SUZUKI 15 HP DF15ATHL2 OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale is the 15 horsepower Suzuki for people who are tired of lifting a motor by hand. It has a 20 inch long shaft, push-button electric start, tiller steering and power tilt, plus a 4 blade high thrust propeller made for slow, heavy work. We have it new, in the factory carton, with the price on this page and worldwide shipping.

You get a written delivery quote before you pay. There are no used or refurbished motors here, and the model code on the box matches the one on this listing. If you are buying for a sailboat, a trolling skiff or a heavy workboat, this is the 15 to look at first.

Read on for the specifications, an explanation of the code, how power tilt works on a small motor, what the high thrust prop does, rigging, care and the questions buyers ask us. Where we are unsure, we say so, and where figures depend on your boat, we leave them out.

Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale: Specifications

Paperwork in the carton has the last word on the numbers. Suzuki shows the range on its 2.5 to 30 HP outboard page.

Decoding the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

DF is the four stroke prefix and 15 the horsepower. A marks the fuel injected generation. Then comes TH, and it is worth slowing down here. T on this motor means power tilt, not full power trim and tilt. H means tiller handle. L is the 20 inch long shaft. The 2 at the end is the production series.

The code also tells you what is missing. The code has no E, yet this motor still has electric start, because the tilt and start package comes together on this model. There is no W, so the cowl is black. The later series 5 motor is the DF15ATHL5.

What Power Tilt Does on a Small Motor

Power tilt raises and lowers the motor with a button, using a small electric pump in the clamp bracket. It does not adjust the angle while you run, the way power trim does on a big engine. You use it at rest, to tilt the motor up out of the water and back down, and to set it in a holding position with the tilt pin.

That is more useful than it sounds. On a boat with a high transom, a sailboat bracket or a boat that sits afloat, lifting 123 lb by hand is a poor way to spend a morning. A button replaces it.

The High Thrust Propeller

The standard prop on this motor is a 4 blade aluminium 10 inch diameter by 5.0 inch pitch. That is a low pitch with more blades. Low pitch gives strong pull at low speed, and four blades give grip and smooth push. It suits trolling, sailboat auxiliary work and heavy boats where top speed matters less than moving the weight.

It is not a speed prop. A light jon boat that needs to plane fast would normally take a higher pitch three blade prop. If planing speed matters, ask us about another prop for the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale, and make sure the full throttle reading stays in the 5,000 to 6,000 rpm band.

Sailboats and Auxiliary Power

Many sailboat transoms hang the motor high above the water. A 20 inch shaft reaches deeper than a short one, and in swell that matters. The power tilt lets you raise the motor clear of the water when you sail, which cuts drag and keeps the prop clean. The high thrust prop pushes a heavy displacement hull with controlled power.

The 12 amp alternator tops up the battery a little while you motor. It is not a replacement for a proper charging system on a cruising boat, but it helps.

Trolling and Fishing Boats

Anglers who troll for hours like a motor that holds a steady low speed without hunting. Fuel injection keeps the idle even, and the through-the-prop exhaust keeps noise down. The power tilt helps if you need to lift the motor over weeds or shallows. A pull cord remains as a backup if the battery weakens.

Rigging the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

Mount the motor on the centreline, tighten the clamps and fit a safety chain. A power tilt motor needs a power feed for the tilt pump as well as for the starter, so run properly sized cable from a marine battery, with a fuse close to the battery. Use tinned marine cable and keep the runs short and well supported.

Connect the fuel line from the portable tank. Fit the lanyard on your clothing. Test the tilt button a few times at the dock before you leave, and look for any leak around the tilt unit. If the transom is thin, add a backing plate, because the bracket carries weight.

Weight and Balance at 123 lb

This is the heaviest model in the series 2 group, at 123 lb. That extra weight is the power tilt unit, the bigger alternator and the long shaft. On a small boat, it affects trim. A heavy stern pushes the bow up and can make a light hull squat. You may need to move the battery or the fuel tank forward to balance things.

Check the engine weight limit on the boat plate, if there is one. When you lift or unload the motor, use a hoist or two strong people.

The Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale Against Its Neighbours

• The DF15AEL2 has the same shaft and electric start, with manual tilt and a lighter weight.
• The DF15ATHL5 is the later production series.
• The DF20ATHL2 has the same layout with 20 horsepower.
• The DF9.9BTHL2 has power tilt and a long shaft at 9.9 horsepower for smaller boats.

