Suzuki 6 HP DF6AL5 Outboard Motor

Description

This is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale: a new 6 horsepower four stroke outboard with a 20 inch long shaft, tiller steering and pull start. It is boxed, unused and priced on the page. We ship it anywhere in the world and quote the delivery before you pay.

Most people who contact us about this motor already own a boat and already know roughly what they need. What they want to know is the detail: will it fit, what does it really do, what else do I have to buy. The Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale answers a lot of those questions simply, and we have tried to answer the rest below.

You will find the buying questions first, then specs, the model code, which boats it suits, comparisons with the motors above and below it, and care and rigging notes. If your question is not here, use the contact page and we will reply with a straight answer.

Questions Buyers Ask Before Ordering the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

Will it push my boat?

For most 12 to 14 foot boats carrying two people, yes. Weight is what matters. A light aluminium skiff behaves very differently from a heavy fibreglass dinghy with a full load. If you tell us the hull type, length and typical load, we can say honestly whether 6 horsepower is enough or whether a 9.9 would suit you better.

Do I need to buy anything else?

Possibly a portable fuel tank and fuel line, because the built-in tank is tiny. A spare propeller is a good idea. Nothing else is needed for a tiller boat, since the motor has its own throttle and gear lever.

Is it difficult to look after?

No. It is a carburetted single cylinder with a pull cord. If you can change the oil in a lawnmower, you can service this motor.

What is the catch?

Pull start only, manual tilt, and a small built-in tank. That is the trade for the low weight and low price.

Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale: Specifications

Check the paperwork supplied with the motor for the final word, since figures can vary a little by production run. Suzuki’s own 2.5 to 30 HP outboard page is a good reference for the wider small motor range.

What DF6AL5 Tells You

DF means Suzuki four stroke. 6 is the horsepower. A is the small motor generation. L is a 20 inch long shaft. The 5 at the end marks a later production series than the DF6AL2 version. Ask us if you need to know what differs in your region, because the engine itself is the same size and type.

No E means pull start. No H or T means the tiller handle is standard and tilt is manual. It is a simple code for a simple motor.

The 20 Inch Shaft and Your Boat

Measure down from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull. If you get roughly 20 inches, the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale is the right length. If you get 15, you want the short shaft, such as the Suzuki DF6AS5 or the white Suzuki DF6ASW5.

The mistake we see is people measuring a transom with a rubber strip, a lip or a bracket in the way. Measure at the clamping point, straight down, with the boat sitting level in the water if you can.

Where the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale Earns Its Keep

Trolling kicker on a fishing boat

This is the classic job. A bigger main engine is noisy and thirsty at trolling speed, so anglers fit a 6 HP four stroke on a bracket or the transom beside it. It holds the boat steady, it is quiet enough not to spook fish and it is a spare motor if the main one quits.

Long shaft jon boats and skiffs

Duck hunters, river anglers and lake owners often run jon boats with a tall transom. The Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale gives them a reliable low-power motor that is easy to carry to the water.

Auxiliary for a small sailboat

A long shaft keeps the prop in the water when the stern lifts in a swell. For marina work and getting home in calm, it does what a sailboat auxiliary needs to do.

Camp, farm and utility boats

Fishing camps, lodges and farms often keep a boat for crossing a river or lake. They want something that starts after weeks of sitting and is cheap to fix. A small four stroke fits.

Comparing the 6 HP With Its Neighbours

A 4 HP such as the Suzuki DF4AS5 weighs about the same and costs less, but it has less power for heavier boats. A 9.9 HP like the Suzuki DF9.9BL5 is heavier, costs more and gives a big step up in push. The 6 HP is the sensible middle.

Here is how we explain it to customers. If you only ever putter, the 4 is enough. If you carry people and gear or fight wind and current, the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale is the minimum we would suggest. If you want to plane a loaded boat, go to a 9.9 or bigger.

Using the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale Day to Day

Open the fuel tap, squeeze the primer bulb if you use an external tank, set the choke when cold and pull the cord smoothly. The motor usually fires in a few pulls. Push the choke in as it warms, and let it idle for a minute.

Twist the grip for throttle. Use the tension control to hold a setting. Use the side lever to select forward, neutral and reverse. The steering friction knob keeps the tiller from wandering on a long run. At the dock, fold the tiller, tilt the motor up, and lock it with the pin.

