Honda 99 Outboard Owners Manual

							INSTALLATION 
Be careful to avoid connecting the battery 
in reverse polarity, as that will damage 
the battery-charging system in the 
outboard motor: 
29  
						

							BEFORE OPERATION 
ARE YOU READY TO GET 
UNDER WAY? 
Your safety is your responsibility. A little 
time spent in preparation will 
significantly reduce your risk of injury. 
Knowledge 
Read and understand this manual. Know 
what the controls do and how to operate 
them. 
Familiarize yourself with the outboard 
motor and its operation before you get 
under way. Know what to do in case of 
emergencies. 
Familiarize yourself with all laws and 
regulations relating to boating and the use 
of outboard motors. 
Safety 
Always wear a (PFD) Personal Flotation 
Device) while on the boat. 
Attach the emergency stop switch lanyard 
securely to your PFD or to your wrist. 
IS YOUR OUTBOARD 
MOTOR READY TO GO? 
For your safety, and to maximize the 
service life of your equipment, it is very 
important to take a few moments before 
you operate the outboard motor to check 
its condition. Be sure to take care of any 
problem you find, or have your 
authorized Honda Marine dealer correct 
it, before you operate the outboard motor. Improperly maintaining this outboard 
motor, or failing to correct a problem 
before operation, could cause a 
malfunction in which you could be 
seriously injured. 
Always perform a preoperation 
inspection before each operation, and 
correct any problem. 
Before beginning your prcoperation 
checks, be sure the ignition switch is in 
the OFF position. 
30  
						

							BEFORE OPERATION 
Safety Inspection 
Look around the outboard motor for 
signs of oil or gasoline leaks. 
If you are using the portable fuel tank, 
make sure it is in good condition and 
properly secured in the boat (p.34). 
Check that the fuel hose is 
undamaged and properly connected 
(P.34). 
Wipe up any spills before starting the 
engine. 
Check the stem bracket to be sure the 
outboard motor is securely installed. 
Check that all controls are operating 
properly. 
Replace any damaged parts. 
Check that all fasteners are in place 
and securely tightened. 
Maintenance Inspection 
Check the engine oil level (p.55). 
Running the engine with a low oil 
level can cause engine damage. 
Check to be sure the propeller is 
undamaged, and the castle nut is 
secured with the cotter pin (p.69). 
Check that the anodes are securely 
attached to the gear case (p.68) 
and are not excessively worn. The 
an odes help to protect the outboard 
motor from corrosion. 
Make sure the tool kit and emergency 
starter rope are onboard (p.52). 
Replace any missing items. 
Check the fuel level in the fuel tank 
(p.64). 
31  
						

							OPERATION 
SAFE OPERATING 
PRECAUTIONS 
To safely realize the full potential of this 
outboard motor, you need a complete 
understanding of its operation and a 
certain amount of practice with its 
controls. 
Before operating the outboard motor for 
the first time, please review the 
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 
on page 7 and the chapter titled BEFORE 
OPERATION. 
For your safety, avoid starting or 
operating the engine in an enclosed area. 
Your engine’s exhaust contains poisonous 
carbon monoxide gas which can collect 
rapidly in an enclosed area and cause 
illness or death. 
BREAK-IN PROCEDURE 
Break-in period: 10 hours 
Proper break-in operation allows the 
moving parts to wear in smoothly for best 
performance and long service life. 
First 15 minutes: 
Run the engine at trolling speed. Use the 
minimum throttle opening necessary to 
operate the boat at a safe trolling speed. 
Next 45 minutes: 
Run the engine up to a maximum of 2,000 
to 3,000 rpm, which is about IO% to 30% 
of maximum throttle opening. 
Next 60 minutes: 
Run the engine up to a maximum of4,OOO 
to 5,000 rpm, which is about 50% to 80% 
of maximum throttle opening. 
Short full-throttle bursts are OK, but do 
not operate the engine continuously at full 
throttle. 
For boats that plane easily, bring the boat 
up on plane, and then reduce the throttle 
opening to the recommended rpm range. 
Next 8 hours: 
Do not run the engine at full throttle for 
more than 5 minutes at a time. 
32  
						

							OPERATION 
TRANSOM ANGLE 
ADJUSTMENT 
CR type/XH type) 
UNLOCKED 
POSITION ADJUSTING ROD 
LOCKED POSITION 
TO L&K 
(SH type/LH type) 
ADJUSTING ROD 
1 ‘..... Ic-- 1  4L 0 
. 
. 
. 
LOCKED POSITION t PINCH 
The transom angle adjusting rod limits the 
tilt angle of the outboard motor when 
fully lowered. 
Proper adjustment prevents the outboard 
motor from being trimmed too low (p. 
47). 
To adjust, first tilt the outboard motor so 
it is not resting on the rod. 
(R type/XH Type) 
Push the rod in and turn the end of the rod 
up, so the latch will fall into line with the 
rod. 
(SH/LH Type) 
Pinch the end of the rod. 
Remove the rod and reinsert it in the 
desired position. 
(R type/XH Type) 
Push the rod in and turn the end of the rod 
down, so the latch will fall to the locked 
position. Then release the rod. (SH/LH Type) 
Push the rod in and hook the end of the 
rod. Then release the rod. 
lNoTlCEl 
Do not allow water to enter the idle 
exhaust port or the engine can be dam- 
aged 
IDiE EXHAUST PORT 
33  
						

