Thoughts on 2-stroke vs. 4-Stroke?

[badmoonrising]

It reminds me of guys who refused to work on "foreign cars" back in the olden days. Generaly, once they got used to them, they criticized the "junk" American companies were building. Then around 1980 or so, the US started building the 200,000 mile engine using similar processes as the Japanese were using.

Actually, when Hondas (and Toyotas/ Datsun (now Nissan)/etc.)) first started being imported to the US, they were junk. Less then a decade later, they were better than American cars. American manufacturers didn't start turning that around until the mid 80s. The first Honda Civics had a problem of not wanting to start in the cold winters we used to have in SE Pennsylvania. I pushed/towed and cursed many of them myself. The bodies on foreign cars back then would rust out in a few years and if you got 2 years out of their exhaust systems, that was a lot.

[GregF]

How does an I/O give you more deck space?
How is it easier to work on? I pull the cover off my outboard and everything is exposed, about chest high on the trailer.

The software for most outboards is now on the internet for anyone who wants to download it and you need a OBDII cable that you can buy on Ebay for about $10 but you need to make the adapter for your motor.
You can get the whole setup, ready to go for a Yamaha for $100 if you are not a computer guy. I assume they have the same deal on Evinrudes

[badmoonrising]

How does an I/O give you more deck space?

Everything is below deck. On an outboard version of all years of the Party Cruiser, the outboard cut out extends into the stern sleeper. You lose a ton of space.

How is it easier to work on? I pull the cover off my outboard and everything is exposed, about chest high on the trailer.

Never said easier to work on. In fact, I said it was pretty cramped vs an outboard. I said easier to maintain with Mecruiser's quick drain systems. You haven't ever owned an I/O so you are talking out of your ass. I've owned both.

The software for most outboards is now on the internet for anyone who wants to download it and you need a OBDII cable that you can buy on Ebay for about $10 but you need to make the adapter for your motor.
You can get the whole setup, ready to go for a Yamaha for $100 if you are not a computer guy. I assume they have the same deal on Evinrudes

If you think your jury rigged version of an OBD 2 link is the same as what the dealer has, I'm going to laugh. There are many versions of automotive OBD 2 readers on the internet for automotive applications. None are equivalent to what dealers have. Body and ABS codes come to mind, very few shade tree mechanic type readers like the ones Autozone sells will give you every code. True you can do most things. but the dealer's equipment is superior and not available to the public.

Again, I've owned several aftermarket units as well as Ford, Gm and Chrysler dealer - only units. Not even Snap On tools can sell code scanners that are anywhere near what the dealer has.

[GregF]

Perhaps some manufacturers have mounted their motors inside the deck envelope but that is a design flaw. Most are out behind the deck area. Mine is 15" behind the deck. I am looking at a jack plate that will put it 4" or more back from that. (lets see you "jack" that I/O)

You are right, I never owned an I/O but I have worked on a lot of them.
I said earlier, they are very popular in Maryland and I lived there 38 years. All of them were Chevy 6 cyl based Mercruisers.

The YDIS setup I have is exactly the same software they run at the dealer. It is only the cable that is different, an insignificant difference.
It uses another driver for the USB to parallel adapter but the software sees the same thing.

[badmoonrising]

My Starcraft is a '67, like I said before it would still be running with the original 4 cylinder Merc in it had the original owner not passed away and his family let it sit without winterization. Find me an outboard that will last 45 years without needing both a powerhead and lower unit. Fact is, these motors rev high and work harder, thus have a shorter life. I've helped restore more than a few older Starcrafts with inline 6's and 4 cylinder motors, and all are still running just needing manifolds and basic maintenance.

Again, if you think spend $100 rigging something and think it's just as good a a computer system that's several thousand to start, good luck with that.

[GregF]

Again, if you think spend $100 rigging something and think it's just as good a a computer system that's several thousand to start, good luck with that.

Maybe you are confusing the GM car computer at a GM dealer with the laptop they use at a Yamaha dealer.

Yamaha dealers use exactly the same software as I am running, just a newer version for some of the new motors, although this one covers my particular engine.

Thumb through the manual and see if it looks right to you

http://gfretwell.com/ftp/Manual(YDIS-Ver1.33).rar

[1roadking]

Who let the dogs out I miss watching you two duke it out lol.

[badmoonrising]

Debating Greg is like debating a liberal. Even though he's usually wrong, he just keeps going.

[Tallykenj]

Who let the dogs out I miss watching you two duke it out lol.

While they go back and forth, we learn something.

[GregF]

Poor old Ed does not realize that the "thousands of dollar" diagnostic computer at the GM dealer was just an IBM industrialized PC with a proprietary serial card to handle that weird baud rate GM used on the data link in the early cars.
Now that everyone is on CAN/BUS I doubt you need the special card.

We used to service all of the GM dealers in Ft Myers when I was working for IBM in the 90s.

The trick is just finding the software. One of our guys did have a set of CDs but I was never interested in copying them since I had a Ford and a Honda.

Yamaha uses a garden variety lap top with the YDIS software. Evinrude is the same way with their version of the software. There is a discussion going on at THT where someone even posted the link where you can download it.

[badmoonrising]

Poor old Ed

Aren't you about 30 years older than I am Greg ?

[GregF]

Poor old Ed

Aren't you about 30 years older than I am Greg ?

And 30 years wiser grasshopper

[hyper]

North v/s south

[badmoonrising]

And 30 years wiser grasshopper

The Amish have a saying: “Vee get too soon old… and too late Schmart.” ...