HONDA 40 HP BF40D4LHA OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

Some people want a steering wheel and a console. Others want to sit at the back of the boat with one hand on the motor, close to the water and close to the fish. If you are in the second group, the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale on this page is built for you. It is Honda’s 40 horsepower tiller outboard with a 20 inch shaft, it is brand new in the crate, and we ship it to buyers all over the world.

I have tried to answer every question you might have before buying one. What the letters in the name mean. The full specifications. How a tiller 40 behaves on the water. Which boats it suits and which it doesn’t. What it costs to keep running. And how ordering from us works, step by step. The price is at the top of the page if that is all you came for.

The Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale, in Plain Words

The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is a 40 HP, three cylinder, four stroke outboard with electronic fuel injection. It is steered with a tiller handle, it has a 20 inch shaft, and it starts with a key. It uses Honda’s 808 cc engine, the same basic powerhead as the BF50, and weighs in the low 200 pound range. It is a simple, tough, economical motor for people who like to run their boat from the stern.

What Each Part of the Model Code Means

Honda’s model names look complicated until you learn the pattern. Here is the breakdown for this one.

• BF: Honda four stroke outboard.
• 40: 40 horsepower.
• D4: design series and type.
• L: long shaft, 20 inches (508 mm).
• H: handle, meaning tiller steering.
• A: market and variant code.

Notice there is no T in the name. On Honda’s codes, T means power trim and tilt. So the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is a tiller motor with manual tilt. You tilt it up by hand, which many tiller owners actually prefer because there is less to go wrong. If you want a 40 with remote steering and power trim, have a look at the Honda BF40D4LRTA instead.

Full Specifications of the Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale

You can confirm these numbers on Honda’s official BF40 and BF50 specification page. I always encourage buyers to check.

Why a Tiller Motor?

Tiller outboards have a loyal following, and there are good reasons for it.

Control. With a tiller, you feel exactly what the motor is doing. Small course corrections while trolling or holding position in current are easy and instant.

Space. No console, no steering wheel, no cables running down the side of the boat. On a small aluminium boat, that frees up a surprising amount of room for gear and people.

Simplicity and cost. A tiller setup avoids the cost of steering systems, remote controls and harnesses. Installation is quicker and there is less to maintain.

Fishing. Many serious walleye, bass and river anglers prefer tillers because they can back troll, hold on a spot and move precisely without leaving the stern.

The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale has a three position adjustable tiller handle, so you can set it at a height that suits how you sit or stand.

How the Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale Runs

Smooth three cylinder

A three cylinder engine is smoother than a twin and lighter than a four. The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale idles quietly with little vibration through the tiller handle, which makes long days on the water much less tiring.

Fuel injection

Programmed fuel injection means easy starts, crisp throttle response and no carburettor to gum up. If you have ever spent a morning fighting an old carbureted outboard that sat over winter, you will appreciate this more than any other feature.

BLAST

Honda’s Boosted Low Speed Torque system advances the ignition and enriches the mixture briefly when you open the throttle quickly. On a tiller boat, that means a stronger push onto plane without having to sit right at the front of the boat.

Lean Burn Control

At cruise, the engine can run a leaner mixture thanks to an oxygen sensor. Honda says that can mean up to 20% less fuel at cruise than comparable outboards. For anglers who run long distances to their spots, the savings add up.

Boats That Suit the Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale

• Aluminium fishing boats from roughly 14 to 17 feet with a 20 inch transom, rated for 40 HP.
• Jon boats and flat bottoms used on rivers and shallow lakes.
• Tiller walleye and multi-species boats designed for back trolling and precise boat control.
• Utility boats for farms, ranches, docks and work sites.
• Small inflatables and RIBs with a 20 inch transom rated at 40 HP.

Always check the capacity plate. It lists maximum horsepower and maximum weight. If your boat is rated for 50 HP and you want a little more punch, the Honda BF50D4LRTA uses the same engine with more output. If your boat is smaller or rated lower, consider a Honda BF30D3LRT or Honda BF25D3LRT.

Weight and Balance on a Tiller Boat

On a tiller boat, the driver sits at the stern next to the motor. That puts a lot of weight in one spot. A heavy motor makes it worse, causing the stern to squat and the bow to rise. That slows the hole shot, makes the boat harder to see over and can cause it to porpoise.

The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is light for a four stroke 40, and that helps a lot. To get the best from it, move gear and the battery forward if you can, and ask a passenger to sit forward when you take off.

