SUZUKI 20 HP DF20AES2 OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

This is the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale, a new 20 HP four stroke in the factory carton. It has electric start, tiller steering, a 15 inch short shaft and manual tilt. The price is on the page, it ships worldwide, and you get a delivery quote before you pay.

If you have read about the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale and the rest of the Suzuki 20 range and wondered which version to pick, this is the short shaft with a button start. It weighs about 105 lb, which is only 8 lb more than the pull-start version and a good deal lighter than the long shaft models once you add power tilt.

We have laid this page out as a set of buyer questions, because that is how most enquiries reach us. Specifications come first, then the questions we are asked about weight, shafts, batteries, propellers and servicing.

Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale: Specifications

For final figures, trust the paperwork in the carton. Suzuki lists the small engines together on its 2.5 to 30 HP outboard page.

What Does DF20AES2 Spell Out?

DF is Suzuki’s four stroke prefix and 20 is the horsepower. The A is the generation of small engine. E is electric start. S is the 15 inch short shaft. The 2 is the production series.

Compare that with the Suzuki DF20AS2, which has no E and therefore starts with a pull cord. Add an L instead of an S and you have the Suzuki DF20AEL2, the same engine on a 20 inch leg.

How Heavy Is the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale, Really?

On the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale, Suzuki lists 105 lb for the short shaft electric start engine, against 97 lb for the pull-start short shaft and 108 lb for the long shaft electric one. Those numbers are for the engine only, without a fuel tank, battery or propeller.

The weight matters for two reasons. The first is the transom rating on your boat. Many small aluminium boats and inflatables state a maximum engine weight as well as horsepower. The second is how you carry it. At 105 lb, most adults can lift it a short way, but not comfortably over a high wall or into a boat from a dock. Plan to use a second person, a hoist or a bracket.

Do You Need Electric Start on a 20 HP Tiller Engine?

It depends on the boat and the owner. A pull cord on a 327 cc engine is easy, and the injection lights it quickly. But the cord needs room for your arm, and in a small boat, standing up to pull is not always safe. Electric start lets you start the engine while seated, which matters in a dinghy, a RIB or a small inflatable.

It also matters for people with bad backs or shoulders, for engines used many times a day, and for boats that stop and start often such as survey boats or fishing boats. The extra cost over the pull-start model is small compared with the benefit.

Why Short Shaft? A Look at the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

A short shaft suits a transom of about 15 inches. This covers many small aluminium boats, RIBs, fibreglass dinghies and some inflatables. Anything with a taller transom, such as a deep V or a sailboat on a bracket, will need the long shaft.

To measure, place a straight edge across the top of the transom and measure straight down to the bottom of the hull. If the figure is nearer 15 than 20, this is your engine. If you are in between, go for the longer shaft and raise it with the mounting bracket. A short shaft on a tall transom sucks air and loses grip.

Battery Questions for the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

The engine runs without a battery, but the starter motor does not. You need a 12 V marine battery with clean, tight terminals and the right cable size. A compact deep cycle battery will do for most tiller boats, as the starter does not draw heavy current.

Once running, the 12 A charging system tops up the battery. It handles lights and a sounder. It does not supply a big electric trolling motor or a large chartplotter day after day, so add a second battery if you carry such loads.

If the battery goes flat, pull the cord through the cowl. The Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale has a manual back-up starter. This is the biggest advantage of Suzuki’s battery-less injection.

Boats That Suit the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Aluminium jon boats and V-hulls

Welded boats from 14 to 17 feet are the largest group of buyers. Look at the plate for the maximum horsepower and weight.

Rigid and soft-bottom inflatables

A 3.2 to 4 metre boat with a short transom takes the 20 well. It can plane with two people and gear.

Fishing skiffs and tenders

Big yachts carry tenders that need an easy-start engine. The electric button wins here.

Sailing dinghy and small cruiser auxiliaries

On a bracket or a well, the short shaft clears the water when raised. Check the tilt pin angle to avoid the prop hitting waves.

How It Drives

The Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale idles smoothly and quietly. Exhaust leaves through the prop hub, so most of the noise stays under water. Open the throttle and the boat comes up on the plane without a fight in a light hull. In a heavy boat it takes longer and benefits from a high thrust prop.

We do not quote speeds. They depend on the hull, load, prop and trim. What we can say is that the engine has a working range from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm at full throttle, and a rev limiter protects it if the prop comes out of the water.

