Outboard Motor

An outboard motor is a self-contained unit used for the propulsion of small boats. An outboard motor usually contains an engine, subsidiary systems and a propeller, and is designed to be mounted at the rear of the boat.

Maintaining Your Outboard Motor

Caring for your outboard motor is essential if you want your outboard in tip-top shape the moment you want to take your little boat out for a spin. Maintenance of your outboard motor should be done by you, since it is not all the time that you can bring your boat to the mechanics. Fortunately, maintenance for an outboard motor is relatively easy as long as you are regular about doing it.

For one, it is important to flush the outboard motor with fresh water after every excursion in the water, whether it was a saltwater or freshwater adventure. You should also check for fuel or water leaks, as this will require a speedy trip to the mechanics for repairs.

Lubrication is also of primary important. To prevent rusting of the moving and metal parts of your outboard motor such as the fuel clamps and tanks, wipe or spray them with an anti-rust solution or lubricant like WD 40 or Quick-Lube. When not using your boat, cover the outboard motor with canvas or thick piece of cloth. Finally, use fresh fuel every time you take your boat out. This means taking out the remaining fuel from your last trip and bringing it to the proper fuel recycling establishments in your area.

Tuning Your Outboard Motor

Tuning your outboard motor is one important activity that every boat owner should know how to do. Tuning an outboard is typically done once a year as part of the maintenance of your outboard motor.

With your owner's manual in hand, start the tuning of your outboard motor with a through visual inspection to check for leaks, crack and wear in the propeller and rust and corrosion on the metal parts. Lubricate and adjust as needed, although bigger problems such as leaks or needs for replacement may require a trip to the mechanic. You also need to disconnect the spark plug wires and remove each spark plug so you can replace them with new ones. Another part of your outboard that needs replacing every year is the cowling. Apply a coat of car wax to prevent it from rusting.

Also replace the filter once a year. You can usually find specific instructions for filter replacement in the owner's manual of your outboard motor. For testing your outboard motor, mix the right amount of fuel and oil according to the owner's manual and set the outboard motor in water. Tuning an outboard motor, once you know how to do it, can take as long as three hours at the least.

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