Bearing problem Tohatsu 18hp Ever run 2 Stroke. Advice please :)

[MarkJ]

Driving my dink when the outboard starts making a clattering sound.
Stopped. Checked for something hanging off near the fly wheel.
Same sound in gear or neutral.
Drove it very slowly to mechanic.
By then the noise had stopped by mechanic said he could hear bearing noise.

Booked it in next Wednesday earliest available time.

What's the risks driving it between now and then say 20 minutes per day low revs?
How slow?
Adding extra oil useful or waste of time?
Any suggestions?


Thanks,


Mark

[hobopacket]

What bearings are bad exactly? If it were me, until I knew exactly what was wrong I would break out the paddles

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by hobopacket

What bearings are bad exactly?

I don't know.

[hobopacket]

The drive shaft bearing seize, you may be screwed. I would give it break until the issue is diagnosed.

[Shrew]

Unless oil is low, adding extra oil is not going to help. Unusual for a Tohatsu, they are usually fairly bulltproof. I wouldn't suggest running it.

[Diesel Bill]

Hi MarkJ, It's really hard to diagnose a motor noise without hearing it in person. It could be a bearing or a part of the recoil start mechanism came loose or flywheel nut loose or anything else. Can you start it and then remove the engine cowling with it idling in neutral?
Then maybe you can tell where the noise is coming from and narrow down the source of the noise. Sorry I can't be more helpful, but wishing you luck and hoping it's something simple and cheap to fix.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Diesel Bill

Can you start it and then remove the engine cowling with it idling in neutral?
.

Yes. I did this. As soon as the noise started I stopped the engine. Restarted it and went to a dock 20 yards away and popped the cover off. I was looking to see if sonetbibg had come off the pull start mechanism as that's where the noise appeared to be coming from. And both in neutral and in gear.

But by the time I got it to the mechanic 1/2 mile, 15 minutes later the noise stopped.

The mechanic said he could hear bearing noise. But I couldn't hear it then.

I then went about 1nm slowly and didn't get the noise back.

[hobopacket]

How did he hear the bearing? A stethoscope?

[Diesel Bill]

If the recoil spring is loose the pawls that engage the flywheel will partially come out and start to engage the flywheel. Can also happen if you accidentally pull on the start cord a little bit. Makes a hell of a racket. Might not be the case but also beware of mechanics hearing bearing noise when you don't. Just saying. Good luck and let us know what you find.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by hobopacket

How did he hear the bearing? A stethoscope?

No. He was standing on the dock. I started the engine to let him gear the noise. It didnt make the noise. So I did a quick racing 360 while he stood on the dock. He said he could hear it.

[Diesel Bill]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

No. He was standing on the dock. I started the engine to let him gear the noise. It didnt make the noise. So I did a quick racing 360 while he stood on the dock. He said he could hear it.

Sounds like hearing the cash register ringing, cha ching.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Diesel Bill

Sounds like hearing the cash register ringing, cha ching.

ROTFLMAO

Of course! But the guy is good and works for a chandelry where everylne knows me so I wont get ripped off (much)

[hobopacket]

Are you good with tools. I am sure you could break that thing down yourself and have a good look.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

No. He was standing on the dock. I started the engine to let him gear the noise. It didnt make the noise. So I did a quick racing 360 while he stood on the dock. He said he could hear it.

Sounds improbable.

IMO Diesel Bill is on the right track.

Depending on what the problem is, adding extra oil to two stroke fuel can actually make things worse. If the fuel/air mix is lean, more oil = less petrol.

[Thumbs Up]

You probably do have bearing noise, I think it is fairly common, I know that my Tohatsu 8 (2 stroke) has some. It is kind of a rumbling sound. The motor is louder than it should be. But the noises that you described, I think are completely unrelated. If the noise you heard stopped I don't see any harm in using the motor. That particular model, by the way has a really good power to weight ratio. It is the same weight as the 9.9 (and 15). I think that Tohatsu is as at least as good as Yamaha. My point is that it might be worth it to get the new bearings put in.