Re: 40hp 4stroke - Merc EFI vs Honda
This is why I bought a Honda. <br />I grew up with Mercurys and Johnsons and the 2 strokes back in the '60's were hard starting, loud and smokey.<br />These days my fishing buddys have newer 2 stroke Mercs and Johnsons that I'd fish/hunt with. Being an auto tech (Mercedes)for the past 28 years my body has developed a very low tolerence to chemicals and excessive emissions. I get cluster headaches easily after moderate exposure. A couple of hours backtrolling on the river on my buddies boats would get me a genuine ripper of a headache.<br />So it was clean4strokes for me. I wasn't one who would buy an outsourced engine. (one that is made by one manufacture then rebadged)<br />The boat size would determine the size of the motor. In my case it was a 50hp. Owning and experiencing imports led me to Yamaha and Honda.<br />I was actually more interested in a Yamaha. However at the time it wieghed about 50 pounds more and it's warranty was a diminishing one that didn't cover the electronics during its final year. This dealer who carried both Yamaha and Honda also stated Honda had fewer warranty claims and had more of a "just take care of the customer" attitude.<br />So, speaking of Honda you may read things like "they're good but heavy". However, in the case of the BF40/50 they are lighter or as light as thier competitors. The BF40/50 is a unique engine in the Honda product line.<br />Having diagnosed, repaired and maintained fuel injection engines since the early '70's I'd agree that fuel injection is far superior then carbs 98% of the time. Then it would depend on the fuel injection system and its application. And It also depends on the carburation system and its application.<br />Here are some fuel injection factors i took into account. Fuel injection is the cats meow as long as it is working. Once it fails it generally takes testing equipment, a wiring diagram/diagnostic flow charts, a high degree of training/expertise and TIME to diagnose it. Once the correct (costly)diagnosis is made, the part will usually be very costly. While FI is miles more efficient, individual components of the FI can be troublesome. The finest FI systems in the world have ample failures of components like mass airflow sensors, pressure sensors, temp sensors, TPS sensors, injector spray problems and high/low pressure pumps. <br />Logically, the pros and cons would be different between my automobile and my boat motor. <br />My experiences with FI is actually greater then carbs. However, carburators are simple, easy and fast (less costly)to diagnose and repair. In the case of Honda, who has decades of multiple carburator experience have some of the best, troublefree and durable carburators in the world. A little water or debris in a fuel injection system and it will cost you SEVERAL hundreds, if not more for repairs, and won't be covered under warranty. If you get the same in a carb system, a filter, MAYBE a gasket set or two and some compressed air and your fishing again.<br /><br />Miles up a river or miles out at sea, far from help, if a part fails on a FI successful emergency repair is very rare. However,a stuck float or debris in a carburator may only take a simple tap of a screwdriver handle or a simple removal of a carburator bowl with that same screwdriver. If a high pressure fuel pump or an electrical fault in the fuel pump circut on a FI engine, your dead in the water. On a carburated engine you (have your wife)pump the bulb to get home.<br /><br />One of the first maintenance tools I bought for my BF50 was a $40 manometer that is used to balance/syncronize my tri-carb setup to near perfection once a year. This is a three screw, 30 minute operation.<br /><br />As I've mentioned before, cold starts are a simple lift the choke lever...turn ignitionkey...crank..1001, 1002, 1003ENGINESTARTS!!!, high idle for 5-20 seconds depending on temp and I'm backing away from the launch. River guides, jetskiers, dock fishermen, other boaters, I can just barely hear thier comments above my idle that have words like, nice,smooth or Honda, along with a nod of approval.<br />Hotstarts are a simple twist of the key and 1-2 seconds of crank time immediately to a smooth idle.<br />Honestly, my carburated Honda has started, idled, ran and performed identical to a fuel injected motor EXCEPT with the following differences.<br />1. I have to lift a choke lever and hold at the desired high RPM for cold starts.<br />2. I've had to syncronize my carbs at the 20 hr. break-in service (myself), once in the 97 hours my motor has on it.<br />3.A carburator adjustment CHECK is called for every 100 hrs. With or without possible actual adjustments.<br /><br />I'm only reminded (by Suzuki owners
)that my Honda has carburators everytime someone asks about Honda outboards here on this forum. <br /><br />The application was the factor for me. Since I fix engines all day long, weeks and years at a time. I surely didn't want to be fixin' on the river. From lawn mowers to Indy cars, Honda is the worlds largest engine manufacture with a deserved reputation. It seems I figured correctly when I thought that if Honda put carbs on it, it would work just fine. You and I have the extra bonus that Honda seems to have a strong dealer network here in California.<br /><br />Headaches? Once when a buddy in another boat passed me a Tequella bottle (I'm a Crown Royal guy) while we were comparing our Salmon fillets......but then again, it might have been that blue smokin' Johnson of his as he took to an upwind plane.(His catch was seriously deficient, compared to mine and was hole hoppin')
<br /><br />One things for sure though. The most important consideration is your dealers reputation in after sales needs. Most all new marine products are good these days. And whatever you decide on, you'll be bragging it up.
