Just got the bill today for the spring tune-up/oil change on our 2000 Suzuki 50 hp and it was over $300 , a lot of the cost was labour pains.
This seems like a lot of money to me. I want to be safe, so I never skimp on our vehicles, and do not want to skimp on this, and breakdown somewhere cause I screwd up gapping the plugs or somthing.
Is any one doing thier own plugs and oil change? Is it hard, is it worth it?
Sounds a bit high by US standards. I had our X cleaned and detailed at the end of last season, and they serviced my Honda with plugs, oil, filter, fuel filter, and changed the lower unit lube. Total for everything on the engine was under $75.
What was involved in the service? Did they change the impellor, etc.? FWIW, unless you feel real comfortable with doing it, I'd be inclined to get it done by the shop the first time. As time goes on, you'll gain confidence and be willing to tackle these types of jobs.
While these O/B are too complicated for me to do a lot with, the basic services I'm okay with. Oil, filter, gear oil, gasket/washers cost around $30-35. An impellor (every couple of years if you want to be conservative) around $50 (I think). The next purchase for me will be a shop manual... and hope I never use it for anything more than casual reading
Enjoy
Regards,
Shane
Wind Chime wrote:Just got the bill today for the spring tune-up/oil change on our 2000 Suzuki 50 hp and it was over $300 , a lot of the cost was labour pains.
This seems like a lot of money to me. I want to be safe, so I never skimp on our vehicles, and do not want to skimp on this, and breakdown somewhere cause I screwd up gapping the plugs or somthing.
Is any one doing thier own plugs and oil change? Is it hard, is it worth it?
Huh, you guys got off easy, last time I took my Honda in for servicing the bill was $600.00!! Of course that included a bit more, like impeller, thermostat, plugs, oil, gear oil etc. I only take it in for servicing every other year but the last other year they did everything they could find. On the off years I do the oil change myself, it is no big deal just a bit messy. BCIT offers a one semester course for about $350 that would teach me to do all the servicing myself, seriously considering it.
for a tuneup/service/lube is likely 3 or so hours labor plus $50-100 in parts.. so $300 probably isn't out of line. You are paying for their expert service and experience. It IS a business. The mechanics don't work for free, as well as other overhead (rent/mortgage/taxes/inventory/hazmat fees/heating/etc etc)
That being said I have serviced my Honda 50 the last few years. Not overly hard. I should change the impeller one of these days though which may add a good amount of time to the service. I MAY bring it to a honda shop for a going over (and do the impeller) this season, just to have a professional eye look at it and head off any problem that may come up.
Assuming they did more than an oil change, the price is probably not unreasonable.
Terry wrote:Huh, you guys got off easy, last time I took my Honda in for servicing the bill was $600.00!! Of course that included a bit more, like impeller, thermostat, plugs, oil, gear oil etc. I only take it in for servicing every other year but the last other year they did everything they could find. On the off years I do the oil change myself, it is no big deal just a bit messy. BCIT offers a one semester course for about $350 that would teach me to do all the servicing myself, seriously considering it.
$600 is probably 6-8 hours labor+ parts. again, probably in line with what was done. No one LIKES to pay lots of $$ for preventative work...but is sure is cheaper than doing the work AFTER something fails...of course you wont be near your home or your mechanic, at the mercy of the service centers you can find where you are!
I throw buckets of money at my MG mechanic, but in return, he has proviced me with an extremely reliable and durable car that I have faith will work well and get me home every time.
I enjoy doing most of these myself (as well as all of the great mod ideas here). But prepare for the occasional Oh S&!#.
I went to a marine repair shop while in CA and asked for a Merc 50 Big Foot impeller. This Spring I followed the manual I also picked up and took off the lower unit only to discover they gave me an impeller for a regular Merc 50. The BF impeller is twice the size. Set me back the cost of the impeller and another week of trailer queen instead of sailing. Similar for the plugs. The book recommends NGK and WM was out but they had Champion equivalants. Not really, the ceramic resistor is a different size. My old shop days told me the length of the resisitor has an effect on the plug's operating temp.
Well worth the $300 if they did it right. Check the plugs appearance (ensure they changed all 4 and not just the easy to get at ones).
I have The 70 HP if you buy the factory service manual it is worth its cost. Very easy to understand most areas I recomend it and you will be able to save yourself some future cost check out browns point marina on the web thats where I get my stuff
Overall a 2 stroke is a simpler motor, no valve adjustments, etc. Less things that require an actual mechanic to work on.
Over that past 7 years with my old style two stroke I have changed the plugs 3 times and the lower unit oil twice, all on my own. That's it, no other maint has been required. I flush after every saltwater trip and in about half the years I have remembered to run the gas line dry at the end of the season. The motor always starts right up in the spring even on old gas.
I expect my new injected two stroke will be just as reliable and simple to service.
, a lot of the cost was labour pains.
Of course that included a bit more, like impeller, thermostat, plugs, oil, gear oil etc. I only take it in for servicing every other year but the last other year they did everything they could find. On the off years I do the oil change myself, it is no big deal just a bit messy. BCIT offers a one semester course for about $350 that would teach me to do all the servicing myself, seriously considering it.
