Service Alert! Suzuki/Evinrude/Johnson DF70 4 stroke.

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Author Topic:   Service Alert! Suzuki/Evinrude/Johnson DF70 4 stroke.

JBCornwell posted 05-22-2003 10:25 PM ET (US)
Some of you may recall a flap a year or so ago, about a DF70 that broke the cam. There was a feeding frenzy bashing the engine and Suzuki, on several fora.
I got a question on another forum yesterday about the procedure for setting timing belt tension.
I replied, quoting the Service Manual, to "press the tensioner lightly against the belt and tighten the 2 bolts" that hold it (the tensioner).
The poster replied that he had asked because he had just watched his dealer wrench tighten the belt tensioner with a prybar.
I told him that I was very interested because the only trouble I had ever heard about the engine was a broken cam. I wondered if his dealer had serviced the engine that failed.
He replied that his was the engine that broke the cam and he is on his second powerhead.
Now, what do I think this means? That belt is steel reinforced. It does not stretch. Excess tension will put excess side loading on the cam bearings and on the cam itself.
Did that cause the cam to break? Hell, I don't know, but it sure is a prime suspect.
Make sure that anyone who services your engine follows the book.. . exactly.
Red sky at night. . .
JB
Bigshot posted 05-22-2003 11:10 PM ET (US)
Thanks JB....when I service that part I will remind myself :)
David Jenkins posted 05-22-2003 11:40 PM ET (US)
Since I own that engine but have no manual, your post definitely got my attention. When should this procedure be done? My engine has slightly over 1500 hours on it.
JBCornwell posted 05-23-2003 09:17 AM ET (US)
Hi, David.
The book says to inspect the timing belt every 200 hours and replace each 800 hours or 4 years.
I highly recommend purchase of the Service Manual, even if you don't plan to service it yourself. Suzuki # is 99500-99E02-01E. I bought mine on Ebay for $17.50.
Red sky at night. . .
JB
David Jenkins posted 05-23-2003 01:26 PM ET (US)
Is it possible to go to ebay and type in what I want to buy (i.e., the service manual) and be notified when one becomes available?
Jimm posted 05-24-2003 09:49 AM ET (US)
Yes David, get the page you want on the screen - such as "Suzuki manuals", then find the words on the screen "save this search". "Suzuki manuals" will then come up on a page called "my favorites". If you care to you can check the "e-mail" box and e-bay will send you the new items whenever they come up...Jim
Roarque posted 05-24-2003 06:31 PM ET (US)
JB Thanks for the tip on the Susie Manual.
....sailor's delight.
Greg
jstachowiak posted 05-24-2003 08:58 PM ET (US)
I had a diesel Toyota pickup once that a mechanic tightened the timing belt too much and it broke in a couple hundred miles. What a mess.

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Author	Topic: Service Alert! Suzuki/Evinrude/Johnson DF70 4 stroke.
JBCornwell	posted 05-22-2003 10:25 PM ET (US) Some of you may recall a flap a year or so ago, about a DF70 that broke the cam. There was a feeding frenzy bashing the engine and Suzuki, on several fora. I got a question on another forum yesterday about the procedure for setting timing belt tension. I replied, quoting the Service Manual, to "press the tensioner lightly against the belt and tighten the 2 bolts" that hold it (the tensioner). The poster replied that he had asked because he had just watched his dealer wrench tighten the belt tensioner with a prybar. I told him that I was very interested because the only trouble I had ever heard about the engine was a broken cam. I wondered if his dealer had serviced the engine that failed. He replied that his was the engine that broke the cam and he is on his second powerhead. Now, what do I think this means? That belt is steel reinforced. It does not stretch. Excess tension will put excess side loading on the cam bearings and on the cam itself. Did that cause the cam to break? Hell, I don't know, but it sure is a prime suspect. Make sure that anyone who services your engine follows the book.. . exactly. Red sky at night. . . JB
Bigshot	posted 05-22-2003 11:10 PM ET (US) Thanks JB....when I service that part I will remind myself :)
David Jenkins	posted 05-22-2003 11:40 PM ET (US) Since I own that engine but have no manual, your post definitely got my attention. When should this procedure be done? My engine has slightly over 1500 hours on it.
JBCornwell	posted 05-23-2003 09:17 AM ET (US) Hi, David. The book says to inspect the timing belt every 200 hours and replace each 800 hours or 4 years. I highly recommend purchase of the Service Manual, even if you don't plan to service it yourself. Suzuki # is 99500-99E02-01E. I bought mine on Ebay for $17.50. Red sky at night. . . JB
David Jenkins	posted 05-23-2003 01:26 PM ET (US) Is it possible to go to ebay and type in what I want to buy (i.e., the service manual) and be notified when one becomes available?
Jimm	posted 05-24-2003 09:49 AM ET (US) Yes David, get the page you want on the screen - such as "Suzuki manuals", then find the words on the screen "save this search". "Suzuki manuals" will then come up on a page called "my favorites". If you care to you can check the "e-mail" box and e-bay will send you the new items whenever they come up...Jim
Roarque	posted 05-24-2003 06:31 PM ET (US) JB Thanks for the tip on the Susie Manual. ....sailor's delight. Greg
jstachowiak	posted 05-24-2003 08:58 PM ET (US) I had a diesel Toyota pickup once that a mechanic tightened the timing belt too much and it broke in a couple hundred miles. What a mess.