Thoughts on 97 200 Saltwater series Yamaha - The Hull Truth

kynan · 04-05-2003, 07:20 AM

The "new" used boat I'm picking up has this engine. I'm switching over from an I?O on current boat. The motor has ~500 hours...water over the damn at this point, but is this a decent motor? If maintained well, how much more life can I expect out of it? What should I do to it before dropping it in the water?

Prop Blast · 04-05-2003, 09:54 AM

Yamaha's 200hp SWS engine is an excellent motor. In good condition it should last you a number of years if you properly maintain it. You don't say what boat the motor is on, so it's tough to determine if it's an appropriate engine (too much or too little) for the hull.

Based on your question, I'm assuming you did not have the engine checked out by a mechanic before purchasing it. You need to take it to a qualified Yamaha service technician and get it checked out from top to bottom. It'll cost you $50-$100 for the labor alone (1 to 2 hours) -- but worth it.

The tech should perform a compression test on all six cylinders, check the output of the alternator, and inspect the condition of the seals in the lower unit. You should also replace the water impeller as a matter of course.

Once you get it checked out, you should run it to determine if you've got the right prop on it. 15x17 is the most common prop used on that engine, but the hull will impact whether or not that's the right one for you. The tech should provide you with some guidance there.

Good luck, hope the engine checks out...

Prop Blast

kynan · 04-05-2003, 01:31 PM

It's on DV Sport cabin (Parker)

How tough is it to do a compression check yourself on a OB. I bought a tester a while back and have not used...PITA on my I/O--no room.

Couldn't I tell if the seals were good just by draining the lower unit fluid and looking for the milky-ness they say to check in a sterndrive?

PeteH · 04-05-2003, 01:38 PM

It's a piece of cake on an outboard. You can even jump the starter solenoid if you are doing the job alone. Remember that those blocks have staggered compression for cooling purposes.
Yes, check the oil in the foot. Unless the owner just changed the oil, it will tell you all you need to know. A little graphite on the magnet is normal, lots of flakes are not.
The 90 degree blocks are champs and 97 was well before yami started really pumping out engines. Whether this means anything or not, I believe some of the complaints on yami have come during the last few years of heavy production volume.

SCAngler · 04-05-2003, 02:54 PM

it is a very good engine!!! it just likes gas.

Ray KSUSA3 · 04-05-2003, 05:01 PM

PeteH,

What's staggered compression?

PeteH · 04-05-2003, 05:20 PM

The compression varies from the top to the middle to the bottom. It should be close from side to side. I forget the actual spread, but one of the pairs (I think it's the lower) can show 5lbs or so less compression than the rest..

bbogue · 04-06-2003, 06:38 AM

I just sold my 94 20' Grady with a 94 200hp Yamaha and 1300 hours on her. The engine has always run great with a minimum of maintenance (used Ringfree, de-carbed regularly and changed spark plugs yearly). When I sold her, my mechanic checked the compression and she was 115psi to 120psi on all cylinders...very near the required spec. My mechanic says these engines should go 3000 hours.

Good comment someone made about the prop. I suggest you make sure you're near (not over) 5500 rpms with a heavy load at WOT. Over-propping will kill any engine.

Great engine. Tough as nails.

Good luck.

Bill