laying down a small 4 cycle

[gmasters]

Just bought a used 199 Nissan 5hp 4 cycle for an 8' inflatable dink used off the back of my boat. I take the engine off and store it in the cabin. With my old 2 cycle- no problem laying it on the floor under the bed. Someone told me this might not be a good idea for the 4 cycle, problem is I have no place to stand it up- any recommendations or good info/experience on proper horizontal care is appeciated.

 

[DJ]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

You can download an owners manual here:<br /><br /> http://www.nissan-outboards.com/tech-info.htm

 

[gmasters]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

Thanks, got the manual- but it is pretty sparse. says to store it upright, BUT if you have to lay it down, do so on the side that has the throttle. That is not a very deep discussion about potential cosequences, leaks, etc. One guy said I should at least elevate the head somewhat....ok, without other info guess I will try laying it down for storage between uses on the side with the throttle and elevate the head somewhat- I'm not super comfortable doing this, but I can't find any other info so what the hey.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

Try laying it on that side for a while and see what happens. The worst that could happen is leaking oil, or oil in the cylinders which would cause it to smoke for a little while. Just make sure to check the oil level before you start it...

 

[gmasters]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

will do, thanks - nice to have somebody concur- would be great if someone that uses a 4 stroke on a dink had some positive or negative experience to share (I saw a guy bolt an ugly bracket onto the stern of his boat above the swim platform so that he could clamp on a dink's small 4 stroke vertically- man I don't want to do something like that)

 

[BillP]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

It's probably the crankcase oil deal. It could fill the cyl with too much oil and make starting difficult. Did you every tilt a briggs lawn mower engine on it's side? Mine gets oil in the cyl just from tilting it long enough to check the blade.

 

[clanton]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

Probley the oil thing, and on some engines water will stand in the manifold and water jacket. When you lay the engine down incorrectly, water will run into the cylinders which have open exhaust valves. Water will also lay around the stem of a closed exhaust valve.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

BillP - you're supposed to allways tilt a lawnmower with the spark plug pointing up. I assume the same goes for this outboard for the same reason.

 

[BillP]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

ZmOz,<br />This one shows a pic tilting the motor on it's side to drain the oil from the top oil fill...the owner manual shows it. The plug is on the front. When I'm checking the blades I do it whichever way is easiest. It is hard to start if I leave it tilted for more than a few minutes and oil comes out of the air filter too. I'm not real worried about it because I've done it this way for 17 yrs. The first mower lasted 10 years and cost $100. This one $125 and still going. I don't even change the oil and they last this long!

 

[ZmOz]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

Well, the manual to the lawnmower is wrong. Briggs says sparkplug up and since they made the engine I think they would know better. But like you said, it doesn't matter much, it's just a little bit of an annoyance. Just don't forget to check the oil level...

 

[roscoe]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

Next time you check your mower blade, do it after you are done mowing.<br /><br />Then by the next time you go to mow the lawn, most of the oil will have drained back down into the block.<br /><br />As for outboards, every potable outboard has a recommended position for horizontal transporting. Transporting is what a portable motor is designed for.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

When you're done boating for the day and pull the motor off. Engage the kill switch and turn it over 5 or 6 times to make sure all the water is out of the motor. Store it with the head slightly raised, so as not to spill any oil, if possible. Put plastic down and lay it on that to protect wherever you lay it. When you decide to go out again, let it stand upright for about 10 minutes before you mount it and you should have no problems, besides a little smoke, if any, on start-up.

 

[gmasters]

Re: laying down a small 4 cycle

Thanks rickdb1boat: that's the kind of practical advise I was hoping for! Made it worthwhile to try out this forum thing!<br /><br />G