							OPERATION 
PORTABLE FUEL TANK 
Place the portable fuel tank in a well- 
ventilated location, away from direct 
sunlight, to reduce the possibility of a 
gasoline vapor explosion. 
To ensure that the outboard motor will be 
able to draw fuel from the tank, place the 
tank within 6 feet of the outboard motor 
and not more than 3 feet below the fuel 
connector on the outboard motor. Secure the portable fuel tank in the boat, 
so it won’t move around and become 
damaged. 
Before use, open the fuel tank vent by 
turning the vent knob at least 2 or 3 turns 
counterclock- wise. 
Gasoline is highly flammable and 
explosive. 
You can be burned or seriously 
injured when handling fuel. 
l Stop the engine and keep heat, 
sparks, and flame away. 
l Handle fuel only outdoors. 
l Wipe up spills immediately. 
FUEL HOSE CONNECTIONS 
FUEL HOSE CONNECTOR 
(FUEL TANK SIDE) 
FUEL HOSE CONNECTOR 
(OUTBOARD MOTOR SIDE) 
Connect the fuel hose to the tank and the 
outboard motor, as shown. Be sure both 
connectors snap securely into place. 
34  
						

							OPERATION 
FUEL PRIMING 
OUTLET END 
PRIMING BULB 
(TANK) 
Hold the priming bulb with the outlet end 
higher than the inlet end. Squeeze the 
priming bulb several times until it feels 
firm, indicating that fuel has reached the 
carburetor. 
Check to be sure there are no fuel leaks 
before starting the engine. 
Do not squeeze the priming bulb when the 
engine is running because that could flood 
the carburetors. 
STARTING THE ENGINE 
H Type (tiller handle) 
II - LANYARD 
1. Put the emergency stop switch clip 
in the engine stop switch, and attach 
the lanyard to your PFD (Personal 
Flotation Device) or to your wrist, as 
shown. The engine will not start or run, unless the 
clip is in the switch. 
The emergency stop switch clip and 
lanyard system is a safety device that will 
stop the engine if you fall away from the 
controls while operating the boat. 
Always attach the lanyard to your PFD, or 
to your wrist, before starting the engine. 
35  
						

							OPERATION 
GEAR&T LEVER 
2. Cheek the position of the gearshift 
lever. It must be in the N (neutral) 
position for starting. 
The engine will not start if the 
gearshift lever is in the F (forward) or 
R (reverse) position. 
CHOW: KNOB 
(manual choke gjpe) 
3. To start a cold engine, pull the choke 
knob to the CLOSED position. 
To restart a warm engine, leave the 
choke knob in the OPEN position. 
START POSITION 
/ 
4. D not turn the throttle grip before 
starting and align the START 
position with the pointer for starting 
a engine. 
36  
						

							OPERATION 
STARTER GRIP 
5. Recoil starter 
Pull the recoil starter grip slowly 
until you feel resistance, then pull 
briskly. 
Return the starter grip gently. Electric starter 
(electric starter model) 
Press the electric starter button and 
hold it there until the engine starts. 
When the engine starts, release the 
button. 
If the engine fails to start within 5 
seconds, release the button, and wait 
at least 10 seconds before operating 
the starter again. 
Using the electric starter for more 
than 5 seconds at a time will overheat 
the starter motor and can damage it. 
Pushing the electric starter button 
while the engine is running can 
damage the starter motor and 
flywheel. If the choke knob was pulled to the 
CLOSED position to start the engine, 
gradually push it to the OPEN 
position as the engine warms up. 
Also, as the engine warms up, the 
throttle grip can be turned to the 
SLOW position without stalling. 
Before getting under way, allow the 
engine to warm up sufficiently to 
ensure good performance. 
During the warm-up period, check 
the oil pressure indicator (p.22) and 
cooling system indicator (p.23). 
If the indicators show any abnormal 
condition, immediately stop the 
engine and determine the cause of the 
problem. Refer to TAKING CARE 
OF UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS, p. 
76. 
37  
						

							OPERATION 
R Type 
(remote control) 
For panel-mount or top-mount remote 
control information, refer to the 
instructions provided with the remote 
control equipment. 
Side-Mom t Type 
SWlTCti CilP 
LAN; ARD 
I. Put the emergency stop switch clip in 
the emergency stop switch, and 
attach the lanyard to your PFD (Pcr- 
sonal Flotation Device) or to your 
wrist, as shown. 
38 
The engine will not start or run, 
unless the clip is in the switch. 
The emergency stop switch clip and 
lanyard system is a safety device that 
will stop the engine if you fall away 
from the controls while operating the 
boat. 
Always attach the lanyard to your 
PFD, or to your wrist, before starting 
the engine. N(neutral) 
2. Set the control lever in the N 
(neutral) position. 
The engine will not start if the F 
(forward) or R (reverse) gears arc 
engaged.