*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: A boat without a ding or four is not being used
A respected local salvage dealer told me to avoid them. He told me the alloy does not hold up, and he sees all sorts of serious corrosion issues with them. However, I have never heard anyone else say that about them!
Can you give some more details? What model and year motor? It the corrosion occuring around the lower unit gear oil plugs? Is there corrosion on the tip of the bullet? Does any part of the motor stay in the water even when tilted up? Can you provide a picture of the corrosion?
We are a full line Suzuki dealer. There was a service bulletin issued for a bonding wire on some models. If you want to e-mail me your serial numbers, I would be happy to check to see if your engine is one of the models covered, or you can contact Suzuki directly. They have a database that tracks each motor to make sure they are kept up to date.
I'm in the process of re-powering a 23' SeaCraft and searching for the best 250 4 stroke for the investment. I was considering the suzuki; however, a friend noted that he had received some feedback of a corrosion issue w/ suzuki motors in general. Just thought I'd ask the question to a larger group of users.
Since 1997 I have owned 5 Suzukis................Absolutely no corrosion problems.......as with any motor....if there is a problem look at it individually DO NOT say it's a problem with ALL the engines...it's absolutely not true....every MFG fights this kind of rumor.....and they are always looking for ways to fight corrosion.......
Corrosion is not as simple as it seems there are many different causes...some that have nothing to do with a given MFG. sometimes the problem is associated with a specific location....
you have not seen corrosion problems posted here for several months, actually going on a year . I concur with the above, it could be a grounding problem or something inherent in that specific application. Zukes are great motors that are straightforward and suffer no design defects. Thieir cowls are a bit flimsy and the decals on the cowlings could be more substantial, but pound for pound they do the job well.
A respected local salvage dealer told me to avoid them.
I think there in lie's the problem. As someone that does salvage and deal's in older motor's they very well could of had problem's in the past with older 2 stroke's.
Just read that link. The guy says that he barely hit bottom, then he details how and why the corrosion could destroy the housing. After he fails to get warranty coverage he says how lucky he is that the service guy wrote up his insurance claim and saved him some money. I guess insurance companies don't have internet access otherwise some cases might be investigated further.
But, then again who would ever commit insurance fraud and then create a website detailing their motives, actions, accomplices and supply detailed photos?
i've been dealing with suzuki since 1997. i own a 70hp 4 stroke that has 1450hrs on her. i've sold over500 suzuki's. the only time that i've seen corrosion on any of them is when LAZY owners don't flush and wash, rinse and use a corrosion protectent such as Boeshield's T-9 or CRC 656. also anoids need to be replaced every 6 months (min) for boats kept in water and annualy for those on a trailer. there are two types of anoids also. one for salt water (zinc) and one for fresh water (magnesium).
__________________ beauty may be skin deep, but ugly goes to the bone.
Fraud is a little strong. As he says "The dealer wrote up the damage as the result of collision since there was no way of knowing that the hit wasn’t the beginning of the problem." I know I am considering repowering with 'Zukes and will check to make sure the design of the lower unit has changed to avoid this issue.
__________________ Capecodguy
18' George Wiliams Plywood Skiff
"Going old school"
I also looked at the link--I am also buying a boat to be powered with Suzikis. The boat apparently is kept in salt water. It looks as if the nuts had not been regularly removed and maintained. This issue does not worry me, since I flush, clean the engines, and lift keep the boat, after running in fresh water on the way home.
I’m the guy that wrote up the problem and put it on my website. If I had thought what transpired was fraud I would not be stupid enough to document it on a public forum. I would appreciate it if you who weren’t there save making public judgments about my character or ethics for situations where you have full and first-hand knowledge.
There are two identical engines on the boat (1999 150 2 strokes). One is fine, the other, the one that bumped bottom, developed the crack. The cracked motor housing also had a slightly bent skeg with a small piece taken out of the leading edge. The Insurance Company was in the loop on this issue. Since collision had occurred it was impossible to determine if the crack occurred ‘naturally’ as the result of the corrosion, or was the result of abnormal stress being applied to a spot that may have been weakened. I was granted the benefit of the doubt and gained new respect for my insurer.
