Re: Honda 5HP four stroke
I have owned and used a Honda four 5hp for the last five years on a sea-going boat. Frankly Honda and sea water don't mix. Only a few of the bolts used are stainless, the rest are very low strength cheap stampings with a thin coat of chrome. I have had to drill out rocker cover bolts because of rust. The throttle cable outer casing is not stainless, so that jammed at full open earlier this year (spring return couldn't pull the inner cable back). Now a con-rod bolt has come undone so I have stripped the engine to put in a new con-rod. Does anyone know how to detach the long drive-shaft from the end of the crankshaft? The spline has rusted in. It's hollow, but it won't drift out. Also there is a timing mark on the canmshaft gear but none to match with it on the crankshaft gear. Does anyone know the valve opening angles so I can assemble them correctly? How can you grease the gearchange shaft? <br />As far as use is concerned, I find that the reversing mechanisms are hopeless. Most times the lock fails because the throttle opens up as you select the gear. (designed to do this, I beleive).<br />The flywheel is just a little too small for the prop, which means that you can't engage gear at really low revs. This negates the main reason for choosing a four-stroke in the first place! It's a heavy engine for a 5hp, but it does have power and economy. It doesn't like a pooping sea and will often cut out if swamped. If you want one for a sea-going boat, sell it after year four or five, before the rust gets too bad in and around everything under the hood. James Rose.