If you do not need power tilt, the DF15AEL2 saves money and weight. If you do, the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale is the one.

Installing Power Tilt Wiring Properly on the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

The tilt pump draws a good current for a few seconds each time you press the switch, so a thin or loose wire shows up as a slow, weak lift. Use a proper gauge for the length of run, crimp lugs with a real crimper, and cover joins with adhesive lined heat shrink. A cheap wire nut in a damp locker is the most common cause of a tilt unit that works on the bench and fails on the water.

Keep the battery as close to the motor as you can. Mount it in a box, strap it down and keep the terminals greased. For a sailboat that stays moored, a small solar panel or a trickle charger prevents a flat battery after a few idle weeks. A fully charged battery makes the starter and the tilt unit both work as they should.

Test the lift and lower action before you go. Press and hold until the motor stops. Look for oil on the bracket. Weeping at the unit is rare on a new motor, but catching it at the dock is easier than catching it at sea.

Anchoring and Mooring With a Power Tilt Motor

Boats on a mooring suffer marine growth on the gearcase and prop within weeks in warm water. Tilt the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale up every time you leave the boat, and the problem mostly disappears. In salt water, flush before you tilt it up, then rinse the bracket and the tilt rod. Salt crystals drying on a hydraulic rod can scratch the seal.

If you beach the boat, tilt the motor up before the bow touches sand, and lower it in deeper water. The shallow water drive helps in thin water, but it is not a licence to drag the skeg across stones. Keep the tilt pin in place when trailering, and add a support bar if the trailer is rough.

Who Buys the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

Our customers include sailors, trawler owners with a dinghy kicker, charter operators with heavy skiffs, and anglers with big flat boats who drift for hours. Many are older owners who no longer want to lift a heavy motor. A few are builders who fit this motor as a standard kicker. All of them want the same thing from a small motor: it must start, push and tilt without drama.

The honest limit is speed. With a high thrust prop, the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale is not a racer. It is a working motor, designed for pull. If speed matters more than pull, ask us about the lighter short shaft models.

Starting, Charging and the Pull Cord Backup

Push the button and the starter turns the engine over. If the battery is weak, the pull cord that passes through the cowl still works. That backup is not something every electric start motor of this size offers, and on a boat that spends time far from the dock it is worth having. The Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale charges at up to 12 amps, which keeps a starting battery healthy on a day of trolling.

Do not expect the alternator to run a large load. A fish finder, a pair of lights and a bilge pump are fine. Add a trolling motor, a large stereo and a fridge, and you need a separate charging plan.

Choosing Between Power Tilt and Manual Tilt

Be sensible about cost and weight. Power tilt adds money, adds weight, and adds one more system to look after. Manual tilt is simpler. If you tilt the motor once a day, and you are strong enough to lift it, the manual model is a fine answer and costs less.

Power tilt earns its place in four situations. First, when the transom is high and the lift is awkward. Second, when the motor goes up and down several times a day, as on a mooring or a fishing boat. Third, when the owner has a bad back or limited strength. Fourth, when the motor is a kicker and you want to raise it quickly out of the way. If none of those apply to you, check the price of the manual version first. If one does, the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale will pay for itself in comfort.

Break-In and the First Season

In the first season, the motor settles. Watch the oil level, check the clamp screws after the first few outings, and look for loose fittings on the tilt bracket. Change the gear oil if you see it turn milky. These are small habits, and they catch problems early.

Record the hours and the date of each service in a small notebook kept with the boat. If you ever claim warranty or sell the motor, those records prove it was looked after. A new Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale deserves a service history from day one.

Choosing a Different Propeller

The 4 blade 10 by 5 prop that comes with the motor is a good all round choice for trolling and heavy loads. Some owners fit a 3 blade prop with more pitch for a lighter boat that needs to plane. Others keep the high thrust prop and accept the lower speed. Before you change, record your full throttle rpm with the stock prop at your normal load. Then compare with the new prop. The right prop lets the engine reach its rated band and no further.

Do not run a prop that holds the motor below 5,000 rpm at full throttle. That lugs the engine and can cause damage. A prop that lets it exceed 6,000 rpm triggers the rev limiter and wastes power.

