HONDA 40 HP BF40D4LRTA OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

Forty horsepower with a steering wheel is one of the most practical combinations in boating. It is enough to push a small runabout, a 16 foot aluminium boat or a light pontoon at a decent speed, it doesn’t drink fuel, and it is light enough not to overload a smaller transom. The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale on this page is exactly that: Honda’s 40 HP four stroke set up for remote steering, with power trim and tilt and a 20 inch shaft. It is new, crated, and we ship it worldwide.

Here you will find the full specs, what the model code means, how it runs, which boats it suits, what it costs to own, and how our ordering and shipping work. The price is at the top of the page. Everything that helps you decide is below.

The Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale in a Nutshell

The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale is a 40 HP, three cylinder, fuel injected four stroke outboard with an 808 cc engine. It has a 20 inch shaft, remote steering and control, and power trim and tilt. It weighs about 214 pounds dry, charges your battery at 17 amps, and uses Honda’s BLAST and Lean Burn Control systems for a stronger hole shot and better economy at cruise.

Model Code Explained

• BF: Honda four stroke.
• 40: 40 horsepower.
• D4: series and type.
• L: 20 inch (508 mm) shaft.
• R: remote control from a helm.
• T: power trim and tilt.
• A: variant code.

If you would rather steer from the back of the boat with a tiller, the Honda BF40D4LHA is the tiller version. If you need more power on the same size boat, look at the Honda BF50D4LRTA, which shares the engine block and weight but makes 50 HP.

Specifications of the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

Every figure here can be checked on Honda’s official BF40 and BF50 page.

How the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale Feels on the Water

Smooth and quiet

Three cylinders give the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale a smooth idle and very little vibration at the helm. At trolling speeds, it is quiet enough to talk normally.

Strong hole shot for its size

BLAST advances the ignition timing and enriches the mixture briefly when you accelerate hard. The boat climbs onto plane faster, which is noticeable on smaller boats carrying two or three people.

Economical cruising

Lean Burn Control uses an oxygen sensor to lean the fuel mixture at steady cruise. Honda says this can mean up to 20% better economy than other motors in the class. At 40 HP, the fuel bill is already modest, and this makes it smaller still.

Power trim

Being able to trim on the move makes a big difference. Trim down for take off, trim out on plane for speed and economy, trim down into a chop for a softer ride. And tilting the motor up at the ramp or in shallow water is a push of a button.

Boats That Suit the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

• Aluminium side console and centre console boats from around 14 to 17 feet.
• Small runabouts and older fibreglass bowriders rated for 40 HP.
• Small pontoons with a 20 inch transom used for relaxed cruising on calm water.
• Jon boats with consoles, used on rivers and shallow lakes.
• RIBs and inflatables with a 20 inch transom and a 40 HP rating.

Check the capacity plate on your boat. If it allows 50 HP, the Honda BF50D4LRTA weighs the same and gives you more speed. If you run a heavy pontoon, the Honda BFP60A1LRT Power Thrust might be a better fit.

Light Weight Matters

At about 214 pounds, the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale is light for a four stroke 40 with power trim. On a small boat, that means the stern sits higher, the boat planes more easily and the handling is more predictable. It also means less strain on older transoms, which is useful when repowering boats originally built for lighter two strokes.

Charging and Electronics

The alternator puts out 22 amps with 17 amps for battery charging. That is plenty for a fish finder, GPS, navigation lights and a small livewell pump. The motor is also NMEA 2000 compatible, so engine data can be displayed on a compatible screen, which is handy on a small console where space is tight.

Ownership and Maintenance

A typical service schedule for the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale:

• Oil and filter change after break-in, then every 100 hours or yearly.
• Gearcase oil change at the same interval.
• Spark plugs and fuel filter checked and replaced as needed.
• Anodes checked every season.
• Water pump impeller at the interval in the manual.
• Trim and tilt fluid level checked.
• Fresh water flush after salt or dirty water.

Honda’s maintenance and operation guide has more detail, and the owner’s manual is free to download.

Warranty

In the United States, Honda gives recreational buyers five years of coverage, transferable and non-declining. Coverage elsewhere depends on your local Honda Marine distributor. See the Honda warranty page for details.

How to Order the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

1. Add the motor to your cart, or contact us first with questions.
2. We confirm stock, your address and the shipping route.
3. The motor ships in Honda’s crate with added protection.
4. You get tracking information.
5. Arrange help or equipment to unload the crate.

For international orders, import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility. We supply the paperwork customs needs.

See our full Honda outboard motors range, the 40 HP Honda outboards page, or the entire shop.

