Tohatsu outboards

[xiphias82]

Hi all, looking for some feedback on tohatsu ouboards.

Im looking at a motor for my boat which im currently working on and im impresses by the pricing and feedback ive had re. Tohatsus. Probably looking at a two stroke 40 or possibly one of the tldi range.

Biggest concern i have is the bad feedback on the net regarding warranty issues in australia, particularly with the australian distributor not backing up the warranty. However, this all seems to be based on one or two old forum posts which people drag up.

Interested in your thoughts on these outboards and warranty etc.

Thanks
Matt

[Moonlighter]

Mate, I had a TlDI90 on my last boat. It went flawlessly for the 5 years I had it. Very economical, even better than the 4 strokes available at that time. The TLDI's sound quite different to a normal 2 stroke, a mate of mine rather unkindly referred to my 90 as "the little diesel", although I do admit it did sound quite like that!

They are nowhere near as noisy though as their close cousins, the Merc Optimax's, which generally sound like a cement mixer half full of gravel and rocks!

About 18 months AFTER the warranty ran out, I received a letter from Tohatsu Australia advising that they had found an issue with a fuel filter rubbing on the cowl and thus possibly leaking, and to take it to my local dealer for a free upgrade to a bracket or something to fix the issue. This was subsequently done, no charge, including for the new filter they installed.

That was my only contact with them regrading warranty, and I certainly couldnt complain about that!

Toeys are known as strong, very well made, reliable motors that run for years, originally designed for and still used by the Japanese commercial fishing fleet.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another one if the deal stacked up.

[GBC]

40 tohatsu's are belted week in week out on racing thundercats and ribs all over the place. They have proven their worth time and again.

[scottar]

I've got the 15 Merc-hatsu. Strong little motor. I wouldn't be too worried about a couple of reports on the net. Dig deep enough you will find them about all brands.

[up the creek]

cant help with warranty personally ive never tried to claim but i just bought a 18hp tohatsu and all i know is tohatsu have been making engines for as long as anyone and here as tough and long lasting as any engine i know so at the end of the day if its what suits your needs and the price is right it should last many many years of boating as tohatsu originally made motors for there fishing fleet and they didnt want a angry fisheman broke down out in the ocean knocking on there factory door lol so they had to make em reliable and as said most thundercats flog and race em all day and most surf lifesavers use them..

[foghorn]

I have had a 50HP TLDI since 2007, no problems at all, only had it serviced 3, use the right oil and I spray everything with INOX after every trip.

[scottar]

I have had a 50HP TLDI since 2007, no problems at all, only had it serviced 3, use the right oil and I spray everything with INOX after every trip.

Read the warnings on your Inox can - It does nasty shit to rubber. I had to replace the lower cowling seals on a previous motor thanks to this stuff and if the wiring has rubberized insulation as a lot of outboards seem to, it will destroy it over time.

[Moonlighter]

Read the warnings on your Inox can - It does nasty shit to rubber. I had to replace the lower cowling seals on a previous motor thanks to this stuff and if the wiring has rubberized insulation as a lot of outboards seem to, it will destroy it over time.

Agree 100%. It will stuff the rubber boots on spark plug leads too. Mate also found out the hard way that it destroys valve stems on boat trailer wheels - he had been using it, quite successfully i might add, to spray his discs on his boat trailer after he had finished washing down. However some inevitably got on the wheels and onto the valve stems, which before long went all soft and porus and let go.

Dont use it on the engine or rubber or wiring! It does have its uses but not for those things.

One of the better, safer and more inexpensive things to spray your outboard with (under the cowl) is lanolin spray. E tracetd feom sheep's wool.

I use Ozspray Industry grade lanolin spray and do the engine once a year. Was recommended to me by my Suzuki mechanic.

It repels water, protects against corrosion, and is dielectric.

The only downside is the Kiwi cousies sniffing around the back of your boat!

[aussiebasser]

Use Lanox, not Inox if you must use one of the 'ox products.

[Steeler]

Lanox from Candan Ind is the better of the two to be using.

[foghorn]

The only trouble I have found was when I used WD40 instead of INOX

[billfisher]

Hydrocarbons will attack natural rubber and some synthetic rubbers. Probably not too good for the gaskets and greased linkages (if you want the grease to stay on). WD40 is a hydrocarbon product and I think INNOX is too (though I think they are more secretive as to the formula). A lanolin spray would be a safer bet. There is also a spray made specifically for spraying under the cowl of outboard motors said to be designed to overcome the shortcoming of general purpose sprays. I don't recall the name or manufacturer but i should be able to dig it up.

[bluefin59]

Mercury marine have an undercowel spray for that purpose ..Matt

[scottar]

The only trouble I have found was when I used WD40 instead of INOX

Your motor - like I said - read the can or the MSDS, don't take my word for it.

[unchainedjenner]

What about back the topic, I'm looking at a two stroke tohatsu at the moment, have to choose between this or a merc or Yamaha.

Merc is cheapest,tohatsu middle, Yamaha dearest.

Tohatsu, is good value, on paper it's the one to buy.

But my common sense is telling me go for the big name Yamaha.

Merc is the cheapest, and some people are telling me they are the go.

Not sure what to do?