Honda Bf8a Owners Manual

							39
To avoid damaging the motor, be very careful when mooring a boat, especially
when its motor is tilted up. Don’t allow the motor to strike against the pier or
other boats.
NOTICE
OPERATION
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							40
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE
Proper maintenance is essential for safe, economical, and trouble-free opera-
tion. It will also help reduce air pollution.
To help you properly care for your outboard motor, the following pages include
a maintenance schedule, routine inspection procedures, and simple mainte-
nance procedures using basic hand tools. Other service tasks that are more
difficult, or require special tools, are best handled by professionals and are
normally performed by a Honda technician or other qualified mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If you
operate your outboard motor under unusual conditions, consult an authorized
Honda marine dealer for recommendations applicable to your individual needs
and use.
Remember that your authorized Honda marine dealer knows your outboard
motor best and is fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only new, genuine Honda parts
or their equivalents for repair and replacement.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of emission control de-
vices and systems may be performed by any marine engine
repair establishment or individual, using parts that are “certified”
to EPA standards.
+ WARNING
Improperly maintaining this outboard motor, or
failure to correct a problem before operation,
can cause a malfunction in which you could be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner’s
manual.
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							41
MAINTENANCE SAFETY
Some of the most important safety precautions follow. However, we cannot
warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in performing mainte-
nance. Only you can decide whether or not you should perform a given task.
Safety Precautions
•Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or repairs.
This will eliminate several potential hazards:
— Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust.
Be sure there is adequate ventilation whenever you operate the engine.
— Burns from hot parts.
Let the engine and exhaust system cool before touching.
— Injury from moving parts.
Do not run the engine unless instructed to do so.
•Read the instructions before you begin, and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.
•To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when working
around gasoline. Use only a nonflammable solvent, not gasoline, to clean
parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and flames away from all fuel-related parts.
•Wear gloves when handling the propeller to protect your hands from sharp
edges.
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
+ WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance
instructions and precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions
in the owner’s manual.
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							42
TOOL KIT AND SPARE PARTS
The following tools and spare parts are supplied with the outboard motor for
simple maintenance, adjustment, and emergency repairs.
Spare shear pins and cotter pins are located on the stern bracket.
Keep these items on the boat, so they will always be available if you need them.
If your tool kit needs replacement, it is not available as a kit and each item must
be ordered individually.
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
SHEAR PINS COTTER PINS
Tool Kit
Flush Kit (optional equipment)
SPARK PLUG
WRENCH
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							43 SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Follow the MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE table and service your outboard
motor accordingly. Please note, a claim for warranty coverage will not be
denied simply because the maintenance schedule for your outboard was not
followed. However, any part(s) that fails specifically due to lack of
maintenance, or improperly performed maintenance, would not be covered
under the  
Distributor’s Limited Warranty.
(1) Lubricate more frequently when used in salt water.
(2) These items should be serviced by an authorized Honda marine dealer, unless you
have the proper tools and are mechanically proficient.
Refer to Honda Shop Manual for service procedures.
(3) For professional commercial use, log hours of operation to determine proper mainte-
nance intervals.
(4) When operating in salt water, turbid or muddy water, the engine should be flushed with
clean water after each use.
REGULAR SERVICE PERIOD (3)
Perform at every indicated  month or
operating hour interval,  whichever
comes first.
Each
useAfter
useFirst
month
or
20 hrs.Every
6 months
or
100 hrs.Every
year
or
200 hrs.
Engine oil Check level\
Change\\
Gear case oil Change\\
Timing belt Check\(2)
Starter rope Check\
Carburetor linkage Check-adjust\(2)\(2)
Valve clearance Check-adjust\(2)
Spark plugs Check-adjust\
Replace\
Propeller and Cotter pin Check\
Anode Check\
Idle speed Check-adjust\(2)\(2)
Lubrication Grease\(1)\(1)
Fuel tank and tank filter Clean\
Thermostat Check\(2)
Fuel filter Check\
Replace\
Fuel line Check\
Replace              Every 2 years (if necessary)(2)
Bolts and Nuts Check-tightness\(2)\(2)
Crankcase breather tube Check\(2)
Cooling water passages Clean\(4)
Water pump Check\(2) ITEM
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							44
REFUELING
Fuel tank capacity
3.0 US gal (12 x, 2.6 lmp gal)
Check the fuel gauge and refill the tank to the SAFE FILL LEVEL mark if
necessary.