Rigging the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

Remote rigging involves mounting the motor, connecting steering, fitting a remote control box and harness, wiring gauges or a display, hooking up batteries, and plumbing fuel with a water separating filter. I recommend a marine technician unless you have done it before. A good rigger will also set the motor height and check the RPM at wide open throttle on the water test.

What Comes in the Crate

The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale arrives as a complete outboard on its 20 inch leg, with the cowling, owner’s manual and Honda’s standard small parts. Because it is a remote model, you will also need a remote control box, main harness, key switch, gauges or a display, steering, a battery and a propeller. If you are replacing an older Honda remote motor, some of those parts may be reusable. If you are coming from another brand, plan on buying them. Ask us and we will help you make a list.

When the crate arrives, inspect it before signing. Take photos of any damage to the crate or motor straight away.

Break-In and First Service

For the first several hours, vary your throttle, avoid long runs at full throttle and don’t hold one RPM for too long. The exact procedure is in the owner’s manual. Afterwards, change the oil and filter and check the gearcase oil. It is cheap insurance for the life of the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale.

Propeller Selection

No propeller is included. The goal is a wide open throttle RPM between 5,000 and 6,000 with your normal load. Lower the pitch if the engine falls short, raise it if the engine hits the limiter easily. Light aluminium boats generally take more pitch than heavier boats or small pontoons. Honda’s prop selector is a useful first step, and you can always ask us.

Repowering With the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

A lot of these motors go onto older boats that still have plenty of life left. If you are doing a repower, a little preparation goes a long way.

Check the transom thoroughly. On fibreglass boats, tap around the old bolt holes with a small hammer and listen for a dull sound that suggests wet wood. On aluminium boats, look for cracks and corrosion. Replace old fuel hoses and fit a water separating filter. Inspect the steering cable and helm, since old mechanical steering is often stiff. Fit a fresh battery. If the old motor was a two stroke, remove any oil injection tanks and lines you no longer need.

Do that, and your repowered boat will feel almost new, with far less noise, smoke and fuel use than before.

Using Power Trim Well

Trim fully down when you take off so the bow stays low and the boat gets on plane quickly. Once running, trim out in small steps until the boat runs freely, the steering feels light and the bow is slightly up. Stop before the bow starts bouncing or the prop loses grip. In a head sea, trim down for a softer ride. In a following sea, trim up slightly so the bow doesn’t dig in. Good trim habits make the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale faster and more economical.

Fuel Quality

Fuel injection needs clean fuel. Fit a water separating filter and change the element regularly. Buy fuel from busy stations, avoid leaving fuel sitting in the tank for months, and use a stabiliser when storing the boat. In hot, humid climates, condensation can build up in tanks quickly, so keep an eye on the filter bowl.

Storage

Before a long layup, change the oil, add stabiliser and run the engine briefly, flush with fresh water, check the gearcase oil and store the motor trimmed down. In warm places, keep the boat covered and start the engine every couple of weeks if you can. Engines that are used regularly tend to stay healthier than engines that sit.

Who Buys This Motor

Customers for the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale include anglers with small console boats, families with runabouts on lakes, fishing camps and lodges, marinas with rental boats, and work boat operators who need a reliable, economical motor. Many are replacing an older two stroke and want something quieter and easier to live with. Almost all of them tell us afterwards that the first thing they noticed was how quiet it is.

40 or 50: Which One Makes More Sense?

The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale and the BF50D4LRTA share the same 808 cc three cylinder engine and weigh the same. So which should you buy? It mostly comes down to three things.

Your capacity plate. If your boat is rated for 40 HP, that settles it. Going over the rating is unsafe, it can affect insurance, and in some countries it is against the law.

How you use the boat. For one or two people fishing on a lake, a 40 is plenty. It gets the boat on plane, cruises comfortably and saves fuel. If you regularly carry four people, pull a tube or cross open water, the extra 10 HP of the 50 is worth having.

Budget. The 40 costs a little less to buy. Running costs are very similar.

If your boat can take either and you are unsure, I lean towards more power, because boats tend to get heavier over the years as owners add gear. But the 40 is a very capable motor, and plenty of owners never wish for more.

A Typical Day With the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

You back the trailer down the ramp, lower the motor with the trim switch, and turn the key. It starts straight away, even on a cold morning, with no choke and no smoke. You idle away from the dock quietly. Once clear, you push the lever forward and the boat pops onto plane in a few seconds. At a comfortable cruise, the engine hums along, and you can talk to your passenger without raising your voice.

