Waiheke Marine Solutions photo gallery
This gallery outlines some of the common items related to servicing and the potential damage that occurs if the outboard is not periodically maintained to the manufacturers requirements.
Carburettor Float Chamber
Corrosion has severly set in inside this carburettor. This is due to water in the fuel and could have been avoided with an on board fuel filter. Waiheke Marine Solutions recommend that a onboard fuel filter be fitted to all outboards whether they be 2 stroke or four stroke to maintain optimum reliability.
Fuel Lines
Fuel lines need to be periodically inspected to avoid performance and reliability issues, let alone boat fire issues!
Onboard Fuel Filter
Your onboard fuel filter needs to be replaced periodically. This filter was only 100 hours / 1 year old and the filtration element was fill to the brim....
Cooling System
This shows the buildup of salt and corrosion inside a cooling system of a relatively new 2 stroke outboard. The client was flushing for 5 minutes with salt away and thought this was enough to maintain his cooling system. We recommend at least 10 minutes of active flushing with good water pressure to ensure all salt is removed from your outboards cooling systems.
Outboard Corrosion
This outboard has premature corrosion starting all over the outboard. This was due to the anodes not being replaced frequently enough. This type of corrosion will now accelerate exponentially!
Cooling System Inlet
This is a service item that is commonly overlooked.The water inlet grills should be removed and inspected on all services to ensure no shells or growth are obstructing the inlet passages. This just about caused a fairly new outboard to incur severe engine damage.
Thermostat
This thermostat has not been removed in a long time. The thermostat housing should be removed during servicing to inspect, clean and re-grease the thermostat assembly and associated bolts.
Prop Shaft
The propeller should be removed during all services to inspect the prop shaft seal. More often than not, nylon or braid will be found stuck around the prop shaft. If this is left to be, it will likely cause damage to the prop shaft seal and allow water to enter the gear box.
Water Pump Impeller
The water pump impeller needs to be removed inspected and greased during every service. There can be damage to the impeller even if it is under a year old like the example in this picture.
Fuel Pump
This fuel pump was damaged from the internal linings of the fuel supply hose delaminating. Fuel hoses do not last forever and as a rule will need to be replaced every 15 years at the latest.
Gear Case Oil
This gear case oil is contaminated with water. This one had a worn gear case drain/fill washer (the washers had been reused) causing water to enter the gearcase. The gear case oil and the drain/fill washers need to be replaced during all services to ensure premature failure and costly damage does not occur to your gear box.
External Anode
This external anode is well passed its useful life. Salt water anodes mainly consist of zinc and aluminum to help the outboard resist corrosion. All that is left of this anode is aluminium. Your aluminium outboard will quickly start to corrode at the same rate as this anode if it is not replaced immediatly!
Internal Anode
This is another common item overlooked during servicing. Accessable internal anodes should be removed, inspected, cleaned and the anode grommet re-greased periodically to ensure the longevity of your outboard.
Cambelt
Your 4 stroke outboard has a drive cambelt fitted (much like a lot of automotive engines). If this belt breaks it can cause catastrophic damage to the engine. This needs to be inspected every service to determine whether it requires replacement.
Engine Corrosion
Corrosion has set in on this 225hp 4 stroke engine in under 8 years. This engine has been written off due to the cost involved in replacing the power head (engine). The anodes have never been replaced on this engine.