Honda · Outboard

Honda BF2.3

The BF2.3 is Honda’s smallest outboard: a 57.2 cc single-cylinder four-stroke that is cooled by a fan rather than by water, so there is no water pump, impeller or thermostat to service. At 13.6 kg (short shaft) it is a typical dinghy and tender motor and a common get-home engine on small sailing boats. A centrifugal clutch takes the place of a gearbox — no neutral, no reverse gear; the motor swivels through 360° to go astern — and the 1.1 l fuel tank is built in. The BF2.3D replaced the BF2D; the later BF2.3DH (North America) and BF2.3DK3 (Europe) kept the same specification but changed the spark plug to an NGK LR4C-E.

Manuals & documents
Wear parts & part numbers
Service intervals
Specifications
Good to know
Videos & how-tos
On the marketplace

Manuals & documents

The links go straight to Honda. We host no manuals or drawings — the manufacturer’s copy is the current one.

Owner’s manual BF2.3DH (BABC serials, US/Canada) Operation manual cdn.powerequipment.honda.com · PDF · EN
Owner’s manual BF2.3D (BAVJ serials, US/Canada, 2014) Operation manual cdn.powerequipment.honda.com · PDF · EN
Owner’s manual BF2.3DK3 (BCCJ serials, Europe, 2025) — accept the licence to open the PDF Operation manual honda.co.jp · EN
Owner’s manual BF2.3DH (BABC serials, Europe) — accept the licence to open the PDF Operation manual honda.co.jp · EN
Honda Marine (US): BF2.3 manuals by serial range Manual portal marine.honda.com · EN
Honda Motor Europe owner’s manual portal (Outboard Engines › BF › BF2.3D/DH/DK3) Manual portal honda.co.jp · EN
Honda Marine shop manuals and parts catalogues (for purchase) Service manual marine.honda.com · EN
BF2.3 model page with specifications Product page direct.marine.honda.com · EN

Wear parts & part numbers

Part	OEM number	Also fits	Note
Spark plug	`NGK CR4HSB`^2,1	Denso `U14FSR-UB`¹	BF2.3D with BAVJ serials. The old Honda number 98056-54777 is now listed under the NGK code. Gap 0.6–0.7 mm.
Spark plug	`NGK LR4C-E`^3,4	—	BF2.3DH (BABC serials) and BF2.3DK3 (BCCJ serials); no Honda part number found. Gap 0.6–0.7 mm.
Propeller	`58130-ZV0-841ZB`^5,6,4	—	3-blade plastic 7-1/4 × 4-3/4 in. Honda lists it for the BF2A/BF2D too; the dealer fiche names BF2.3D4, BF2.3DH and BF2.3DK2.
Shear pin	`58131-ZV0-000` · `94201-30402`^7,8,3	—	Shear pin and the 3 mm stainless cotter pin (94201-30402, formerly 90757-ZV0-000) that holds the propeller — there is no prop nut. Spares of both clip to the under-case; always refit a stainless cotter pin, plain steel rusts away in salt water. Numbers from one dealer fiche.
Anode (lower unit)	`41106-ZVA-000`^7,9replaces 41106-ZV4-650	—	Listed on the gear case and again on the extension case in the BF2.3DK2 fiche; check it before each use. One source (dealer fiche).
Gear oil plug gaskets	`90507-921-000`^7,4	—	Nylon 8 mm washers, two per change (level and drain bolt); the manual asks for new ones at every gear oil change. The bolts are 90105-ZVA-000 (formerly 90105-ZV4-650). Number from one dealer fiche.
Fuel filter (engine)	`16952-ZE6-000`¹⁰	—	Strainer inside the integral tank — the only fuel filter on this motor; the manual has tank and strainer cleaned yearly. One source (dealer fiche).
Carburettor repair kit	`16010-ZW6-611`¹¹	—	Carburettor gasket set. Float valve set 16011-ZE0-005; complete carburettor 16100-ZW6-E12 (replaces 16100-ZW6-E11); main jet #58 99101-ZG0-0580, pilot jet #35 99204-ZE0-0350. One source (dealer fiche).
Starter rope	`28462-ZW6-003`^12,3	—	Starter knob 28461-ZVA-003 (formerly 28461-ZW6-003), complete recoil starter 28400-ZVA-013 (formerly 28400-ZW6-013). The manual has the rope checked every 50 h or 6 months. One source (dealer fiche).
Centrifugal clutch	`22000-ZW6-701`¹³	—	Complete clutch; shoe spring 22252-ZVA-003 (was 22252-ZW6-701), drum 22100-ZVA-000 (was 22100-ZW6-704). One source (dealer fiche).
Emergency stop switch & lanyard	`35180-ZW6-023` · `36182-ZV4-651`^8,14	—	Switch and lanyard cord; the lanyard clip 36187-ZV4-652 is in the tool kit. One source (dealer fiche).

Numbers checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. Always confirm against your serial number and exact type before ordering.