Setting Up the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Clamp the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale to a sound transom and tighten the screws evenly. Add a safety chain. Set the anti-ventilation plate level with the bottom of the hull, or a touch above on a flat bottom. Run the boat, then adjust the height and the tilt pin until the boat trims level and the prop holds in turns.

Connect the battery with the right polarity and fit a fuse near the battery. Tidy the cables so they cannot snag on the tiller or the clamp. Check the lanyard operates the stop switch correctly before you leave the dock.

Propeller Advice

The standard three-blade aluminium propeller on the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale suits light boats. Heavily loaded boats do better with a high thrust prop of lower pitch. Check your rpm at full throttle with a normal load. The correct range is 5,000 to 6,000. Below that, drop the pitch. Above it, raise it.

Suzuki sells genuine props and parts through its genuine parts and accessories programme. Tell us your boat and we will help you choose.

Break-In

Follow the break-in section of the manual. Vary the revs, keep full throttle runs short in the first hours and let the engine warm up. Change the engine oil and gear oil at the first service. This clears out the metal particles from the first hours of running.

Maintenance Plan

• Flush after every trip in salt, brackish or muddy water.
• Change engine oil and filter on schedule, or once a year.
• Change the gear oil each season.
• Replace the impeller every two to three seasons.
• Replace anodes at half wear.
• Check battery terminals and starter wiring.
• Use fresh fuel and replace the filter regularly.

The Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale is an easy engine to look after, and most of the jobs need only basic tools. Keep a record of each service for warranty and resale.

Salt Water, Storage and Cold Weather

The Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale is rated for salt water and has a multi-layer finish. Rinse it after every outing, wipe the cowl and spray corrosion inhibitor under the cowl now and then. Store it upright and drained. In cold climates, drain the cooling water and stabilise the fuel before frost.

Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale Against the Pull-Start DF20AS2

The two engines are identical except for the starting system and a few pounds. The Suzuki DF20AS2 weighs about 97 lb and starts only by cord. The Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale weighs about 105 lb, carries a starter motor and a stronger charging coil, and costs a little more.

If your boat is a small tender that you leave on the dock all week, pull start is fine. If you stop and restart often, or if more than one person will use the boat, the electric version removes most arguments about who starts it. We recommend the electric engine for anyone who is unsure.

Your First Day With the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Unpack the carton and check the engine against the packing list. Look for scuffs on the cowl, a bent tiller handle or loose fittings, and tell us at once if anything arrived damaged. Photograph the carton and the damage before you remove the engine.

Read the manual before you do anything else. The first start needs oil in the sump and gear oil in the gearcase. These are normally checked at the factory but you should confirm the level yourself. Connect a fuel tank, check the line for kinks, and place the engine in a tank of water or on the boat with the leg fully immersed.

Squeeze the primer bulb, clip the lanyard, put the lever in neutral and press the button. The engine should start after a few seconds. Let it idle for a couple of minutes and look for a steady stream of water from the tell-tale. Check for leaks and listen for odd noises. Only then go out on the water.

Fuel Basics for the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Use clean unleaded petrol of the grade the manual specifies. The 327 cc block runs fine on normal pump fuel, and you should avoid fuel that has sat for months. Ethanol blends absorb moisture and go stale, which causes hard starts and rough running on small tanks that are used rarely.

Keep the fuel tank vent clean, and fit a water separating filter if you buy fuel in countries where quality varies. A filter costs very little and is cheap insurance for an injected engine.

There is no oil to mix. The engine has its own oil sump, and the oil pump is a proven automotive style unit. Use the oil grade the manual lists and check the level before every trip in the first month.

Common Mistakes With the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

The first is the wrong shaft. We see buyers order a short shaft for a boat that needs a long one, because the price looked better. Measure first.

The second is a weak battery. A starter motor will turn slowly or only click if the battery is small, old or poorly connected. Replace the battery before you blame the engine.

The third is the wrong propeller. If the engine cannot reach 5,000 rpm at full throttle with a normal load, it is overpropped. Ask us for a lower pitch.

The fourth is skipping the flush. Salt crystals build up inside the cooling passages and wear the impeller. A five minute flush after each trip avoids most cooling faults.

Handling in a Small Boat

A 20 HP engine on a light boat has plenty of power, so be careful with the throttle. Sit as far forward as you safely can when you accelerate, and keep your weight centred. Use the tiller tension control to set a firm feel, so a gust or a wave does not throw the handle across the boat.