Charging Power

The alternator puts out 22 amps, with 17 amps available to charge your battery. That is a strong figure for a 40 HP motor and plenty for a fish finder, a small livewell pump and navigation lights. On small tiller boats where you might have just one battery, keeping it charged matters.

Maintenance and Ownership Costs

The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is an easy motor to live with. Basic service includes:

• Engine oil and filter change after break-in, then every 100 hours or once a year.
• Gearcase oil change at the same interval.
• Spark plug check and replacement as needed.
• Fuel filter inspection and replacement.
• Anode check, especially in salt water.
• Water pump impeller replacement at the interval in the manual.
• Greasing the tiller pivots and swivel bracket.

The owner’s manual is free to download from the Honda Marine manuals page. If you do your own servicing, read it cover to cover before the first oil change.

Salt Water Use

Honda protects its outboards with layered paint, sacrificial anodes and sealed electrical connectors. The BF40 also has a fresh water flush port. If you use the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale in salt water, flush it after every trip, check the anodes each season, and look over the lower unit for chipped paint. Those simple habits make a big difference.

Warranty

For recreational use in the United States, Honda offers five years of warranty coverage on this motor, which it describes as transferable and non-declining. In other countries, the local Honda Marine distributor sets the terms. See the Honda warranty page for details.

Buying the Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale From Us

1. Order through the cart, or message us first with questions.
2. Confirmation: we confirm stock, address and shipping method.
3. Dispatch: the motor ships in its Honda crate with extra protection as needed.
4. Tracking: you receive tracking details once it leaves.
5. Delivery: have a couple of people or a pallet jack ready to unload.

International buyers pay any import duty and local tax charged by their country’s customs. We supply all the paperwork.

Browse the full Honda outboard motors collection, the 40 HP Honda outboards section, or our entire shop.

Setting Up the Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale

Installing a tiller motor is simpler than rigging a remote one. You need to mount it at the right height, secure the clamp screws and through bolts, connect the fuel line with a water separating filter, and connect the battery cables. Then water test it.

Mount the motor on the centreline of the transom. Start with the anti ventilation plate roughly level with the bottom of the hull. If the prop ventilates in turns, lower it. If the boat seems slow and throws a lot of spray, try raising it a notch. Always use through bolts as well as the clamp screws on a motor this size. Tiller motors can work loose over time, especially on rough water.

Set the steering friction so the motor holds a course when you let go of the handle for a moment, but still turns easily.

What Arrives in the Crate

The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale ships as a complete tiller outboard, with the tiller handle, cowling, owner’s manual and Honda’s standard hardware. Because it is a tiller model, you do not need a remote control box or a steering system. You will still need a battery, battery cables if not supplied in your market, a fuel tank and line, and a propeller that suits your boat. Check the crate and motor on arrival and photograph any transport damage before signing.

Breaking In the Motor

Follow the break-in section in the owner’s manual. In general, run at varied throttle settings for the first several hours, avoid long periods at full throttle and don’t hold one constant speed for ages. Then change the oil and filter and check the gearcase oil. It is a small effort that helps the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale last for many seasons.

Choosing a Propeller

At wide open throttle with your normal load, the motor should reach 5,000 to 6,000 RPM. If it does not, reduce pitch. If it hits the limiter easily, increase pitch. Light aluminium boats usually run more pitch than heavy jon boats or boats that carry lots of gear. Honda’s propeller selector is a good place to start, and we are happy to help.

Tips for Tiller Fishing

A few habits make fishing from a tiller boat easier. Set the throttle friction so the motor holds a trolling speed without you gripping the twist grip all day. Use the shift lever gently, pausing in neutral between forward and reverse. When back trolling, go slowly and watch the stern for water coming over in waves. Keep the kill switch lanyard attached, every time, because a tiller boat can spin sharply if you fall or let go.

The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale idles smoothly at low speed, which makes it well suited to slow trolling. On windy days, a drift sock helps slow the boat further.

Repowering an Older Boat

Many buyers use the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale to replace an old two stroke 40. The difference is dramatic. No oil mixing, far less smoke, much quieter running, easier starting and lower fuel use. Before fitting the new motor, check the transom for cracks or soft spots, replace the old fuel line and primer bulb, and fit a water separating filter. If the old motor was heavier or lighter, you may need to move the battery or gear to keep the boat balanced.

New Versus Used

Used tiller 40s turn up all the time, and some are fine. But you rarely know if they were flushed after salt, serviced on time or run without water. A new Honda BF40D4LHA for sale starts at zero hours, with a clean history and full factory coverage where it applies. For a motor you plan to keep for a decade, that makes sense.