Delivery and Import Notes for the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

Some countries charge duty or tax on imported outboards, and some require paperwork for the engine serial number. We provide the invoice and export documents. Your freight company or customs agent will tell you what applies in your country. Ask them before you order, so you know the full landed cost. We can usually give you a quote to the nearest port, and many buyers arrange the last leg themselves.

When the carton arrives, check it before you sign. Look for damage to the box and note it on the delivery paper. Open it with the driver present if you can. Send us photos of any problem at once, and we will help you handle the claim.

Questions to Ask Before You Pay for the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

A few minutes of checking saves a lot of money. Is your transom the right height for a 20 inch shaft? Does the boat plate allow 15 horsepower and about 123 lb of motor? Do you have a battery and cable for the starter and the tilt pump? Is the prop right for your boat, or should you ask us about another? If you can answer yes to the first two and have a plan for the others, the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale is ready to order.

If you are comparing it with a secondhand motor, remember what you get with a new one. A full factory warranty, a clean powerhead, new seals and impeller, and no unknown history. The Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale arrives with all of that, and you can ask us anything about it before the money moves.

Breaking In the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

Follow the owner’s manual. As a rule, vary the throttle for the first hours, keep clear of long runs at full power, and change the oil at the first service. Treat the engine gently while the rings seat.

Maintenance on the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

• Flush with fresh water after every trip.
• Change engine oil and filter yearly or at the manual interval.
• Change gear oil every season and look for milky oil.
• Replace the impeller every two or three seasons.
• Replace the anode when half gone.
• Replace the fuel filter and keep fuel fresh.
• Check plugs, grease clamp screws and the tilt pin, and check the tilt unit for leaks.

Warnings for low oil pressure and overheating protect the engine, and the rev limiter guards against over speed.

Running Costs

Fuel use depends on the hull, load, prop and throttle, so we give no invented numbers. The high thrust prop trades speed for pull, so on a boat that suits it the motor works easily. The Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale costs oil, plugs, an impeller and fuel, plus the odd battery over time.

Salt Water and Storage

Saltwater rated with a multi-layer finish. Flush after salt trips, rinse the tilt bracket and keep clamp screws greased. For long layups, use stabilised fuel, flush, change the oil, keep the battery charged and store upright.

Common Problems

Tilt button does nothing. Check the fuse and the battery cable first.

Will not crank. Check lanyard, neutral, battery.

Starts and stalls. Open the tank vent, check the fuel line and filter.

Weak tell-tale stream. Clear the outlet and check the impeller.

What Ships in the Carton

• Suzuki DF15ATHL2 outboard
• Portable fuel tank and line as listed by Suzuki
• 4 blade high thrust propeller
• Owner’s manual and warranty paperwork

Battery and cables are not included. Ask us what ships with your order.

Warranty

Suzuki factory warranty papers come with the motor. Terms depend on your country and use. Ask us about your region.

Shipping Worldwide

We pack the motor in its carton and book freight to your port, airport or door, with a written quote before you pay. You get tracking and the export papers. If you use your own forwarder, we hand the carton over.

Buying the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale From Us

The motor is new and the price is on this page. We confirm stock and model code at order. Read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions. See the reviews page, learn about us, or use the contact page.

More Suzuki Outboards

• All 15 HP Suzuki outboards
• Suzuki DF15ATHL5
• Suzuki DF15AEL2
• Suzuki DF20ATHL2
• All Suzuki outboards
• The full shop

Our blog has more rigging advice. Suzuki’s worldwide site at globalsuzuki.com shows the marine range, and the genuine parts and accessories page lists propellers and service parts.

FAQ: Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale

Is the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale new?

Yes, new in the factory carton.

Does the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale have power tilt?

Yes. The T in the code means power tilt, with a 4 position tilt pin.

What shaft length is the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale?

20 inch, the L long shaft.

How heavy is the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale?

123 lb as listed.

What propeller comes on the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale?

A 4 blade high thrust aluminium prop, 10 in by 5.0 in.

Do you ship the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale to my country?

Yes, worldwide, with a quote before payment.

Final Word

If you want a long shaft 15 with power tilt and a prop built for pull, the Suzuki DF15ATHL2 for sale is the right motor. Order it today, or send us your boat details first and we will check the fit.