By the way, two years later, the other engine, subject to the same environment, remains fine and crack free. Aside from this issue my motors have been trouble free and have never let me down. Suzuki makes a great motor IMO and I would'nt hesitate to purchase Zukes again.
About routine maintenance: both engines were thoroughly flushed with fresh water after every use and received regular washing. When not in use they were tilted out of the water which, on my boat, takes the whole unit completely out. The boat also gets considerable trailer-time since, when I’m going to be away from it for a while, I pull it and leave it on its trailer.
From what I was told, the corrosion I showed in the pictures is common to varying degrees in all the Suzuki engines what use the threaded ring to retain the innards of the prop housing. Suzuki changed their design and no longer uses that system, but I don’t know when the change was made. Some, I repeat, only some engines using the threaded ring will develop a crack. Rinsing, flushing and spraying corrosion protection will not stop this corrosion from occurring.The repairing dealersaid the only way to overcome it is to periodically R&R the nut, coating it with a protective film. You wont find that in the routine maintenance section of the owners manual.
I’ve already wasted too much time here responding to ignorance. Whats particulary sad is that two guys passing judgement are Suzuki dealers butcant seem to be able to add anything to the discusion except character assasination.I’mhoping those of you who accused me of fraud or being lazy are nice people andsimply typed before you thought.
cpocraig - 5/13/2006 9:07 AM
... the only time that i've seen corrosion on any of them is when LAZY owners don't flush and wash, rinse and use a corrosion protectent such as Boeshield's T-9 or CRC 656.
In YOUR "opinion", which is dead wrong BTW. From MY "experience" (my family has been running up to 11 OBs a year for many, many years now and boating for > 30), no other OB motor made I know of would have or has suffered similar results from corrosion due to a lack of being flushed or sprayed with corrosion protectant.
You tell us how that spray you recommend would penetrate into that threaded ring ... ?? C'mon, how ? Please tell us ...
You are quite within your rights to enjoy and love your Suzi OB, but that your's was a less-than-helpful reply ... and to make claims in regards to "fraud" ... IMHO an apology is owed.
__________________ [red]MISS TEAK[/red], 25' Parker mod-V Sport Cabin "Life's too short to own an ugly boat ..." www.classicparker.com
I did not say that you committed insurance fraud. But I am wandering about some of the things that you wrote in your detailed account of the problem.
I think it is great that the guy getting paid to do the repair wrote up a claim for the insurance company that got the claim paid. As you say you were "lucky" that the dealer wrote the claim that way even though "The Suzuki dealer had seen this before" and "it was most likely not the real cause of the problem. In his experience corrosion was the culprit."
You also say that the dealer explained that "Over time, salt water works its way into the threads and either leaves deposits or starts galvanic action. I could never get the dealer to clarify which, or maybe it’s a combination of both? In any case, these deposits begin to accumulate between the nut and housing. This accumulation creates outward force on the housing and once enough of the housing is compromised it cracks."
I was wandering if in that report to the insurance company you included your statements about the incident that was one year old, and as you say "It was dead low tide and I was going slowly".
Did you tell the insurance company about all of the investigative work that you confronted Suzuki with? Did you tell them "this damage would not be covered by Suzuki because it was the result of corrosion. Believe me I went round and round with them but they were firm in their position."?
It is great that you got everything fixed from your accident. You say you are "keeping my fingers crossed that the problem wont show up on the other engine." What problem is that? Grounding the boat?
You state " The intention of this page is to just give other Suzuki owners some insight into what’s up if they are having this problem." Should Suzuki owners beware of corrossion or collisions?
Again, I am not stating that you committed any fraud or crime. I am just wondering how this would look to a claims adjuster. Many insurance companies have clauses that exclude manufacturers or Latent defects. Considering the excellent detailed information you provided on your website, I would think that the insurance company might want to think about such a problem with the Suzukis.
It was never my intention to slander or insult you. I was just wandering because there are probably more Suzuki customers out there faced with these kinds of problems. By the way, I was very up front in my first post that I am a Suzuki dealer. I am in fact a relatively new Suzuki dealer and I have not had that much experience with this kind of cracking problem. Thank you for your research and detailed pictures. I will be sure to look for these things in the future.
suzuki corrosion problems 
?? C'mon, how 