It is quiet at idle, and there is a sensible over-rev limiter that protects the engine if the prop comes out of the water.

Fuel, Tanks and Range

Suzuki gives about 45 minutes at full throttle from the built-in tank, which is roughly a quarter of a gallon. Use it for short hops. For a day on the water, connect a portable tank to the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale using the external connection, which is standard. The tank and line are not part of the motor.

Keep your fuel in a clean, vented tank, away from heat. Stale fuel causes more carburetor problems than anything else. If the motor sits unused for a month or more, run it dry or add stabiliser.

Rigging the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

Clamp it to the centre of the transom, with both screws tight, and fit a safety strap. Set the height so the cavitation plate is level with the hull bottom. Choose the tilt pin hole that makes the shaft upright under load.

On a fishing boat with a bigger main motor, mount the kicker so that its prop is not in the main prop’s wash and so that you can still turn the main engine freely. A bracket helps. Keep fuel lines out of the way of the steering.

Propeller Notes

The Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale comes with a 3-blade aluminium prop. For trolling and pushing a heavy boat, a lower pitch lets the engine rev freely. For a light boat, the standard prop usually works. The goal is to reach the 4,750 to 5,750 rpm range at full throttle. Suzuki’s genuine parts and accessories range includes spare props and service items.

Break-in Period

Follow the manual. Keep early runs varied and moderate, avoid sustained full throttle, and change the oil at the first service interval. A new engine beds in during those first hours, and fresh oil removes the initial wear particles.

Servicing the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

A short list covers the main jobs.

• Rinse with fresh water after each salt trip.
• Engine oil: change yearly or at the interval in the manual.
• Gear oil: change yearly and check for milky colour.
• Spark plug: replace on schedule.
• Impeller: replace every two to three seasons.
• Anode: replace when about half gone.
• Fuel filter and carburetor: clean as needed, and drain old fuel.
• Valve clearance: check when the manual says.

Do the work at the end of the season so the motor is ready when you want it. A motor stored dirty with old fuel is the one that fails in spring.

Storage

Suzuki built the motor to be stored on its starboard side, port side or front, so fuel and oil do not leak. Close the fuel valve, run the carburetor dry, keep the motor out of the sun and cover it. In cold climates, drain any water from the cooling system by letting the motor stand upright for a few minutes after flushing.

Troubleshooting

Won’t start. Lanyard, fuel tap, vent, choke, plug.

Stalls when warm. Carburetor idle circuit gummed with old fuel. Clean it and use fresh fuel.

No tell-tale water. Clear the outlet, then check the impeller.

Low power. Check prop damage, fouling on the gearcase and boat load.

Smoke. A little at start is normal. Constant smoke could mean too much oil or a worn engine.

Setting Up a Kicker Properly With the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

A kicker only helps if it works the day the main engine fails, so set it up with that day in mind. Mount the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale where you can reach the pull cord and fuel tap while standing in the stern. If the cord is hidden behind the main engine, you will curse it in a swell.

Fuel is the second point. Many anglers connect the kicker to the same tank as the main engine through a T fitting, which works, but a small separate tank is safer. If the main tank gets bad fuel, the kicker will not be affected. Label the tanks and keep the kicker’s fuel fresh, because it may sit for weeks between trips.

Third, start it. Run the kicker at the start of every season and for a few minutes now and then. A back-up motor that has never been tried is not a back-up.

Trolling With the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

At low rpm, a single cylinder four stroke has a distinctive steady beat. The throttle tension control lets you set a speed and leave it, and the steering friction control stops the tiller drifting. With a pair of rods out you can concentrate on the lines instead of the motor.

Do not run the engine too slowly for too long. Very low rpm for hours can foul the plug in any four stroke. Every so often, rev it up for a minute to clear it out. If the boat is heavy, lower the pitch of the prop slightly so the motor does not labour at trolling speed.

Using the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale in Rivers and Lakes

Freshwater work is easy on the motor, but weeds, mud and shallow water are not. Check the water intake for weed after running through a bed. If the tell-tale stream drops, stop and clear it. In very shallow water, use the shallow water drive position and tilt the motor up a notch so the skeg clears the bottom.

Keep an eye on the lower unit for fishing line. Line wrapped around the prop shaft can cut the seal and let water into the gear oil. Cut it free and check the oil for milkiness after any wrap.

Spare Parts Worth Keeping With the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

A small box in the boat solves most of the problems that would otherwise end a trip. We suggest the following.

