Hi all.
I am after a recommendation for a good outboard service business in Lake Mac or Newcastle.
It is a 2 stroke, 5Hp Tohatsu.
Cheers.
Can't help with a recommendation, but suspect that many of the members on the forum will recommend that you just do it yourself. Especially with such a simple motor!
Service manuals can be found online if you don't already have.
I was told by the Outboard mechanic to " save your money and do it yourself, put the service money towards a new one " after 4 services at the shop you Could have a new one for the price of servicing. So thats what i did.5 years on and its still running strong. Im that lazy that i buy the parts but dont do any thing untill i have to. 
Valo, if it's a two stroke, a service will usually only require a new spark plug and perhaps a fuel filter for the engine. Then the gearbox oil would be replaced. They take 6.6 Fluid ounces.
tohatsu.com/tech_info/oil_change.html
You may also want to change the water pump impeller, which is a little more tricky, but easy enough if you take the time to read up on it.
Google is your friend. :-)
Can any members recommend a one-stop-shop to pick up things like spark plug, anodes, impeller etc.?
Decided to get it serviced. It was 2 years overdue according to the service sticker. So I took it to a Tohatsu service place, and a full service with a new Impeller cost $200.
Well worth it for my peace of mind. I can sail. just don't ask me to sail onto my mooring after the outboard has failed.
Tomo's Marine at Marks Point.
Nice old bloke.
Took it in on Monday and he said it would be ready on Thursday. He called yesterday around lunch time to say it was ready.
I service my two strokes myself. Usually if the motor is running poorly it is either rubbish in the carby or bad plugs.
Sometimes you clean the carby and never see any gunk but the motor runs sweetly after anyway. I rarely change the small fuel filter but give it a quick clean. You should carry spare plugs with your outboard.
I would recommend that anyone who relies on an outboard be proficient at cleaning a carby, replacing plugs, and replacing gear oil. To not be able to do so means that you will be reliant on wind if the motor dies. Usually I can get a simple motor like the OPs going in 10 minutes. Not being able to service a two stroke could be really unsafe if you need it one day.
I took my little 3.5 to Fisherman's warehouse, just down from Tomos when it stopped. I told them I couldn't see any spark and could they test the coils. After a few days they told me it wasn't worth it - they didn't even test it. I found an old coil from another motor, replaced it, and it still runs sweetly. I really hate paying lazy people to do a bad job.
Watch Dangar Stu's channel. You will save money, learn a skill and be safer when out on the boat. http://youtube/DangarMarine
Off topic slightly but I have an Evenrude 15hp [two stroke] and I use this page for assistance.
leeroysramblings.com/Johnson%209.9_15.htm
Actually - servicing the impeller is a really important thing to do, even if it still squirts water. I had a lovely 8hp Evinrude that had been in a shed for about 12 years. When it came time to replace the impeller, no telltale, I could not get the leg off for love nor money, heat, oil, or penetrol. The driveshaft was solid into the crankshaft. In the end I had to throw it away as the shaft was wrecked and I still couldn't get the shaft out.
So I now service the impeller every two-three years minimum, and put a dab of grease on the spline and all bolts when I put it back together.
Sometimes the telltale doesn't work but the motor still pushes water. I had a Mariner 15 that would block the telltale all the time, but when you pulled the hose off the inside water streamed out.
cheers
Phil
