hours on a 2004 Honda 40

H

hayb

New member
anything to be concerned with? The outboard has been flushed and (obviously) used with regularity. I'm asking as I'm looking at a sweet little 16 cruiser with the above mentioned outboard.

Knowing this is a bit of a nebulous question yet asked anyway, how many hours would one expect to get from a newer 4-stroke these days before the motor is is need of replacement? Thousands? tens of thousands? I can't seem to find any literature that addresses the question of "lifespan"

Thanks for any thoughts.
 
It wouldn't concern me if everything about the deal was right. One of our members put over 1900 hours on that same engine before he replaced it.
 
If you calculate those hours into four seasons, that only averages 125 hours per year, which is about average.

I would have no worries if the engine has been serviced and flushed regularly.

Good luck in your decision.
 
Agree with Ken, and we're probably the member he said had over 1900 hours on our Honda 40 (mostly salt) before one gave out. We went on to put several hundred more hours on the second engine (as a single engine along the Erie Canal, with its low speed limits with the defunct engine in the up position) -- then we replaced them both.

We were told by a commercial operator that most expect to easily get 1,000 hours, and then they often replace them for their reliability needs.

We now have over 600 hours on our 'new' 40's and regard them as hardly broken in.

So, I would sure go along with what Ken suggested.
 
I put 400 hours on my honda 90 the first year. All salt water. Iam in to my third year with over 700 hours and I have not been out fishing as much as I would like . also I did not have a kicker the first year and a half. As long as you take care of them they should last a long time.
 
500 well maintained hours on a good four stroke is no problem . If the price is right , I wouldn't hesitate. No manufacturerer will comment on lifespan . 3-5 k is not unusual from our experience .
Marc
 
Since the engine was flushed, it is most likely that it will be good for a long time. Look for signs of corrosion, around the aft end of the prop housing (bullet part of the lower unit). The area where the lower unit breaks apart to replace the pump. The bracket. These are areas where there is aluminum, SS and Bronze, and where corrosion is likely to occur. If you get a chance to tear the pump down, look at the passages.

Honda's seem to have more corrosion if left in salt water than some of the other engines.

1000 hours would be on the low side for a well maintained engine. 2,000 is very likely--and if in commercial use (daily use and well cared for) much more--up to over 5,000 hours on some of the new 4 strokes. Also it depends on how hard the engine was run, as well as the oil changes etc.

Check the compression, be sure that the engine does not overheat. You might also get an oil analysis, if the oil has not been recently changed.
 
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