Brotherly Bonding

Bonding with my brother-in-law was difficult, at first. He has an outspoken, confrontational personality which I find abrasive. Since getting married and having children he’s mellowed out a bit, but for several years I restricted my interaction with him.

At one family event he and I struck up a conversation about boating. He had just moved to a riverfront property and was asking for advice on what outboard motors he should be looking at. The conversation went so smoothly that I wound up agreeing to go shopping with him for a boat and Yamaha outboard oil! The trip to the store went well; although, I don’t think we’ll be taking joint vacations together any time soon.

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Visiting Alaska

My father’s first cousin has lived most of his adult life in Alaska. Given that most of our family lives on the east coast, I was curious as to how this cousin wound up so far north. Apparently, he’d always been a bit of an adventurer and after visiting the frozen north decided that it would be an ideal place to live.

Since relocating to the Pacific Northwest, I’ve been meaning to pay this relative a visit. It’s not exactly a short trip, but it’s certainly less daunting than flying out from the east coast. I’ve spoken with my cousin a few times and we’ve worked out a few dates I can go visit him. He’s convinced me that there is plenty of good fishing to be done, so you know I’m hooked. Maybe I’ll bring along a case of Yamaha oil as a goodwill gesture.

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Function of Yamaha 2W Oil

If you’re already familiar with the particular function of Yamaha 2W oil then feel free to skip this post. For those of you who would like a refresher course; read on! In a nutshell, Yamaha 2W oil reduces the deterioration of two-stroke engine parts. It does so by lubricating the moving components to keep the motor clean and cool.

Yamaha specifically designed Yamaha 2W oil for personal watercraft engines. Personal watercrafts tend to be used at higher speeds, thus putting more strain on an engine, then, say, a fishing boat’s engine. Due to the unique composition of Yamaha 2W oil, it is not recommended for land vehicles, like motorcycles and ATVs.

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Yamaha YZ250F

When I’m not on the water, I like to tool around on my Yamaha YZ250F motocross dirt bike. It’s agile and easy to use. I feel confident when I’m going over dirt hills or racing around an outdoor track.

Motorcycle testing websites consistently comment on the YZ250F’s ease of use. Even when you’re airborne you can stay in full control. To make sure it stays that way, I perform routine maintenance, like replacing the oil with Yamaha 2S oil every few months.

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Yamaha 50 TLR Specs

The Yamaha 50 TLR has a three-cylinder, two-stroke motor that weighs approximately 189 lbs. It has a bore that is 2.6-inches, a stroke that is 2.6-inches, and a 20-inch long shaft with power trim and tilt. Water is run through a thermostatic control to cool the motor.

A minimum octane content of 87 is needed in the gasoline that powers a 50 TLR. The ignition system is electric and the induction system is a charged carbureted loop (exhaust goes through the prop). Yamaha 2M oil is the recommended lubricant used with the Yamaha 50 TLR.

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Teaching Proper Maintenance

Yesterday, I wrote about teaching my kids pride in ownership. I’ve been reflecting on that topic a bit since then. I’ve tried evaluating how well I’ve instilled those values in my children. Have I driven home the point?

I hope so. Just in case, I think I’ll add boat maintenance to the list of chores they’re responsible for. After all, if they’re more than willing to take the boat out for a spin, then they should be willing to help with its upkeep. Teaching them how to replace XD1 Evinrude ETec outboard motor oil is sure to be a skill they can use throughout their lives.

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Every 100 Hours

Every 100 hours of use, I change out the filter and oil on my WaveRunner VX 1100. The sporty Yamaha WaveRunner has held up very well over the years, due in no small part to my meticulous maintenance. It’s all part of my philosophy of pride in ownership that was instilled in me by my father.

I’m trying to instill the same values in my kids. The next 100 hours will probably be reached this weekend. At that time I’ll insist that my two teenage children assist me with replacing the WaveRunner oil and filter.

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Trimming Back Trees

In addition to my weed whacking and edging duties, I’m also responsible for trimming back trees. Dead tree limbs that could crash onto the roof are the first to be taken apart with a chainsaw. Branches that cross property lines are the next to go. Finally, I do some general trimming for aesthetics.

I used to buy the two cycle oil needed for the chainsaw down at the hardware store. Then, I discovered that the two cycle outboard oil brand I use for my boat also carries a line of general two stroke oil. The shop where I purchase my boat oil is now my destination for my chainsaw and weed whacker oil, too. I’d rather they have my money than a big box chain store.

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Getting the Garden in Shape

Spring has sprung which means a lot more yard work for me. Even though my wife is the one who plants all the flower beds, I somehow wind up responsible for their upkeep. Part of that upkeep involves weed whacking and edging.

To make the work a bit easier, I use a two stroke weed whacker. It’s pretty state of the art in that I can get up really close to the edges of the flower beds without risking chopping off the heads of the flowers. Plus, it doesn’t cost too much to maintain the weed whacker; all I really spend money on is some two cycle oil at the beginning of the season and some fuel when it’s needed.

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Reducing Outboard Smoke

For a long time I swore by using mineral oil in my outboard motor. Year after year I experienced zero issues with the particular brand of motor oil I used. I’m not sure if the brand changed their formula or if my engine simply succumbed to its age, but the outboard started smoking far more than usual.

To reduce the outboard smoke, a mechanic friend of mine suggested I use synthetic oil outboard motor instead. I was reluctant but eventually did make the switch. Much to my surprise, the synthetic oil did the trick! From that point on I didn’t have any further issues with a smoking outboard.

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No Crankcase Here!

Chainsaws, trimmers, and outboard motors are likely equipped with 2 stroke engines. Unlike their 4 four stroke counter parts, 2 stroke engines do not have a crankcase. To provide proper engine lubrication, 2 stroke engines require a mix of specially formulated synthetic 2 stroke outboard oil.

Equipment manufacturers typically work with the oil industry to develop these specialty 2 stroke oils. To find out which 2 stroke oil is recommended for your motor, take a look at your owner’s manual. If you can’t find your manual, then check out the manufacturer’s website.

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Testing Snowmobile Oil

Even though the snow has melted and the sun is starting to peek through the clouds, it is worth re-visiting the proper way to test snowmobile oil. Just as you would with car motor oil, open up the new quart of snowmobile oil and place the dipstick into the container. Remove the dipstick and let small drops of oil fall on a white sheet of paper or a paper towel.

Wipe the dipstick off and dip the stick into the oil tank. Pull out the dipstick and let a few drops of the old oil fall on the paper next to the new oil. Look for discoloration in the old engine oil. If the old oil looks significantly dirty, then you know that it is time for a change.

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