I am looking into getting a new skeeter with a SHO and am wondering about the scheduled maintenance that will be needed. This is going to be my first 4-stroke and about all I know is I will have to change the oil. Can someone give me a breakdown of what will need to be done and a price for each? Also if anyone has any horror stories please let me know. Trying to do my research before I go from 2-stroke to 4.
Thanks,
Brandon
Modified by bdub at 11:26 AM 4/4/2011
I just had my SHO serviced. Oil change at dealer is 150 dollars. They also changed the water/fuel separator, and lower unit oil. The total was 260 dollars. I will be doing it myself from now on.
Is changing the oil all that ever needs to be done?
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bdub »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Is changing the oil all that ever needs to be done?</td></tr></table>
Nope just wait until some of these guys have to pay for valve adjustments or timing belt/chain (not sure which it has but I would think its a chain). I can see that running up into big bucks.
Go here and view the owners manual. It will tell you everything you need to know...
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/ou....aspx
Yep spider at 500 hours the valves will need to be checked and then at 1000 hours the timing BELT needs to be replaced.More than likley you will need a powerhead in about the same amount of hours and everybody knows how cheap those are.
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by hooken203 »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Yep spider at 500 hours the valves will need to be checked and then at 1000 hours the timing BELT needs to be replaced.More than likley you will need a powerhead in about the same amount of hours and everybody knows how cheap those are.</td></tr></table>
If I put 75 a year it would be alot. The ice just came of the lakes around here. I will have to do that stuff based on years not hours.
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by hooken203 »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">If I put 75 a year it would be alot. The ice just came of the lakes around here. I will have to do that stuff based on years not hours.</td></tr></table>
I fish most every weekend and only put an hour or may be two every fishing trip at most. I end up with may be 30 hours a year. That would mean I would have to keep a motor about 16 years to get to 500 hours. Just don't see that ever happening without buying a new motor first.
I read through the maintenance part the other night and was interested in what each item costs based on owners that have gone through any of it already.
Well this subject can get nagged to death! Maintenance is maintenance. the big offset is not having to use $30/gal oil with every tank of gas. Yes, I know the SHO requires premium.... other engines have their maintenance and repairs as well. Check the boards on any 2 stroke. Many have problems and repairs.
There are no bargains whenever you say the word boat! There is no magic technology. There are always offsets and costs and as long as the engine needs to lift the boat out of the water and cannot coast at speed...the mpg will always stink ...it's the nature of the beast.
I like the SHO because of instant starting, no smoke, great hole shot, mid range acceleration, quiet and smooth, good alternator capacity, no oil to consume or discharge into the waters and it sounds great!
Did I say I like my SHO???
falcoon, I am with you. I love my SHO
Falcooon,
Thank you for your input. I have owned 2 2-strokes. Merc 150 EFI and Johnson fast strike and am aware of the 2 stoke maintenances. I also do know that boat stands for break out another thousand. I am not trying to start a fight between 2 stroke guys and 4 stroke guys, just was trying to make sure that if I make this leap that I am not going to be surprised by thousands of dollars worth of maintenance that only can be done at the dealership every 20 hours. I have been in one a few times and all the things you mentioned you like I saw first hand and agree they are awesome. Just trying to get my ducks in a row....
Falcooon
After break in it's every 100 hours or every year...whichever comes first. Oil filter, 7.1 Quarts of oil and synthetic gear lube change and if you have a fuel/water separator then add that in to the mix. Not sure on the impeller change out as to when or how much, I did mine on my 2 strokes every year regardless of use for piece of mind. Like others have said the biggest thing with me was 2 stroke oil. I was burning 1 to 2 gallons a trip depending on how hard I ran it. That's close to 60 dollars I am not spending every time I hit the water. I have had mine out 6 times since I purchased the new motor and that has equated to about 5 1/2 hours run time but I confess I have been doing more riding than fishing trying to get through the first ten hours of break in. The rate I'm going now I'll be doing good to put 100 hours on it a year so even if I do take it back to my dealer to let them do the oil, filter, and gear lube change and it costs me $300.00 I'll more than make that up on gas mileage and not having to buy 2 stroke oil.
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