Too Good To Be True?

[Bird Watcher]

Tohatsu must be a little secret that most rednecks want kept quiet....

My brother-in-law (avid duck hunter) swears by these motors. So much be bought a rebuilt outboard. He doesn't know the details but swears lots of "good ole boys" in the South Arkansas Delta (rich in ducks) are buying these outboards (not jets) and overhauling the motors with performance parts and such. He said just about everyone in the delta is running the Tohatsu because they are leaving everyone else behind them. A 1650 flat bottom loaded with 3-4 hunters, 1-2 dogs, gear, decoys, etc on a 25hp outboard running mid-30's easy.

Sound too good to be true? I thought so too but my nephew, brother-in-law and a couple of other guys were there and they all swear they are "super bad" when they are hopped up.

Look into it. Might be something into it and I hear they are very reliable. I know that when I see a flat bottom with a Tahotsu, I respect it and know it's probably been "hot-rodded". LOL

You are talking about a completely different Tohatsu that isn't made anymore. the "mega". It was a 3 cylinder 25hp motor that could be re worked to a 40-50 hp motor by changing some parts because it used the same block. It is the famous "mega" of Bayou Meto lore. What they would have when finished is a motor that looks like a 25hp, so it's legal in the areas with HP restrictions, but when they could actually get them started and keep them running, would have 40-50hp pushing a 15-16' john boat. They really just got out of hand with that stuff down there. I have heard good and bad things about the new Tohatsus. The Boat Dealer here in town is a big fan and swears by them.

[J-Doc]

Ah. Thanks for the info Bird Watcher. Glad you clarified that. I really didn't know and was basing what I had been told 2nd party.

[fishinwrench]

My only real valid complaint about Japs outboards is that there is something they use in the assembly process that causes the fasteners to react with the block material and seize.

This is a huge and annoyingly common issue when working with Yamaha, Suzuki, Nissan/Tohatsu, and probably Honda as well....but I never touch Honda's so I can't confirm that.

If you ever have to remove anything that is attached via threads cut into the block or cylinder head there is a 75% chance that you're gonna break a fastener (or 3) and have to do some drilling/re-tapping.

Thermostat covers are the worst, and I have had a bunch of simple thermo swaps that turned into 300.00+ ordeals.

[Old plug]

Yahama means some mercury as well. right wrench.

[fishinwrench]

Yahama means some mercury as well. right wrench.

Technically Yes....sort of. But you don't see the seizing fasteners on the Merc/Yammie clones, OR the Evinrude/Tohatsu spawn. Can't really explain that phenomenon.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Is an alloy seizure or a chemical?

[fishinwrench]

Is an alloy seizure or a chemical?

How do you tell the difference?

If your lucky and get them out they'll look like this....

When you're not so lucky, they look like this....

Please, no ads for WD-40, Break-Free, or PB..... cuz that crap won't touch it Ever.

[Old plug]

Is that rust on those bolts are some fype of crap they are using to secure them against vibration. After looking at the second picture i can see the gunk on the threads. It looks to me like there was a lot of it used no matter what it is. I bet

The american manufactures did not want that stuff applied to their motors is the difference.

[fishinwrench]

A little of both I suspect. If you clean the threads up on a wire wheel the threads will be badly pitted, as if they we're dipped in saltwater right before installing. They are almost never reusable.

Those pics are from a recent thermostat swap on a 1996 Yamaha 115 that had never seen saltwater (well, I guess at one time it was shipped across saltwater) LOL

Alot of the time all the bolts will have a dry white powdery-like corrosion on them.

[Flysmallie]

If they are pitted it's an alloy problem.