Tohatsu 4-Stroke 6HP S/shaft

We bought this Tohatsu 6 HP 4 stroke S/S in 2018 and it's a female dog to start. Sometimes it will start from cold with no choke (ambient temp about 18 C). Other times not at all without up to 20 pulls. Have tries all sorts of routines but there is no standard method that works. Usually starts fine when warm.

Then, there is the in-gear-no-start mechanism. When the supplier (in Martinique)tried to start it, this failed. We watched the engineer open the lid and tweak the mechanism. I should have walked away then (the engine was brand-new and on offer). We use rthe engine every couple of days (liveaboards) and the mechanism locks up about once a week. Last week I had to talk my wife through the tweak over the phone! The cam/detent rotates too far and the connectong rod from the gear lever is insufficiently stiff.

Also, when starting it frequently kicks ack hard on the starter cord - painful and my wife hates it.

Don't buy. I'd buy a 2 stroke next time. My 15 yrs old Mariner 2.5 is still going strong!

Bought my 6HP Tohatsu from Defender to replace a 10 year old one that had a blown lower unit. This 2017 6hp motor came from the factory almost impossible to start. (now at 10 hours total) Floods easily and always takes at least 5 pulls, sometimes 20 pulls to start from cold. Starting hot with no choke usually OK though. I'm a very experienced sailor and have torn down and rebuilt outboards, I/O's and inboards and know how to get a carb. to work properly, but this engine is just too, too sensitive to minor fuel/air variations when cold. I'd never buy another.

All that being said, once it's running, it has been reliable and powerful and more than enough to power my precision 23 at hull speed, even in a chop. But sometimes.....it's next to impossible to get this new motor to start.

Tohatsu sells motors any dealer. I bought mine from Defender Marine who sells them without checking them out called a PRe-Delivery Inspection (PDI). The first time I used the motor it was had to start and then stalled when I was coming into a dock. Tohatsu said they would pay to have the PDI performed. A week later I was told the engine had a defective carburetor. A week later after using the motor again I discovered a significant oil leak. I asked Tohatsu for a new motor but was told they would only fix the motor. It is now over 2 weeks since the motor was put in the shop for the oil link to be repaired. I'm still waiting.

I have contacted Tohatsu by phone and letter. They think it's just fine to sell motors without PDI's which would have found the defective carburetor. They will pay dealers to perform them but they will sell them to dealers who won't perform the PDI. I have an internal document to substantiate my claim.

There are many good motors made by quality companies. Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki are a few names. Any one of these companies stand behind their products. Tohatsu doesn't. Steer clear of this low end manufacturer.

My Tohatsu 6hp has been great and is running strong for nearly 2 years without any issues. The fuel economy is awesome. She starts first or second pull every time. I too was surprised by the reviews on power as it is plenty adequate for me. I have it on an inflatable rated for 7hp and it does just fine. There is some vibration but it isn't any more than other single cylinder outboards I've owned over the years. It is a fourstroker so it is a bit quieter than twostrokers in the past. I'm planning on buying a larger outboard for a jon boat that I have and I will likely get another Tohatsu. They make the engines for nearly everyone else anyway so why pay more for a brand label? The price I paid online for a brand new MFS6C could not be beat!

I just bought a 2011 6hp 4-stroke short-shaft Tohatsu outboard, and after breaking it in, wish I hadn't wasted my money. It has excessive vibration, is noisy, the steering stiffener and throttle stiffener don't work well at all, and it won't idle at slow rpm. The tiller is too short. And when you let go of the tiller, the motor immediately steers to one side -- very poor. At trolling speed, the throttle jumps up and down unexpectedly.

It was inexpensive, but when something doesn't work, it doesn't matter how good a deal you got, it isn't worth it.

Pros: it's very economical on gas, and it's lightweight so is easy to remove and service or transport.

Cons: vibration, noisy, steering, throttle, idle, throttle

Since my troubles, I've read LOTS of other bad experiences with this motor online. BOTTOM LINE: DON'T BUY THIS MOTOR!!

I'm puzzled at the statement that the 6 hp Tohatsu 4 stroke is down on power. I have a new one and it's a strong runner. It replaced a 5 hp Suzuki 2 stroke that was stolen, and I'd say the new 6 is as strong or better. It planes my 12' aluminum with ease.

I bought this motor to replace a 32 year old, still running but hard to start, 6hp Johnson Seahorse that I use as a kicker for my 23' sailboat. This motor is very similar to the Seahorse with the benefits of being lighter so easier to carry, starting every time on the second pull, being quieter ( although not as quiet as I was hoping for) and using less fuel. Note that with a boat over 3000 lbs you will need to request a prop with a lower pitch than the standard.

My 6HP Tohatsu produces less HP than the 5HP Tohatsu 2-stroke I have.

I've had good experiences with the Tohatsu/Nissan 2-strokes (3.3 and 5 HP) but am miffed about the 4-stroke 6. I can't believe it produces 6 HP. It will barely plane one person in a dinghy, something the 5HP did with ease.

Otherwise it starts reasonably easily and for a 4-stroke, it's reasonably light weight. But the power output is underwhelming.

This motor is a good solid motor that is well equipped for service on a small jon boat or sailboat. excellent reliability and starts from cold on second pull. I would recommend the Tohatsu 4-Stroke 6HP outboard motor