Storage

Before storing the motor for more than a few weeks, change the oil, add fuel stabiliser and run the engine briefly, flush with fresh water, and check the gearcase oil for water. Store the motor upright or tilted down so water drains from the lower unit. In hot, humid areas, keep the cowling on and run the engine every couple of weeks if possible. Following these steps keeps the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale ready to go when you are.

Tiller or Remote: Which 40 Should You Buy?

Since we sell both the tiller Honda BF40D4LHA for sale and the remote BF40D4LRTA, people often ask which one to choose. Here is how I would think about it.

Choose the tiller if your boat is under about 17 feet, has an open layout, and you mostly fish or work from the back. You save the cost of controls and steering, installation is simple, and you get precise control at slow speed.

Choose the remote version if your boat already has a console or steering wheel, if you carry passengers who want to sit up front with you, if you run long distances where a steering wheel is more comfortable, or if you want power trim and tilt. The remote setup is also better if you need a windshield and a dry place to stand.

Some owners start with a tiller and later wish they had a console, and some go the other way. If you are not sure, tell us about your boat and how you use it, and we will give you an honest opinion.

Fuel Quality and Your Injectors

Fuel injection is one of the best things about the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale, but it does need clean fuel. Water and dirt can block filters and injectors. Stale fuel can leave deposits. In many countries, fuel from the pump can vary in quality, and boats that sit in heat build up condensation in their tanks.

Protect the engine with a good water separating filter between the tank and the motor. Change the filter element regularly. Buy fuel from busy stations. Don’t leave fuel in portable tanks for months. And add stabiliser if the boat will sit unused. These habits cost very little and prevent most fuel related problems.

Who Buys This Motor

Our customers for the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale include anglers on lakes and rivers, farmers and ranchers who need a dependable work boat, fishing lodges and camps with fleets of small boats, tour guides, researchers who need a reliable motor in remote areas, and families who simply want a small boat that starts every time. What they share is a preference for a straightforward motor that does its job without fuss.

Lodges and rental operators in particular like this motor. Guests of all skill levels can run a tiller, fuel injection means fewer starting problems, and Honda’s service network makes parts easier to find in many parts of the world.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The mistakes I see most often with tiller motors are simple ones. Ordering the wrong shaft length. Not using through bolts, so the motor slowly walks loose on the transom. Forgetting the kill switch lanyard. Running with the wrong prop and never checking RPM. Skipping the first oil change. Letting fuel go stale over the winter. Every one of these is easy to avoid, and avoiding them will keep the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale running well for many years.

Safety Habits for Tiller Boats

Tiller boats are simple and a pleasure to run, but they have their own safety points. Always clip the kill switch lanyard to your wrist or life jacket before starting. If you fall or lose your grip, the engine stops and the boat won’t circle back toward you. Keep the steering friction set so the motor does not swing hard if you let go. Start in neutral with the throttle at the start position. Wear a life jacket, especially if you fish alone. And carry a paddle, a bailer and a way to call for help. None of this is complicated, and it makes days with the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale safer for everyone aboard.

Honda also publishes boating safety tips that are worth reading before the season starts.

Finding Service Near You

Honda has marine dealers and distributors in many countries, and routine parts such as filters, plugs, anodes and impellers are widely stocked. Before you order, look up your nearest service point with Honda’s dealer locator or your local distributor. It is one more reason the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is easy to own wherever you live.

Similar Honda Outboards

• Honda BF40D4LRTA: 40 HP with remote control and power trim and tilt.
• Honda BF50D4LRTA: 50 HP remote on the same engine.
• Honda BF50D4XRTA: 50 HP with a 25 inch shaft.
• Honda BF30D3LRT: 30 HP for smaller boats.
• Honda BF60A1LRT: 60 HP if your boat can take more.

Or browse by power: 50 HP, 30 HP and 60 HP Honda outboards.

FAQ: Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale

Is it new?

Yes. The Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is new in the factory crate.

Is it tiller or remote?

Tiller. The H in the model code means handle.

Does it have power trim?

No. There is no T in the model code, so tilt is manual.

What transom height?

20 inches.

Does it start with a key?

Yes, it has electric start.

Can I use it in salt water?

Yes, with fresh water flushing after each trip.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for delivery details to your country.

Order the Honda BF40D4LHA for Sale

If you run a small boat from the stern and want a motor that starts every time, sips fuel and is easy to maintain, the Honda BF40D4LHA for sale is a very good choice. Add it to your cart, or contact us first with any questions about fit or shipping.

See more options in our Honda outboards range.