At the fishing spot, you pull back to idle and the motor ticks over smoothly. The fish finder and livewell run all morning without a worry about the battery. On the way back, the wind has come up, so you trim the bow down a touch and the boat rides through the chop more softly. At the ramp, you raise the motor with the button, pull the boat out and flush the engine with a hose for a few minutes. That is all there is to it.

Why Honda Four Strokes Last

Honda built its reputation on engines. Cars, motorcycles, generators and garden equipment have all taught the company how to make engines that run for a long time with simple care. Much of that experience goes into its outboards. The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale uses fuel injection and engine management that owe a lot to Honda’s other products, and the design is deliberately simple to service.

Honda was also one of the first major brands to build only four stroke outboards, long before emissions rules forced others to follow. That gives it decades of experience in making four strokes that are light, quiet and dependable on the water.

New Motor or Used?

Used 40 HP outboards are easy to find, and some are good. But with a used motor you rarely know the whole story. Was it flushed after salt water? Was the oil changed on time? Did it ever run without cooling water? Was the lower unit damaged? A new Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale starts at zero hours, with a known history, factory coverage where it applies and years of service ahead. If you plan to keep the motor for a long time, new is usually the better deal in the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over the years, I have seen the same few mistakes again and again. Ordering a 20 inch shaft for a 25 inch transom, or the other way round. Ignoring the capacity plate. Forgetting that remote motors need controls, harness and steering. Mounting a new motor on a rotten transom. Never checking wide open throttle RPM after fitting a prop. Skipping the first oil change. Letting fuel go stale in the tank over the off season. Each of these is easy to avoid, and all of them cost money when they happen. If you want a second opinion on your setup before ordering the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale, just ask us.

Getting Ready Before Delivery

Shipping can take a while, especially across borders, so it pays to prepare. Remove the old motor and fix any transom issues. Replace old fuel hoses and install a water separating filter. Decide on steering, controls and gauges, and order anything you need. Charge or replace the battery. Pick a first propeller. Book your rigger. When the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale arrives, it can go on the boat straight away.

Using It in Salt Water

Many small console boats spend their lives in estuaries, bays and along the coast. The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale is built for that, with a layered paint finish, sacrificial anodes, sealed electrical connectors and a fresh water flush port. But salt is hard on any engine. Flush the motor with fresh water after every trip. Rinse the outside of the motor too, especially around the steering and trim parts. Check the anodes each season and replace them when about half gone. Touch up chipped paint on the lower unit. Keep the cowling seal clean. And spray the powerhead with a corrosion inhibitor now and again.

Safety Reminders

Always attach the kill switch lanyard when running. Check the fuel and oil before each trip. Carry life jackets for everyone, a way to call for help, and basic tools and spares such as a spare prop nut and a spark plug. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Honda’s boating safety tips are worth a read before the season starts. Simple precautions make every day with the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale safer and more enjoyable.

Who We Are

We are an online outboard motor dealer shipping to customers around the world. We focus on proven brands like Honda because our customers want motors that start, run and keep running. When you buy the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale from us, you get a new motor, honest advice on fit and setup, and help with shipping and paperwork.

Parts and Service Abroad

One reason many overseas buyers choose Honda is the size of its network. Honda has marine distributors and dealers in many countries, and common service parts such as oil filters, spark plugs, anodes and impellers are widely available. Before ordering, it is worth finding your nearest Honda Marine service point using Honda’s dealer locator or your local Honda distributor. Knowing where to get parts and service makes owning the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale even easier.

Similar Honda Motors

• Honda BF40D4LHA: 40 HP tiller version.
• Honda BF50D4LRTA: 50 HP, 20 inch shaft.
• Honda BF50D4XRTA: 50 HP, 25 inch shaft.
• Honda BF60A1LRT: 60 HP remote.
• Honda BF30D3LRT: 30 HP remote.

Browse 50 HP, 60 HP and 30 HP Honda outboards.

FAQ: Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

Is it new?

Yes. The Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale is new in the crate.

Remote or tiller?

Remote. The R in the name means remote control.

Power trim?

Yes, power trim and tilt is standard on this model.

Shaft length?

20 inches.

Weight?

About 214 pounds dry.

Prop included?

No. We can help you choose one.

Worldwide shipping?

Yes. Ask us for a delivery estimate to your country.

Buy the Honda BF40D4LRTA for Sale

If your boat has a 20 inch transom and a 40 HP rating, the Honda BF40D4LRTA for sale is a quiet, economical and dependable motor that will serve you for years. Add it to your cart, or get in touch first with any questions.

More options are waiting in our Honda outboards range.