Subject: Tohatsu rant
I have an 25+year old Mariner air-cooled 5hp outboard. Last summer it got
water in the lower leg. According to the agents not worth fixing because it
is so old (buy a new engine--see the logic) even though the motor still goes
perfect. After I stripped the lower leg I could get most of the seals. Some
were odd sizes, but I had those parts machined to metric sizes. What would
have been a NZD2K job turned out to be a USD85 job. One good thing about old
air-cooled motors is they have no internal corrosion like water-cooled ones.
regards Paul
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 23:11:20 -0400
From: "Justin Meddock" <jmeddock@...>
Subject: Tohatsu rant
I had an 8 horse Tohatsu, 1986 model. About 5 years ago it started to get
water in the lower unit. I ordered parts through West Marine after talking
to the Nissan/Tohatsu importer in Texas (WM suggested I call direct to
distributor to get part numbers for the seals I needed) the parts were
backordered I was to have them in 30 days. After 30 days passed I called
back, same story 30 days.
Started calling the dist. in Texas directly after about 6 months worth of 30
day waits, the Importer tells me the parts are no longer going to be
imported.
The engine was "too old"
WHAT I have a D**N 1957 Mercury I can get every part for.
"Well sir.......blah blah......The demand for these parts.......blah blah"
The thing was 9 years old then and still runs great now I just have to drain
the lower unit each time I use it.
I wonder when a new Nissan /Tohatsu will be too old for them to supply parts
for. When I could get parts before it was always difficult.
I will buy Merc/Mariner or Johnson/Evinrude from now on.
Justin Meddock
water in the lower leg. According to the agents not worth fixing because it
is so old (buy a new engine--see the logic) even though the motor still goes
perfect. After I stripped the lower leg I could get most of the seals. Some
were odd sizes, but I had those parts machined to metric sizes. What would
have been a NZD2K job turned out to be a USD85 job. One good thing about old
air-cooled motors is they have no internal corrosion like water-cooled ones.
regards Paul
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 23:11:20 -0400
From: "Justin Meddock" <jmeddock@...>
Subject: Tohatsu rant
I had an 8 horse Tohatsu, 1986 model. About 5 years ago it started to get
water in the lower unit. I ordered parts through West Marine after talking
to the Nissan/Tohatsu importer in Texas (WM suggested I call direct to
distributor to get part numbers for the seals I needed) the parts were
backordered I was to have them in 30 days. After 30 days passed I called
back, same story 30 days.
Started calling the dist. in Texas directly after about 6 months worth of 30
day waits, the Importer tells me the parts are no longer going to be
imported.
The engine was "too old"
WHAT I have a D**N 1957 Mercury I can get every part for.
"Well sir.......blah blah......The demand for these parts.......blah blah"
The thing was 9 years old then and still runs great now I just have to drain
the lower unit each time I use it.
I wonder when a new Nissan /Tohatsu will be too old for them to supply parts
for. When I could get parts before it was always difficult.
I will buy Merc/Mariner or Johnson/Evinrude from now on.
Justin Meddock