Honda BF225 Trouble need help!

bajababy · May-03-2007, 12:12 AM

Ok, today I started getting my boat ready for the coming fishing season. I have a 2003 26' Striper, with a Honda BF 225hp engine. The oil and filter change was no problem, lower end gear oil change no problem. I began checking the spark plugs for wear and tear...top 4 all looked good, but the bottom 2 had to be muscled out and it stripped out the threads on the plugs...the plugs looked good (other than no usable threads). Of course the new plugs won't thread in to the motor...

So my quetions to any gear heads out there is

#1 what would cause the plugs to seize up in the motor like that? (these were factory installed in 2003 and I have never had any overheating or other type of symptom or problem)

#2 can I run a tap down and just clean up the threads without removing the heads?

#3 If I have to remove the heads do I need to "resleave the holes" with a "sav-a-thread" type spark plug port repair kit?

#4 Has anyone heard of this happening with other Honda outboards?

Please let me know what you think...I have to have this completed in 3 weeks for a Bay of LA run.

Thanks,
Ben Alexander
(951) 283-4779

Sea Esta · May-03-2007, 02:07 AM

Call Eric at Specialty Marine 805-984-6538

MacAttack · May-03-2007, 08:10 AM

Happens on every Honda ever made when done cold.

Running engine for at least ten minutes is the trick - but that time has passed.

Kawaguchi Honda - Los Angeles, has much experience on the subject.

WarpDrive · May-03-2007, 08:17 AM

After you get it fixed......(to do it right you need to pull the head)make sure you put antiseize on the plugs.If you get any shavings from drilling and tapping in that cylinder you will score the walls and ruin that engine....the shavings can also get into your oil and score a bearing.Don't take a chance and have the head pulled for a proper fix!....Sorry about the plugs.....Good Luck!

MacAttack · May-03-2007, 08:32 AM

Most mechanics (oh, sorry - "technicians") take the carb(s) off - put a rubber sock in the intake, surrounding an air nozzle and using at least 100 psi, flush the cylinder with air while machining the new threads into the head, once the engine's clocked right so the intake valve is open. They also use bore scopes that allow them to see if any chips stayed in the cylinder - then they Helicoil the hole with a stainless insert and that puts you back on the water, for about $100 an hour.

**Jason** · May-03-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sea Esta

Call Eric at Specialty Marine 805-984-6538

Exactly what I would do. Haven't had that problem on my BF 225 yet.

**Joey805** · May-03-2007, 09:27 AM

Call Eric - He'll take care of ya.

Honda Dude · May-03-2007, 09:00 PM

I have seen this happen on a few BF225's, albeit it's not super common. If you are expecting it, you can deal with it before you create a problem like what you have done here. I have seen the threads break cleanly off from the plug, and the rest of the spark plug come out (basically like leaving a threaded pipe in the spark plug hole). Now if I ever come across a plug that doesn't want to come out, I tilt up the motor and fill the hole with Aero Kroil. Let it soak. Then wrench the plug back and forth slowly. Sometimes you have to walk away and let it soak some more. Doing this, I have never had a spark plug break or left threads behind.

If the spark plug broke off in the head, then you need to remove the head, take it to a machine shop and let them drill it out and helicoil it. If you just left some of the threads behind, or galled up the threads, you may have some easier options. One is to tap it very slowly with a liberal amount of grease on the tap. The grease will catch the shavings, which will be very very fine. Go slow, and work the tap back and forth in very short strokes, taking time to completely remove the tap fairly often, clean off the grease, and regrease it. You can also tap it from the inside out by using an expandable tap (I got mine from Mac Tools). Insert the tap into the combustion chamber, expand it, and start tap from the piston side out. If the threads are heavily galled, this approach may not work too well.

The service manual says to remove/inspect/clean the spark plugs at 200 hours, and replace at 400 hours. At the 200 hour service, I remove the plugs and coat the trheads with anti-seize. If I am repowering a boat that will be kept in a slip, I remove the plugs and coat the threads before the customer ever gets the engine.

Hope this helps.

bajababy · May-03-2007, 10:31 PM

Thanks for all of your help...I broke down and took it to a Honda dealer...this is gonna hurt $$$$$$$$$