When you turn, ease off the throttle first. A light tender can spin quickly with a 20 on the back, and people have been thrown out of small boats. Use the lanyard every time.

Storing the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale Over Winter

Flush it, drain it and stand it upright. Disconnect the battery or put it on a maintainer, and bring it indoors if you can. Change the oil before storage, so no acidic combustion products sit in the sump all winter. Fill the fuel tank, add stabiliser, and run the engine for a few minutes so the treated fuel reaches the injectors.

Spray a light film of corrosion inhibitor into the cowl and over the electrical connections. Cover the engine with a breathable cover, and check it again in spring. A small effort in autumn avoids almost every spring starting problem.

Parts and Support for the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Suzuki sells a lot of these engines, so parts are easy to find. Impellers, anodes, plugs, filters and gaskets are stock items in most countries. If you live far from a dealer, we recommend ordering a service kit with the engine. It will be cheaper than buying and shipping later.

You can find the correct parts by model code on the Suzuki site, and the service manual is available from Suzuki dealers. We can supply parts lists for the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale on request.

Getting the Boat Ready for the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Before the engine arrives, tidy the transom. Clean off old sealant, check the clamping area for dents and fill any gaps in the capping. Replace worn mounting hardware. If the old engine left a groove in the transom top, build it up so the new clamps grip evenly.

Plan where the battery will sit. Keep it dry, secure and close enough that the leads reach without strain. A plastic battery box with a strap is cheap and keeps the terminals covered. Fuel tank position matters too, since a long line is one more place for air to leak in.

Common Problems and Quick Checks

Starter clicks only. Weak battery or loose terminals. Clean and tighten them, or pull the cord.

Cranks but will not fire. Check the tank vent, fuel line and primer bulb.

Tell-tale stream weak. Clear the outlet and check the impeller.

Will not reach full revs. Prop too big, boat overloaded or the engine mounted too low.

Alarm sounds. Slow down and check the cooling water and the oil level.

Shipping and Delivery

The Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale ships in its factory carton. We quote delivery to your door, nearest port or airport before you pay. After dispatch you receive tracking, and we supply the export papers your customs office needs. If you use a forwarder, we can hand the carton to them.

Warranty

The engine comes with Suzuki factory warranty paperwork. Terms depend on your region and on how the engine is registered and used. Ask us about cover in your country before you order.

What Is in the Carton

• Suzuki DF20AES2 powerhead, midsection and gearcase
• Owner’s manual and warranty documents
• Factory fittings

Fuel tank, line, battery cables and propeller depend on stock. Ask us before ordering and we will say what is included.

Before You Order the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

• Measure your transom for a 15 inch shaft.
• Check the boat’s maximum power and engine weight.
• Plan a battery and cables for electric start.
• Check that a tiller suits how you steer the boat.
• Tell us your country for a delivery quote.

Buying the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale From Us

Every engine we sell is new, the price is shown on this page, and you see the delivery quote before you pay. Read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions, see what buyers say on the reviews page, learn about us, or use the contact page to send us your boat details.

More Suzuki Outboards to Compare

• All 20 HP Suzuki outboards
• Suzuki DF20AS2, pull start, 15 inch
• Suzuki DF20ASW2, white, pull start
• Suzuki DF20AEL2, electric start, 20 inch
• Suzuki DF20ATS2, remote, power tilt
• Suzuki DF20AES5, newer series
• Suzuki DF15AES2, 15 HP
• Suzuki DF25AES2, 25 HP
• All Suzuki outboards
• The full shop

Our blog has more guides on small outboards, and Suzuki’s global marine site shows the worldwide range.

FAQ: Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale

Is the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale new?

Yes, new and boxed, with Suzuki paperwork.

What shaft length is the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale?

15 inch, the S short shaft.

Is the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale electric start?

Yes, with a manual back-up starter.

How heavy is the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale?

Suzuki lists 105 lb, or 48 kg.

Does it have power tilt?

No, manual tilt only. The power tilt versions carry a T in the code.

Do you ship the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale to my country?

We ship worldwide. Send us your location for a quote.

Final Word

For a short shaft 20 HP tiller engine that starts at the push of a button and still pulls over by hand if the battery dies, the Suzuki DF20AES2 for sale is an easy engine to recommend. Order it today, or send us your boat details and we will check the fit first.