Do simple engines still exist?

[BogMonster]

This is only a question for "general interest" - just sort of window shopping on the RIBcraft website (again) and I wondered something....

Of all the new outboards you can buy these days, are there any which still run a basic carb system i.e. no engine electronics? The reason being that there are no dealers in this part of the world so if I did find myself in a fortunate enough position to go for a nice shiny new RIB, I wouldn't want to end up with an engine that might have a little electronic gremlin that couldn't be fixed down here. I'd probably go for a four stroke and the one I have my eye on is the Suzuki DF140 but a major concern is that it appears to be all electronic fuel injection - great until it goes wrong. What about the 2 strokes like Etecs and Opti's - I guess they are all packed with electrickery as well?

Does anybody know how complicated modern outboards are to diagnose/what sort of kit is required/whether it is available to Joe Public or whether it is dealer restricted?

For instance, if you buy a new Land Rover these days you need an expensive computer to diagnose it, but the system is available (at a price) to aftermarket garages, and there are other diagnostic systems that can read trouble codes etc. which are much cheaper, some of these just use a normal laptop PC and have an interface unit which plugs into the laptop and the vehicle and lets them talk to each other - these start at only a few hundred pounds.

The little engines still seem to have carbs - my new aux does anyway which is great as I can bang it out on the bench if the worst comes to the worst - but anything over 100hp seems to be electronic.

I'm not looking to buy anything just yet but I'm just wondering about the pitfalls if my share options come up trumps....

[jyasaki]

Don't know about other makes, but you can get the harness and computer software (regular Windows PC) for Yamaha outboards so as to be able to do all the nifty electronics hashing the factory techs do. As I recall, the software was about $200US (don't quote mo on this); don't remember what interconnection stuff ran.

jky

[BogMonster]

Good, thanks, so there are options then it shouldn't be hard to do of course, its just whether the manufacturers make the system available to customers or not. I think on cars there was an EU directive which forced companies like Land Rover to do this, the original Testbook system wasn't available to anybody apart from dealers, but I've no idea whether the same rules were applied to things like outboards, with it being a much smaller market possibly not...

Does anybody do DIY on a Suzuki?

I should say that I don't have a massive hang up about engine electronics as I work with them regularly on vehicles, but you DO need to have the right diagnostic ability otherwise you are just blundering around in the dark when it comes to dodgy sensors, and I am sure the same will apply on outboards...

[Jelly]

I think Yamaha do a the Enduro range ie old style carb 2 strokes for regions that are remote!
Rgds
Jelly

[Nick Hearne]

Johnson still do carb range for the less advanced parts of the world!

[ian parkes]

honda up to 90 is on carbs

[BogMonster]

Thanks all.

What about the possibilities of DIY engine diagnostics on other engines, particularly the Suzuki DF140?

I'm fairly set on a 4 stroke next time because I've never really liked 2 stroke engines in anything. I don't know what the weight limit is on the Ribcraft 5.85 but assuming it may be 200kg the DF140 seems to be about the only engine in that sort of size that comes in under that figure. I'd almost certainly go for this combination of engine and boat if funds allow.... next year when I'm over in the UK I am going to pay a visit to Ribcraft (if they welcome visitors to look around!) to check out the options and do some more serious thinking...

If I can get the kit to persuade my laptop to talk to it for a reasonable cost, that would be the way to go, I currently own an old-tech engine that burns an obscene amount of fuel and I know what it costs to run so I'd rather go with a new-tech economical one but ONLY if I can get the kit to support it....

[Turbodiesel]

Mariner still do loads of 2 stroke engines with carbs.

[Searider]

Turbodiesel,

Is the DDT software available for laptops? Sure I saw a dealer plug a laptop into an engine recently as well as the DDT.

Would make diagnosing intermittant faults quicker without having to drag the boat to a dealer each time it coughed.

Only interested in doing this on my own engine.

Can plug my computer into my car (1995 VW) and view all sorts of information.

[Matt]

This appears to be a contradiction. One the one hand you're asking for a simple motor, on the other saying you prefer a more complicated one.
If you want the least complex easiest to maintain motor, a 2 stroke carbed motor wins hands down every time.

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Thanks all.
I'm fairly set on a 4 stroke next time because I've never really liked 2 stroke engines in anything.