Known problems with Honda BF 20

[josip_voyager]

In summer I bought brand new Honda BF 20 and it runs perfectly for about 70 hours.<br />I know that this engine is new on the market (from last year), but I would like to know if anybody can report any problems with this model (weak points...).

 

[JB]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Hi, Josip.<br /><br />From my observations, "Honda weak point" seems to be an oxymoron, a self contradicting phrase.<br /><br />If there is a weakpoint in Hondas you are past it, the price.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[hondon]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

In all honesty ,Honda really blew it when they put those little phillps head screws on the lower cowl of this engine.Did those engineers think they would not get frozen in a salt water situation?THAT is just dumb.Iam doing what I can to at least get them to upgrade to torque or hex head bolts.

 

[DJ]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

I'll disagree with JB.<br /><br />Most folks think: "if it's a Honda it can't break"--wrong! Woe are those that think so.<br /><br />Plus, getting parts for one, is an adventure, been there-done that.<br /><br />Done with Honda.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Hello<br /> my only beef with Honda is that they corrode almost as fast as the early suzuki's. in a saltwater environment they just plain fizz away. the clamps on the water hoses dissapear the first year. the casing on the high pressure pumps would as well. the engines run great but if the engine is used in salt water and the fastener has not been out in 2 years it aint gonna.but the bullet point bits from black and decker or the new ones from DeWalt work very well for drilling them out<br /> good luck and keep the motor washed and coated with fluid film.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

In all honesty ,Honda really blew it when they put those little phillps head screws on the lower cowl of this engine. <br /><br />Those screws are useless in any application.

 

[hondon]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Blind patriotic pride?What the hell was that all about?

 

[MajBach]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

You're right. It was a rant on a bad day. Message gone.<br />The point of it was, phillips screws are are used mainly in U.S. products only because Phillips was an American. The thing that really baked my noodle was that on many imports to the US, it is often insisted that no Robertson [a Canadian] screw heads be usd - even though there is no comparison between the useabilty of the two different designs. This often means that sensible people whom use the robertson design have to fumble with the Philips.

 

[hondon]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Robertson square drive would also be an excellent alternative to the current arrangement.I would love to have a handfull of those in stainless for this application.

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Rodbolt-<br />I just pruchased two honda outboards bf225 and bf15. I use them exclusively in saltwater just north of you , any advice on keeping the corrosion to a minimum? It gets flushed, rinsed and washed down all the time everytime, but these motors were not cheap so I would love to keep'em in as good as shape possible. Should certain parts be coated with white lithum grease or that corrosion inhibitor?<br /><br />I think the weak points for honda are they are heavy! I talked with a crabber on sunday, he had a honda 90hp with 7000hrs on it. Thats gotta count for something?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

hello<br /> I like the Honda. its seems to be well constructed. metric fasteners have shallower threads than sae so it takes a lot less corroision to lock then. Honda does have some saltwater corrosion problems it should address.I dont like litium grease is a saltwater application because it is a mettalic base and now we have two metals and an electrolyte. and we all know what happens then. I just use silicon dielectric grease on all the connectors, spray everything down with fluid film. do all the maint. replace the water pump and t stats every other year anyway and roll. PS my good customers I take the valve cover bolts out and coat them with grease once a year so when we do get around to removing the valve cover in 6 to 8 years the little 6mm bolts will actually come out.<br />good luck and keep posting

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

To bump this back to the top, I'm seriously looking at buying a long shaft "loaded" 20 HP Honda in early 2004. Loaded, meaning the power lift option, etc.<br /><br />Is there anything that I should be aware of, before I buy the engine? I'm basically after the lightest 4-stroke 20 HP on the market.<br /><br />Thanks, Ron

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

WOW - I got sticker shock when I called my local dealer, it is hard to believe that a 20 HP tiller motor can cost almost $5,000.<br /><br />Granted, this was the "loaded" one, with electric start, power trim, and long shaft, but I still cannot believe the price.<br /><br />Maybe that's why no one is responding to this post, there are very few buyers out there right now getting them.<br /><br />Ron

 

[hondon]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Completly loaded this thing comes with power tilt .That adds to the weight substansially on top of electric start.This thing is a Cadilac, but people still snap "em up.

 

[granpafish]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

That sounds like an awful lot. We bought a bf50 with all the same features about 1 1/2 yrs ago for about $6000. Maybe there is not that much difference in manufacturing costs between the two but on the other hand, you might want to look around a bit. Granpa

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

to respond to seadawg a few posts up.. before you"snatch up " that 5000 dollar honda 20 hp, check out the 25 nissan/tohatsu... standard with tilt and trim, weighs less... much less . nissans are famous for their HP to weight ratio. electric start everybody always passes up the nissan cause they know nothing of them, ask anybody on there, ask jb.. they run forever and run, and run , and run

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

Yea, I ended up going with the 18 HP Nissan, since it is comparable size-wise to the Honda. The local dealers came down to $3,500, but I got the Nissan for around $2,200.<br /><br />I got a call that it will be delievered today, so I'll fire it up over the weekend, and post how I like it with another Nissan 18 HP post that is going on.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Ron

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Known problems with Honda BF 20

nice one see dawg.. you will not be disapointed... btw... is this your first nissan... it wont be your last, youll want more, all different sizes... they take a licking and keep on ticking