Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

[walleyehed]

Need to know if the high thrust 8hp Yammy 4-stroker would be a better choice for a kicker than the standard, smaller L/U version.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

OK, I can take a hint.....<br />Anybody have an opinion on this?????

 

[JB]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Movng to General Outboard

 

[DJ]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

For use as a "kicker" the answer is simple. Get the "Hi Thrust".

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

walleye<br /><br />I cannot imagine why the 4-stroker would not be a better choice. Other than a possible weight difference(20#) that may or may not be a problem for your situation. If it's going to be mounted on a bracket and left there, I'd lean toward toward the more convenient and efficient 4-stroke.

 

[BillP]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

I don't call valve adjusting, timing belts, dip stick checking, crankcase oil/filter changes and heavier weight convenient. My 4 stroke is going away soon and will be replaced with a 2 stroke. The simple life is better. <br /><br />A 4 stroke kicker motor that just hangs there and doesn't get used much. Be ready for a rusting valve train very quickly.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

I assumed he was going to use it, unless it's just for emergency back-up. I would bet any motor would rust up if it never got used. I can't imagine a 4-stroke kicker that would require more than a yearly maintenence program.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

I troll quite a bit, maybe 100hrs a year, so it would be used quite a bit.<br />I ran into a deal on a new 8hp "high thrust" yammy, and it's a consideration as it seems it would have more positive steering control with the bigger prop.<br />I know squat about the Yamaha outboards and thanks for the advice.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Depends on what you're doing with it. If you troll, there is no better outboard IMO...except maybe the 9.9 HT.<br /><br />The HT 8 will come standard with a high output alternator and electric start. Power trim/tilt, remote steering, and 25" shaft are optional. 2.92 gearcase vs. the 2.08.<br /><br />BillP, you can't be serious. <br /> <br />The difference in a 4-stroke 8 HP and a 2-stroke 8 HP is night and day.<br /><br />I own several Yamaha kickers that I use commercially, and I've never had to adjust the valves or replace a timing belt. I don't know why Yamaha even has us inspect them.<br /><br />I find it much easier to check a dipstick than to pre-mix. And the 4-stroke 8 won't have an oil filter to change. It's a wash-out, re-useable screen. How "simple" do you want it? Weight? Leave the 20 lbs of fuel, jugs of pre-mix, spark plugs, and the wrenches needed for the 2-stroke at home.<br /><br />Rusting valve train? Get serious.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Forktail, thanks, and yea, strictly a kicker, but I do alot of trolling.<br />I've been using an '83 jonny 7.5 and works fine if you don't have alot of wind shifting you around, just too small a prop I think. I've got a friend with an 8hp HT that needs to get rid of it for money needs, and he's only actually ran it once.<br />The charging system is a huge plus I wasn't aware of either cause I always have battery issues after trolling for several hours due to electrical running without big engine.

 

[BillP]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Oh Mister Forktail,<br />Get real? Your many hours of running 4 strokes didn't teach this one. Come on down to Florida and look at the valve train on my 50 4 stroke Mariner(Yamaha). I went unexpectedly into the hospital and the motor sat for 3-4 months hanging high and dry under a roofed boathouse without being cranked. The motor was 1.5 yrs old and had 275+ hrs. Temp and humidity both in the mid to high 90s. When I got out I opened the oil fill cap and looked at the valves with a flashlight. Rust ALL over the valve parts...to the point of the springs being rust colored. The motor was perfect before that. My other motors (2 strokes) didn't suffer even a little and never have from sitting that long.<br /><br />The best I can determine is condensation builds up under the valve covers and displaces the oil. I had an airplane that did this. After 2-3 WEEKS sitting I could pull the port valve cover off and find water gathered up and dripping in one corner. The starboard cover was always dry. That valve train rusted too and it ran straight 40W oil.<br /><br />If you are determined to naysay this rust issue then put your money where your mouth is and arrange for an inspection of my motor. I'll match anything you put up. I can use the money to buy a new 2 stroke.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

BiilP,<br /><br />Get the March Bass and Walleye Boats magazine and read their 4-stroke outboard oil story. In their tests, they did a rust resistance test in FL, guess who did the worst? El cheapo Pennzoil did well. Intersting reading.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

BillP, rusting valvetrains simply aren't an issue with owning a 4-stroke. For the most part, the valvetrain components are sealed from the environment. If your valves and springs have rusted in just 3-4 months, you have a major problem.<br /><br />If this was a common problem, we'd all be hearing about it, or experiencing it. That's just not the case.<br /><br />On the other hand, a 2-stroke is exposed to the environment much more. Via the always-open intake and exhaust ports, the metal reed valves, piston, rings, connecting rod, etc, are directly exposed. Unlike a 4-stroke, there are no valves to close out the environment from the crankcase. <br /><br />We've all seen rusted reeds and the ring of rust on the cylinder wall that a 2-stroke is famous for. This is one of the reasons 2-strokes require "fogging". Fogging is not recommended for any of my 4-strokes. <br /><br />If you've got environmental rust in your 4-stroke, you'd have it worse in your 2-stroke.<br /><br />But if you'd rather troll with a 8 HP 2-stroke over a 8 HP 4-stroke (that runs like a Swiss watch), then be my guest.

 

[BillP]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Seahorse, <br />I can't buy that mag locally and web searches don't give the info. Can you post the brands in order of how they did? I'm using Merc oil, how did that do? Maybe I'll have to do my own dip tests on 4 stroke oil. Did the mag do dip tests on new motor parts and leave outdoors?<br /><br />Forktail,<br />I hear what you are saying but rusting is personal here on my motor and it does happen. There was nothing unusual with the storage other than high humidity compared to most other places in the USA. I'm a common John Q Public guy. If it happened to me it happens to others. It just isn't being told yet. My 2 strokes have never suffered under the same conditions...like over 40 straight yrs of them.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

At any rate guys, I guess I wanted to know the advantage of the high thrust model.<br />I can get this one for 750 bucks used once, and I know it's a steal at that....might look a little outa place next to my Rude, but the price is very right.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Used once? That is a steal. They go for anywhere between $1800 and $2200 new. Better jump on it.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Forktail, help with choice of kicker.

Just got off the phone and am the new owner of an 8hp HT Yammy.<br />It'll be a good experience for me because I've never owned a Yamaha outboard.