Remove the fuel tank from the boat for refilling. Turn the vent knob counter-
clockwise to the open position and remove the fuel filler cap.
Refuel in a well-ventilated area. Fill the fuel tank up to the SAFE FILL LEVEL
mark only. Inspect the condition of the fuel filler cap gasket and replace if
necessary.
After refilling, install and tighten the fuel filler cap securely. Turn the vent knob
clockwise to the closed position. Return the fuel tank to the boat.
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
+ WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive.
You can be burned or seriously injured when
handling fuel.
• Stop the engine and keep heat, sparks, and
flame away.
• Handle fuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
FUEL FILLER
CAP
OPEN
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							45 SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Use unleaded gasoline with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher.
This outboard motor is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline. Unleaded
gasoline produces fewer engine and spark plug deposits and extends exhaust
system life.
Never use stale or contaminated gasoline or an oil/gasoline mixture. Avoid
getting dirt or water in the fuel tank.
If your outboard will be used on an infrequent or intermittent basis, please refer
to the fuel section of the 
STORAGE chapter (p. 60) for additional information
regarding fuel deterioration.
Occasionally you may hear a light “spark knock” or “pinging” (metallic rapping
noise) while operating under heavy loads. This is no cause for concern.
If spark knock or pinging occurs at a steady engine speed, under normal load,
change brands of gasoline. If spark knock or pinging persists, see an
authorized Honda marine dealer.
Running the engine with persistent spark knock or pinging can cause engine
damage.
Running the engine with persistent spark knock or pinging is misuse, and the
Distributor’s Limited Warranty (p. 83) does not cover parts damaged by
misuse.
For information regarding oxygenated fuels, please refer to page 71.
NOTICE
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							46
COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING AND FLUSHING
After each use in salt water or dirty water, thoroughly clean and flush the
outboard motor.
Running the engine without water can cause serious engine damage due to
overheating. Be sure that water flows from the cooling system indicator while
the engine is running. If not, stop the engine and determine the cause of the
problem.
Cleaning and Flushing With the Optional Flush Kit
1. Wash the outside of the outboard motor with clean, fresh water.
2. Attach a hose from a fresh water faucet to the water hose connector of the
flush kit.
3. Remove the propeller (see page 58), and clip the flush kit rubber fitting over
the water inlet screen as shown.
4. Turn on the fresh water supply to the hose.
5. Start the engine and run in neutral for 10 minutes.
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
+ WARNING
•For safety, the propeller must be removed.
•Be sure the outboard motor is securely mounted,
and do not leave it unattended while running.
•Keep children and pets away from the area,
and stay clear of moving parts during this
procedure.
NOTICE
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							47
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
Cleaning and Flushing Without the Flush Kit
1. Wash the outside of the outboard motor with clean, fresh water to remove
mud, salt, sea weed, etc.
2. Remove the propeller.
3. Stand the motor in a suitable container of water. The water level must be
at least 2 inches above the antiventilation plate.
4. Start the engine and run slowly for at least 10 minutes.
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ENGINE OIL LEVEL CHECK
Check the engine oil level with the engine stopped and the outboard motor in
a vertical position.
1. Move the engine cover lock lever down to unlock the cover, and remove the
cover.
2. Remove the oil filler cap/dipstick and wipe it clean.
Insert and remove the dipstick without screwing it into the filler neck. Check
the oil level shown on the dipstick.
If the oil level is near or below the lower limit mark on the dipstick, fill with
the recommended oil (p. 50) to the upper limit mark.
Running the engine with a low oil level can cause engine damage.
3. Install the oil filler cap and tighten it securely.
4. Install the engine cover, and lock it by moving the lever up.
SERVICING YOUR OUTBOARD MOTOR
NOTICE
ENGINE COVER LOCK
LEVER
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