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Honda BF200 Idle Port question

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brendonp

New member
Recently my in-laws have been having some problems with their boat.

It's a 7.5m "Cut Cat", also known as a "Shark Cat".

It has 2x 2008 Honda BF200 engines on the back.

My concern is the idle port is too close to the water, it is about 2.5 inches off the water at idle. Is this ok? If not what effects could it have on the engines?

Thanks
 
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Definitely NOT okay. Minimum clearance from water level (at rest) is 5.9 inches. Higher is better as long as the cavitation plate is just under the water at cruising speed. If water is sucked into the exhaust tubes, you can blow the O2 sensor and actually injest water into the cylinders, causing very serious problems.
 
Hi, thanks for your reply..

I read in the Honda manual that the minimum clearance was the 5.9 inches as you stated..

I dont know heaps about boats so forgive me if I get some of my terms wrong..

I think part of it is too short too.. something about it being 25, when it should be 30? I just forget the description.

The place that fitted the engines is also the local Honda agent.. and the engines ran fine for a while, then the water jacket corroded on both of them (they are used in salt water and the boat is a water taxi).. once the short blocks were replaced they ran fine again for a while.. then the engine started running very rich.. and it kept killing the o2 sensors.. they kept claiming they couldnt find the fault but charged and charged and charged :( .. the same place also serviced the engines every month..

For a while there both engines would stall when throttling down which resulted in a few close calls with some wharfs..

Eventually the problem was found to be the orings round the fuel injectors on both engines were leaking.

The place repairing the engines (same place thats done all the work and servicing) has been sending some very large bills.. the inlaws have finally put their foot down and I wanted to check on the idle port sucking in water as we think thats whats caused a lot of the problems..
 
Okay, since they are 2008's they should have the revised exhaust tubes installed. But just in case, send me the serial numbers on the engines. [email protected].

The 25" vs 30" you are talking about is the shaft length. That is, a 30" shaft allows the engine to be mounted higher on the transom while the lower unit (the prop) remains well submerged in the water even at cruising speed. Honda accomplishes this by using an intermediate casing between the engine casing and the lower unit casing with an extended drive shaft, and shift shaft.

What do you mean that "the water jacket corroded on both of them"? Where? What do you mean that "the short blocks were replaced"? Are you saying that the entire motor block was replaced?. Provide more detail.

The operating problems you describe seem to be all related to the engines being mounted too low and water is being injested into the exhaust tubes and blowing the O2 sensors. Failed O2 sensors will cause the engines to run too rich and waste fuel.

Where are you located? You need to contact the Honda Regional Representative and get him/her involved in this issue.
 
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