2005 115 four stroke

[Northbaptiste]

I am looking at buying a used fish and ski boat and one that has cropped up has a Yamaha 115 four stroke on it.
I have owned other Yamaha products (not outboards) in the past and always been happy with them
I have done some research and found conflicting views on this engine
Some people have implied that they are problematic and should be avioded

Just wondering what the general feeling on here is regarding these engines.

[boscoe99]

What are you hearing about the motor?

A very popular model. Not any more problematic than any other model IMO. Or stated another way, it is as reliable as any other Yamaha.

You will always hear more bad stuff on the innerweb about a very popular model simply because there are more of them. Well, maybe the F350 is the exception.

Does it start well, idle well and run well? How many hours on the motor? Is the compression satisfactory? Does it look as if it has been well taken care of? With the boat loaded is the wide open throttle above 5500 RPM?

[Northbaptiste]

What are you hearing about the motor?

A very popular model. Not any more problematic than any other model IMO. Or stated another way, it is as reliable as any other Yamaha.

You will always hear more bad stuff on the innerweb about a very popular model simply because there are more of them. Well, maybe the F350 is the exception.

Does it start well, idle well and run well? How many hours on the motor? Is the compression satisfactory? Does it look as if it has been well taken care of? With the boat loaded is the wide open throttle above 5500 RPM?

I havent been to see it yet.Thought I would do some research first.
A lot of the problems that I have read about seem to be fuel related.
Injectors
Filters etc
Also a few trim issues

I've never owned a fourstroke before so I'm a little nervous about them
What I do know is that they can be very reliable but if you do need to fix them it can get pricey quickly

[boscoe99]

All Yamaha's and other brands of motors, both two stroke and four stroke, suffer the most from fuel related issues. Infrequent use, ethanol in gasoline and being operated in a warm most environment can cause mayhem in all types of motors.

Ask many an owner of a two stroke carbureted Yamaha and he would kill to own a four stroke EFI model. Mucho less problemo with EFI than carburetors.

[Northbaptiste]

Going to look at it tomorrow .
'Anything in particular I should be looking for .

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Boscoe covered most of it..

Its a good engine but if not maintained, can be a POS..

Find out if the owner flushed it regularly(if used in salt water), check the oil, for color, etc(just like a car). Find out when the water pump was last changed out.

Most importantly, a water test, make sure it rev's fully at WOT, (NO FUEL ISSUES)...

Looking under the cowl, you should be able to tell how well it's been maintained. There should also be a fuel filter(clear plastic cup), check that for water/crap.

Might be worth your while to have a GOOD mechanic do a leak down test to check the overall health of the engine..

Re being a 4 stroke, that F115's been out for awhile, really "no bugs" to speak of.. Expect MUCH better fuel mileage, quieter as well...

[robert graham]

A motor that was used for 11 years primarily in saltwater would not be my preference....a freshwater motor would be better. If you decide to buy it be sure to install a fuel/water seperator(if not so equipped) and use a fuel stabilizer like Stabil especially for any lengthy lay-up periods.

[gtreanto]

We bought a Pursuit 2470WA with Twin F115's with 600 or so hours. The only issue we had last year were fuel related. We had the injectors and VST service done late in the season and it made a huge difference.

I did have an issue with the fuel management system which turned out to be lots of varnish in the fuel lines from the output side of the flow meters to the engine. When the engine shut down the some fuel would flow back and drag clumps of varnish and clog the emitter wheel. I replaced the fuel lines.

I guess the moral of the story is find out when the last injector/vst service was done, check for varnish..

[Northbaptiste]

Spoke to the owner last night and told him I wanted to water test it.
Problem here in Canada is that the ice is just going out of our lakes and there is always debris floating around in the water which makes early season runs a little risky so he wants to wait a couple of weeks
He lives by a river which makes the possibility of stuff floating in the water even higher .
I run the risk of someone not caring about testing it and just buying it .
I guess that's a risk I'm willing to take
I certainly don't think he's trying to hide anything

[FabricGATOR]

Your last entry sounds like it is a fresh water environment... lake,river.

As TownsendFJR1300 said, water pump changed at regular interval is a good practice, recommended annually (although I really think it is more a function of separating the lower unit and lubricating the spline and hardware regularly... and while you are there, you might as well replace the water pump).

If you are concerned about losing the opportunity to purchase it, go and look at the vessel. If you love it, place a deposit of "Good Faith Money" pending a sea trial. I don't know what you can negotiate with the owner but start with a couple of hundred refundable dollars and consider raising it to thousand(s) with say all but *** dollars refundable so he gets a little something for hold his vessel off the market for the three+ weeks until the icebergs melt.

[Northbaptiste]

Your last entry sounds like it is a fresh water environment... lake,river.

As TownsendFJR1300 said, water pump changed at regular interval is a good practice, recommended annually (although I really think it is more a function of separating the lower unit and lubricating the spline and hardware regularly... and while you are there, you might as well replace the water pump).

If you are concerned about losing the opportunity to purchase it, go and look at the vessel. If you love it, place a deposit of "Good Faith Money" pending a sea trial. I don't know what you can negotiate with the owner but start with a couple of hundred refundable dollars and consider raising it to thousand(s) with say all but *** dollars refundable so he gets a little something for hold his vessel off the market for the three+ weeks until the icebergs melt.

Yes it is fresh water .
Thats good advice
Thx
May try that

[Northbaptiste]

The upside to living up here in Canada is our boating season relatively short compared to warmer climates.
So a 2005 motor is likely to have a lot fewer hours on it as it would only get used half of the year.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

+1 on Fabrigators post / deposit...

That'd work if he's willing to wait a little bit...

Does he have service records (receipts) for any shop work done (or not done)?


Unless he's giving you a screaming deal, I wouldn't want to learn of any issues AFTER I bought it..

[Northbaptiste]

Boscoe covered most of it..

Its a good engine but if not maintained, can be a POS..

Find out if the owner flushed it regularly(if used in salt water), check the oil, for color, etc(just like a car). Find out when the water pump was last changed out.

Most importantly, a water test, make sure it rev's fully at WOT, (NO FUEL ISSUES)...

Looking under the cowl, you should be able to tell how well it's been maintained. There should also be a fuel filter(clear plastic cup), check that for water/crap.

Might be worth your while to have a GOOD mechanic do a leak down test to check the overall health of the engine..

Re being a 4 stroke, that F115's been out for awhile, really "no bugs" to speak of.. Expect MUCH better fuel mileage, quieter as well...

How do I know if its revving fully ?
Doesn't that depend on the boat and prop ?

[TownsendsFJR1300]

"I am wondering if anybody has ever heard of this problem in the F150's? I ask because I had noticed some issues with my starboard motor and had the mechanic come take a look at it. Immediately after removing the cowling he said I have an exhaust leak. He removed the exhaust cover plate which appeared to be fine. He said we have to remove the powerhead; it has to be coming from the gasket. So we did and what we found is not pretty"

Yamaha F150 Exhaust Corrosion - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum

I've got a 2006 Yamaha F150 with 1070 hours

I took it in for a service a couple of weeks ago and it turns out there is major corrosion in dry exhaust areas of the powerhead and mid section/exhaust guide. About half the thickness of the walls around the exhaust have corroded away in places!

Yamaha F150 Exhaust Corrosion - The Hull Truth - Boating and Fishing Forum

The OP is looking at an F115, not an F150..