Tune up costs

Paladin27 · May 9, 2012

I just paid for a tune-up for my 1996 Honda 8HP outboard and the local Honda shop charged me $275. It went from starting after 8 to 10 pulls and then running a bit rough to purring like a kitten after 1 or 2 pulls. Very pleased with the results for $275.

Benny17441 · May 9, 2012

I think prices have doubled on everything in the past 4 years so $300 for a complete tune up which may include stripping and cleaning the carburator down is a fair price.

caguy · May 9, 2012

I paid $100 to Specialty Marine in Oxnard. He did a great job and on the spot. I was able to watch him do it and learned how to break the carb down including removing some of the passage plugs before putting it in an ultrasound. The motor ran great for about a year. He really rescued our trip to Santa Cruz island. Its the low idle jets that need cleaning.
Switching to aviation fuel without ethanol solved the problem for the long term.
You can buy a replacement carb for less than what you paid to have yours cleaned. On my old honda bf100 a used rebuilt carb is only about $40.

Mikem · May 9, 2012

I took my 1999 Tohatsu 5hp 2 stroke in for a tune up three years ago. I explained the symptoms to the owner of the shop that sold it to me. He told me to bring it to him and he would take care of me. Well he took care of me alright...new plug, Ok, changed the gear case oil, Ok, new carb Ok...$475. What?! I told if I knew he was going to charge me that much I would have traded it as is for a new motor. The good news is that three years later it still starts first or second pull...but $475. Geez.

Stu Jackson · May 9, 2012

A tune up can mean different things to different folks. Perhaps you can figure out more specifically what you want or need to have done before you bring it in, or get a list of prices for different things beforehand.

changing plugs -- do it yourself
changing plug wires -- ditto
removing and cleaning the carb / rebuilding -- should be a set price
checking the kill switch circuit --- this one fools lotsa people lotsa times: my engine ran rough or wouldn't start, this was the culprit; maybe worth doing anyhow for peace of mind

Get the idea?

If you buy an owner's manual (aftermarket that shows how to do everything) you can start to identify the possible issues you may have.

Give any motor to a shop and just say "tune up" is a license for them to print money - usually YOURS!

You need to start playing detective before you bring it in, and sometimes you can actually fix it yourself.

drumbeater · May 9, 2012

Annual maintenance on my Yamaha 150hp four stroke isnt alot more than $300, you need to look around some more.

cephius (Dave) · May 10, 2012

I used to have the same start-up and idle issues. I now replace the spark plugs, oil, oil and fuel filters, and lower end gear oil at the start of each season.

I feel the spark plugs are the key to smooth running and easy starting, because on the years I didn't replace them I had the problems.

Total parts cost is less than $50. These tasks don't require much mechanical skill. Spark plug socket wrench is the only special tool. Unfortunately every spark plug maker has a different size hex for the same numbered plug. I have ended up with 3 different sockets.

Benny17441 · May 10, 2012

If you can do your own maintenance of course you will not be spending that kind of money but if you do not have the knowledge, the time or the tools then your best bet is to use the services of a Honda authorized service shop. Unless you know a good and cheaper mechanic it could end up costing more on the long run.

caguy · May 10, 2012

Benny17441 said:
If you can do your own maintenance of course you will not be spending that kind of money but if you do not have the knowledge, the time or the tools then your best bet is to use the services of a Honda authorized service shop. Unless you know a good and cheaper mechanic it could end up costing more on the long run.

Specialty Marine in Oxnard is Honda Authorized. They charge $90/hr and it took him 1 hour to remove and ultrasound the carb. He threw it in the tank, pulled the choke and it started on the first attempt. He pushed the choke in immediately and it purred like a kitten.
Check out Ebay for your carb. If you pull down the parts manual for your model and get the part number. You can do a search of that number on ebay and there is a good chance your carb will turn up for way less than $300. Keep your old carb as a backup (after you clean it.)

JonnyQuest · May 10, 2012

Amen about learning how to be your own grease monkey. Way back when I first got my "big boat" (~2 yrs ago) I decided to give a whirl at tuning it up. 2 years later and I feel like that first tune up is still not yet completed--But I'm still learning! Engine runs pretty well now and I never resorted to hiring a mech to do it for me. Got close to giving up at times. Persevere and ask for help here and at the harbor when you get stumped. Help and time mulling over issues will deliver you an answer most of the time.

Cheers!

MrUnix · May 10, 2012

Get a shop manual (or find one online) and do it yourself if you are even half mechanically inclined and have the time. Not only will you save money, but you will learn all about your motor and be able to transfer that knowledge to other engines.

Not outboard related, but I just finished rebuilding the carb on my Echo backpack blower (2 cycle). It had been getting harder and harder to start over the years, and last week it finally died and wouldn't crank back up. I traced it down to the carburetor as it would run if I gave it some starting fluid. Had I taken it to a mechanic or dealer, it would have cost at least $100 or more depending on what they did (rebuild vs. replace, etc..). Another alternative was to purchase a new carburetor.. cheapest I could find was about $50 shipped. I decided to crack it open and give it a look. Turned out that an internal filter screen was clogged with debris and restricting fuel flow to the inlet needle valve. Got a rebuild kit from a local supply house, cleaned and replaced the various parts supplied, and now the thing runs like new. Total cost: $12 for the rebuild kit and some extra fuel hose, along with about an hours worth of my time.

Cheers,
Brad

JonnyQuest · May 10, 2012

MrUnix said:
Not outboard related, but I just finished rebuilding the carb on my Echo backpack blower (2 cycle)... Total cost: $12 for the rebuild kit and some extra fuel hose, along with about an hours worth of my time.

Brad,
Nice to see some crossover from all the hours on the boat paying off in other fields, isn't it? After all, your Echo motor is just another motor with the same principles as a boat motor.