DF140 in shallow water?

[Redfish1]

I've run a Yammy115 for several years in fishing the shallow marsh areas of South Louisiana and have been pleased with how it handles grinding in the mud without a lot of problems with stopping up the water pump. Has anyone used a Suzuki DF140 in those conditions? It seems that some engines are a sissy when it comes to shallow water and I'm thinking of buying a 19' Fishmaster with a DF140 on it. Are they tough enough?

 

[DJ]

Re: DF140 in shallow water?

Redfish1,<br /><br />I have owned a Suz. 140. I found the engine to be "overbuilt" IMO, it was:<br /><br />1. Heavy.<br /><br />2. A bit thirsty.<br /><br />3. Easy to service.<br /><br />I did always feel that the lower unit was a bit undersized. I didn't feel this had anything to do with reliability, more to do with prop. selection. It would only swing a 12" diameter wheel.<br /><br />I do know that the water pump on the 140 has standard stainless steel components.<br /><br />One other thing, that is an in-line four. If you overheat it, the cyl. head gasket will pop in a heartbeat. Particualrly between 1 & 2.

 

[Redfish1]

Re: DF140 in shallow water?

djohns19,<br /> Was your 140 a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke? I am looking at the DF140 4 stroke.<br /> In regards to your comment about the 12" diameter prop size and feeling that the lower unit was a bit undersized, I know that the factory size for the 4 stroke 140 is a 14"(most tests on the 19ft. Fishmaster used a 20 pitch). I happened to be at a local dealer gathering info about the motors and he showed me a DF140 there in the repair shop that had the drive gear on the lower end of the drive shaft sheared off. Supposedly the owner had hit a cable with it. He did have a super heavy duty prop on it with really thick blades but it seemed like it should have slipped anyway and not sheared off that shaft. I dont' know if that should be of any concern to me or not! Anyway, thanks for the reply.

 

[plywoody]

Re: DF140 in shallow water?

I think if I was running in shallow water and mud all the time, I would consider a jet drive attachment. They run them all the time here in the rivers, and while it takes more power than a normal prop driven engine to get the same top end speed, IMO running mud and silt on a regular basis through any outboard cooling system is asking for trouble. Not to mention potential damage to the prop. <br />Just my opinion.

 

[DJ]

Re: DF140 in shallow water?

Redfish1,<br /><br />My Suzy 140 was a two stroke. The new 140 4S is a different animal altogether.<br /><br />It looks like a greeat engine. I'd like to have one.

 

[Forktail]

Re: DF140 in shallow water?

I think you'll find the DF140 a jewel. I don't have one, but I've heard good things and I've seen it perform on the water. We fish a lot of glacial and silt here in Alaska and don't have many pump problems on the newer outboards.<br /><br />I wouldn't worry about the drive gear shearing. There's no telling what happened when that owner hit the cable. The DF140 will take up to a 25" pitch which is probably more than you need on that boat. FYI, Yamaha makes the F115 in a jet drive option. <br /><br />Good luck.

 

[bustab]

Re: DF140 in shallow water?

anyone have any overheat problems with the 140 4ST? I got one right now that is overheating on the upper half of the motor. i changed the thermostat as well as the impeller and checked the releif valve. i pulled the anodes of the side of the engine and noticed a lot of gel like stuff in and around the water passages as well as corrosion. can i just pour limeaway or something down the thermostat hole a top the block?