Ban on 2 stroke outboard service?

[ironmachineus]

The service manager at a local boat dealer claims that the state is effectively banning shops from servicing older 2 stroke motors, in an effort to phase them out. Has anyone heard of this?

[Raymond S.]

Good luck w/ that. I don't know about in other parts of the state but the guys I go to and talk to for work on my boat, aren't going to stop anytime soon. 2-strokes are what keep them in business. Anything could happen though I suppose.

[Cpt.Chaos]

Sounds like a sales pitch to me.

[ironmachineus]

I figure it's either their pitch, or their company making the policy. I can't seem to find any regulations on point, so it must be bunk. Thought I'd ask and see if anyone else heard.

[bigcountrysg]

2 stroke everything is suppose to be getting phased out. The EPA is the ones to thank on this. They already started with dirtbikes, quads, snowmobiles, pwc's. Eventually 2 stroke will be the thing of the pass. From what I was told come 2010 there will be no more 2 strokes produced. But who knows what will happen.

As for a shop not working on them I think that is more of there policy as I have not heard anything like that yet.

[alex-v]

There were people on this msg board two years ago who claimed that there would be absolutely no 2 cycle equipment sold in 2006. The knew this to be the absolute truth. I did not hear anything from these people last year when people started talking about buying small engine powered equipment that was 2 cycle or about the new line of outboards that were 2 cycle.

I have yet to hear of any ban on 2 cycle engines of any kind especially since the technology has gotten to the point where the manufacturers claim that the new engines are cleaner burning than the counterpart 4 cycle engines.

The service manager at a local boat dealer claims that the state is effectively banning shops from servicing older 2 stroke motors, in an effort to phase them out.

Best thing is to go back and ask him for some kind of letter from the govt stating this or if he can point you to a web page on the state's web site. The only thing I have heard about are some shops that will not service engines older than 1960 or so and this is because of parts availability.

[Mister ED]

I have yet to hear of any ban on 2 cycle engines of any kind especially since the technology has gotten to the point where the manufacturers claim that the new engines are cleaner burning than the counterpart 4 cycle engines.
And they are spending HUGE $$$ to improve that technology. They would not be pumping money into their 2-stroke program if this was a done deal.


Best thing is to go back and ask him for some kind of letter from the govt stating this or if he can point you to a web page on the state's web site. The only thing I have heard about are some shops that will not service engines older than 1960 or so and this is because of parts availability.
Better yet .... find another service dept, that wants your business.

[alex-v]

Better yet .... find another service dept, that wants your business.
It messes with their head real bad when you ask them to back up one of their outlandish statements.

Then after asking them for some kind of proof it is the best time to say "bye" as you head for the place that wants the business.

[Lwapo]

Ok, I have a little info to shed on this as the EPA hired a good friend of mine to do some work for them.

The idea is that 2 stroke motors will NOT be phased out, but they WILL be made to meet emission standards.

He was hired (He writes software for ECM's. (Engine Control Module)) to take several 2 stroke motors (Outboard by Johnson, Lawn mower motor by Brigs and Strat and some others) and outfit them with an EFI system that would be relatively inexpensive and would allow those motors to meet the current emission requirements.

My understanding is he was able to do it for something like 3% more than what a carb costs? I don't know that for sure though.

Anywho, if anyone has some questions, I can give him a ring to shed some more light on things.

As far as not working on them... I'd imagine that SOME AREAS might have restrictions, but I would expect them to go after old and polluting cars first as they are infinately more common. Must my opinion.

[Big Frank 25]

Breaking in a new 2007 50 hp Mercury 2 stroke we picked up just last week.