Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke, removing remote cables

[grahamdouglass]

I have a Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke, I have to take it off my tender and take it in for carburetor work.

I've read the brief description in the manual on how to remove the shift and acceleration controls and I have been searching Youtube for a good video on control linkage removal and installation.

Do any of you have a good video on removal and installation of a Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke motor from the dingy? That has really clear instructions on the linkage assembly with the remote control on the helm?

I like to see something performed before I do it. I hate surprises.

 

[koliver]

I have a Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke, I have to take it off my tender and take it in for carburetor work.

I've read the brief description in the manual on how to remove the shift and acceleration controls and I have been searching Youtube for a good video on control linkage removal and installation.

Do any of you have a good video on removal and installation of a Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke motor from the dingy? That has really clear instructions on the linkage assembly with the remote control on the helm?

I like to see something performed before I do it. I hate surprises.

On my Honda 40, I went to the Honda Store for carburetor gasket kits. There, the Clerk recommended that before taking the carburetors apart, I buy the spray can that says "Honda" on it, for cleaning carburetors, and spray it into the carbs, individually, while running the engine, spraying until the engine chokes on the stuff.
I did so, and no longer need to do any carb work. Tohatsu may work the same.

 

[grahamdouglass]

I did the seafoam treatment, that is I put a lot of seafoam in the gasoline and I sprayed the seafoam carburettor cleaner into the intake when I ran the motor. It ran for a while and died. Then it wouldn't start. This motor is really terrible. Before, I had one of the last 2 Stroke Mercury motors built in the US. It ran all the time never had to do a thing. Big mistake getting a 4 stroke Tohatsu.

 

[KnotYet]

Knowing nothing of your situation, I have an 18Hp Tohatsu 4-stroke which I
find to be reliable and pretty low maintenance. If you routinely leave
gasoline in the engine during periods of disuse there can be residue deposits
and starting issues. This can happen to any engine with a carburetor. At
some point, external sprays won't be effective and the carb will need to be removed and cleaned or rebuilt.

These engines are easy to work on, at least. I, too thought my carb was
causing trouble but it turned out the fuel hose under it had deteriorated and
was leaking. I was able to cut off the split and re-use the same hose at no cost. Still working...

 

[grahamdouglass]

You may have a point. After my work on my engine I came home, watched a couple of youtube videos and fuel delivery can be an issue. One of the things mentioned is ability to properly pressurize the gas with the bulb. I did notice that the bulb did not have the rock hard feel it used to have. So I'll spend some more quality time, some more seafoam and see if I can't get it running. If my second attempt doesn't do it then off it comes and into the shop.

 

[KnotYet]

In my case I had ordered a carb rebuild kit for around $20 that I didn't
really need. The carb was quite simple to remove and replace but I like
fixing things.
When that didn't resolve my problem I found the leaking hose.

 

[koliver]

I should also mention the gas.
I won't buy gas at the fuel dock, as it has ethanol in it. I buy only from land stations where I can see a sign on the pump reading "No Ethanol".
Running great ever since I started doing that.
Also in my Lawn mower, weed whacker, chain saws, cars that don't get much use...you get the picture.
Haven't had any fuel associated issues since I started doing that.

 

[Endeavor GB 32]

Two thoughts; one, with a long-ago boat that had constant dinghy outboard troubles, I found it much easier to borrow a trailer and trailer the dinghy with outboard attached to the shop. Two, many fuel docks, including the one in Semiahmoo Marina (Blaine, WA) where we keep our boat, only sell ethanol-free gas. OP Graham, good luck, poor running dighy motors are a PITA.
Regards,
Scott

 

[Osprey69]

I should also mention the gas.
I won't buy gas at the fuel dock, as it has ethanol in it. I buy only from land stations where I can see a sign on the pump reading "No Ethanol".
Running great ever since I started doing that.
Also in my Lawn mower, weed whacker, chain saws, cars that don't get much use...you get the picture.
Haven't had any fuel associated issues since I started doing that.

When I lived in MA the only place to get ethanol free gas was at the airport.

Ethanol is the scourge of small motors...