Service intervals

Task	Interval
Oil level check	Before each use (oil window)³
Engine oil change	Every 50 h or every 6 months, first time after 10 h³
Gear oil change	Every 50 h or every 6 months, first time after 10 h³
Spark plug	Check and re-gap every 50 h or 6 months (BF2.3DH manual); the 2014 US and 2025 EU manuals say replace it at that interval^4,1,3
Lubrication	Grease every 50 h or 6 months, first after 10 h — more often in salt water: throttle and choke arms, tiller pivot, tilt lever, clamp screws, swivel case, friction bolt³
Carburettor	Linkage and idle speed: check and adjust after the first 10 h, then every 50 h or 6 months (dealer)³
Valve clearance	Check and adjust every 150 h or yearly (dealer)³
Clutch	Shoes and drum: check every 150 h or yearly (dealer)³
Fuel filter	Tank and tank strainer: clean every 150 h or yearly (dealer); check the fuel line for leaks and cracks before each use, replace it every 2 years if needed³
Anode	Check before each use³
Propeller	Propeller and cotter pin: check before each use (the emergency stop switch too)³
Full service	Swivel case bush and water seal: replace every 3 years (dealer); bolts and nuts checked for tightness at 10 h and then yearly; crankcase breather tube checked yearly³
Starter rope	Check every 50 h or 6 months³

Hours or months, whichever comes first. The schedule is from Honda’s BF2.3 owner’s manuals (BF2.3D 2014 and BF2.3DH 2023/24 for the US, BF2.3DK3 2025 for Europe), which agree except on the spark plug line.

Specifications

Cylinders	1, four-stroke OHV, 2 valves³
Displacement	57.2 cc (45 × 36 mm)¹⁵
Power	1.7 kW (2.3 hp), ISO 8665 at the propeller shaft³
Full-throttle range	5000–6000 rpm³
Idle speed	2000 ± 100 rpm³
Cooling	Forced air (fan) — no water pump, impeller or thermostat; exhaust under water³
Lubrication	Splash (oil slinger) — no oil pump, no oil filter³
Engine oil capacity	0.25 l (0.26 US qt)³
Engine oil grade	SAE 10W-30, API SG/SH/SJ (2025 EU manual: also SL); Honda 10W-30 FC-W outboard oil recommended^3,4
Gear oil capacity	0.05 l (50 ml)³
Gear oil grade	SAE 90 hypoid gear oil, API GL-4³
Spark plug	NGK CR4HSB or Denso U14FSR-UB (BAVJ serials); NGK LR4C-E (BABC and BCCJ serials); gap 0.6–0.7 mm^1,3
Valve clearance (cold)	Intake 0.08 ± 0.02 mm, exhaust 0.11 ± 0.02 mm³
Gearbox	Centrifugal clutch, no shift (no neutral, no reverse gear); 2.42:1; reverse by turning the motor through 360°^15,3
Propeller	3-blade plastic, 7-1/4 × 4-3/4 in (184 × 120 mm), right-hand⁴
Shaft length	S 418 mm (16.5 in), L 571 mm (22.5 in), at 5° transom angle³
Dry weight	13.6 kg (S) / 14.3 kg (L), with propeller³
Fuel	Unleaded petrol, 91 RON (86 AKI) or higher; integral 1.1 l tank with vent knob and fuel valve³
Alternator	None (Honda offers charging coils from the BF5 upwards)¹⁶
Tilt	4 transom angles (5°, 10°, 15°, 20°); tilts up 75°; shallow-water drive position³
Starting	Recoil starter; transistorised magneto ignition; emergency stop switch with lanyard³
Versions	BF2.3D (BAVJ serials), BF2.3DH (BABC), BF2.3DK3 (BCCJ); types SCH/LCH (A = USA, C = Canada) and SCHU/LCHU (Europe) — S short, L long shaft^4,17
Tightening torques	Gear case level and drain bolts 3.4–3.5 N·m³
Years built	BF2.3D in production by 2013 (US manual printed October 2013); BF2.3DH from 2023/24; BF2.3DK3 (Europe) from 2025; still current¹⁷

Good to know

There is no water pump: the engine is fan-cooled, so there is no impeller to change and no tell-tale to watch. The gear case still sits in the water — check the anode before each use and rinse the motor with fresh water after salt water.³
Lay it down only on its case protectors with the tiller folded, tiller-handle side up. In any other position crankcase oil runs into the cylinder and the engine will not crank or start.⁴
The sump holds only 0.25 l, so look at the oil window before every outing. Milky oil or a rising level means water or fuel has got in — change the oil at once.³
Gear oil is just 50 ml. Change it together with the engine oil, fit new washers on both bolts, tighten to 3.4 N·m and have the gear case checked if the old oil comes out milky.³
A spare shear pin and cotter pin are clipped to the under-case. Always refit a stainless cotter pin — a plain steel one rusts away in salt water.³
Petrol can go off in as little as 15 days. Before laying up, close the fuel valve and run the carburettor dry or drain it — or add a stabiliser and run the engine for a few minutes.³

Videos & how-tos

Links to YouTube, nothing embedded. The maker’s own channel comes first; the rest are channels we found clear and correct for this model.

BF2.3 won’t start: fault finding and carburettor clean Video Marine Engine Servicing · EN · 19 min
BF2.3 service: carburettor, engine oil and gear oil Video machinesnmetal · EN · 26 min
Repairing a BF2.3 after it lay in salt water (German) Video BMH Heikendorf · DE · 20 min

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Sources

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