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  1. J

    Pontoon Prop - pitch and cup change vs RPM; unexpected results

    I have a 21 foot pontoon with 60 hp Mercury 4 stroke BigFoot. Factory prop was 14" x 11 pitch; I usually got ~5400 RPM vs 6000 redline. Since we use this a lot for low speed trolling speed sunset cruising I changed to a BlackMax 14" x 10 pitch extra cup. I expected better low speed...
  2. J

    DIY Timing Belt Merc 4 stoke 60 EFI

    How easy / difficult is it to change and adjust the timing belt on a 2006 Merc 60 hp EFI 4 stroke? I have the factory service manual on order but real world advice is always appreciated plus any tips and tricks. Is this easy to access or is major disassembly required?
  3. J

    Merc 4 stroke EFI 60 hp Cooling Question

    4-cylinder 4 stroke 60 hp EFI outboard; vertical block with #1 cyl at top, #4 cyl at bottom. Does the water jacket design and cooling water flow pattern produce different temps from top to bottom cylinders? May have to break out the infrared temp gun to solve my curiosity - especially at...
  4. J

    Tohatsu break-in & 4 hp - 6 hp carb upgrade?

    Finally got my Tohatsu 4 stroke 4 hp in the water, installed a Tiny-Tac and used 1-2 hrs a day of my vacation to break it in for the factory recommended 10 hr cycle. My only problem was idle adjustment; after the first 2-3 hrs it was dying at low idle, the adjustment screw is VERY finicky and I...
  5. J

    Outboard noise levels - Optimax/E-tec/4-stk

    I will be buying a new pontoon this year with a 50-60 hp outboard.<br /><br />For pulling the kids on a tube any motor will do fine, much of our use is slow and quiet trolling at sunset, etc.<br /><br />I have heard some knocks against the Optimax noise levels - most of the local boat package...
  6. J

    Pontoon Outboard Recommendations

    Looks like I will be in the market for a new pontoon boat next spring. Best deals around me seem to be packaged with Mercury outboards, does anyone have experience with the newer Merc 4 strokes in the 40-60 hp range? Mostly we will be just cruising but I would like to pull the kids in a tube...
  7. J

    Spark Plug Heat Range - Cold Water

    I will sometimes use my 1 cyl 4 hp 4 stroke Tohatsu in March or Nov for steelhead when river temps are in the high 30s -40s.<br /><br />Has anyone tried using a hotter range plug in cold weather operation?<br /><br />Have to assume the manufacturers select spark plugs for 'typical' conditions...
  8. J

    High Phos. M/C oil for 4 stroke outboards?

    Special grade 'motorcycle only' oils have higher levels of phosphorus additives which are superior wear lubricants. (These were taken out of car oils with the advent of emission controls.) You cannot use these in cars as they will poison the catalytic converter and/or Oxygen sensors.<br /><br...
  9. J

    Tohatsu Valve clearances

    I have not yet ordered the factory manual for my new 4 hp 4 stroke; just curious if the Tohatsu valve clearance adjustments are similar to the 'shim' system used on many Japanese motorcycle engines?<br /><br />I am pretty impressed with the design of this engine, everything looks well thought...
  10. J

    4 stroke ignition - tachometer

    I am going to get a 'tinytach' tachometer for my 4 stroke 4 hp Tohatsu. Does anyone know if this engine fires each revolution or only every other? [some 4 strokes spark 'double' - every revolution regardless - that's the question here.]<br /><br /> http://www.tinytach.com/tinytach/gasoline.php...
  11. J

    '94 Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke owners manual break in

    Maybe someone can satisfy my curiosity. I once bought a new 94 model Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke. This was a short shaft, tiller, 2 cyl model, forget the model #. (Possible it was a '93 leftover, I forget.)<br /><br />I sold the motor with the original manual, but I swear I remember the manual...
  12. J

    4 stroke break in with premix oil/gas?

    Just got my new Tohatsu 4 hp 4 stroke and will be breaking it in this month.<br /><br />My last new 4 stroke was a 1995? Yamaha 9.9; I remember the manual stating to run the first 6 gal tank with premix oil/gas, I believe 50:1 ratio.<br /><br />The Tohatsu manual says nothing about using premix...
  13. J

    Nissan/Tohatsu 4/6 hp 4 stroke cam

    Thanks to much help from this site I am considering buying a Tohatsu 4hp 4 stroke and rejetting the carb to the 6 hp specs.<br /><br />A trusted mechanic friend warned me to check the camshaft P/Ns first as he experienced differences on other makes [Honda I believe?]<br /><br />In any case if...
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