• A spare spark plug and the right plug spanner.
• A spare propeller with its nut and cotter pin.
• A spare impeller kit if you run in sand or silt.
• A small bottle of gear oil and engine oil.
• A length of fuel hose and a spare clamp.
• A spare lanyard.

All of these are inexpensive and easy to fit. They add very little weight to the boat.

Running Costs and Fuel Use

We do not quote fuel burn figures, because the boat, the load and the throttle setting decide them. What we can say is that a small four stroke like the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale is far cheaper to run than the older two strokes it replaces. It needs no oil in the fuel, and the service parts are cheap and common.

Hot, Cold and Salt Conditions

In warm water, watch the cooling stream and flush the motor after every trip. In salt, rinse the outside and spray a light corrosion inhibitor on exposed metal. In cold weather, use the choke and warm the motor before loading it. After a freezing night, let the motor stand upright so any trapped water can drain before the first start.

Handling and Lifting

At about 54 lb the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale is a one-person lift, but the shape makes it awkward. Use the carrying handle, bend your knees and keep the motor upright and close to your body. Never carry it by the tiller or the cowl. On a dock, set it on the transom from above and tighten the clamps before you let go.

Is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale Better Than a Used Motor?

A used 6 HP might be cheaper, but you do not know how it was stored, whether it saw salt or whether the impeller has been changed. A new motor comes with Suzuki paperwork and warranty terms for your region, and with a clean engine. For a boat you rely on, we think new is worth the difference.

Safety and Common Sense

Clip the lanyard on every run. A tiller boat can throw you off balance in a sharp turn, and the lanyard stops the motor before the boat circles back. Carry a paddle, a whistle, a light and a way to call for help. Tell someone where you are going. These habits cost nothing and the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale will not save you from a bad plan.

Also respect the boat’s rating. The plate on the transom shows the maximum horsepower and the maximum weight of the engine. A 6 HP motor is within the limit of most small boats, but check yours before you buy.

A Word on Warranty

The Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale carries Suzuki factory warranty paperwork. Terms depend on your region and on how the motor is registered and used, so ask us what applies in your country before you order. Keep your receipt and service records, and use the service schedule in the manual. A warranty claim is far easier when you can show the motor was looked after.

Why Buy From Us

We deal in outboards every day, so we know the questions. We tell you honestly if the 6 HP is the wrong motor for your boat, and we say so before you pay. The Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale is a good fit for many long shaft boats, but not all, and we would rather lose a sale than ship a motor that does not suit the transom.

Delivery Worldwide

The motor ships in its factory carton. We book freight by sea or air to your nearest port or airport, or to your door. You receive a written delivery quote before you commit. Once it ships you get tracking and export documents. If you use your own freight forwarder, we hand the motor over to them.

What You Get

• Suzuki DF6AL5 outboard with propeller
• Owner’s manual
• Warranty documents for your region

Tanks, fuel lines and spare props are separate. Ask before ordering.

Before You Order the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

• Measure the transom for the right shaft.
• Check your boat’s power and weight plate.
• Choose extras: tank, line, spare prop.
• Send your country for shipping.

Buying the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale From Us

We sell new motors only. The price is on the page and the delivery quote comes before payment. Read the refund and return policy and the terms and conditions. See what customers say on the reviews page, read about us, or contact us directly.

The blog has care guides, and Suzuki’s global marine site lists the range sold worldwide.

More Suzuki Motors

• All 6 HP Suzuki outboards
• Suzuki DF6AL2, long shaft, earlier series
• Suzuki DF6AS5, short shaft
• Suzuki DF6ASW5, white short shaft
• Suzuki DF6ASW2, white short shaft
• Suzuki DF4AS5, 4 HP
• Suzuki DF9.9BL5, 9.9 HP
• All Suzuki outboards
• The full shop

FAQ: Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale

Is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale a new motor?

Yes. New and boxed.

What shaft length is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale?

20 inch, the long shaft.

Is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale electric start?

No. It is pull start.

How heavy is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale?

About 54 lb, or 25 kg.

Is the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale suitable for salt water?

Yes. Flush after use.

Does the Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale ship to my country?

We ship worldwide. Ask for a quote.

Final Word

The Suzuki DF6AL5 for sale is a plain, light and dependable motor for a long shaft boat. Order it from this page, or write to us with your boat details and we will confirm it is the right choice.