SUZUKI 20 HP DF20ATHL2 OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale on this page is a new 20 HP tiller outboard with electric start, power tilt and a 20 inch long shaft, packed in the factory crate. The price is listed right here, we ship worldwide, and we send you a delivery quote to your address before you pay anything.

Most people who call about this motor have done the pull-cord thing for years and want a 20 that starts from a key and lifts from a switch. That is exactly what the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale gives you, with the same light two cylinder block Suzuki uses across its 9.9, 15 and 20 HP range.

Below we go through the model code, the boats it suits, full specs, rigging, break-in, servicing, salt water care and the questions we get most often. If something is not covered, contact us and a person who has rigged these motors will answer.

What the code on the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale means

Suzuki model codes look like alphabet soup until you break them down. Each letter on the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale tells you something about how the motor is built, and getting one letter wrong can mean a motor that does not fit your boat.

• DF: Suzuki four stroke outboard.
• 20: rated output of 20 horsepower.
• A: the current generation of the 15/20 HP platform, with battery-less electronic fuel injection and Lean Burn control.
• T: power tilt. A switch raises and lowers the motor. On these small Suzukis the T also means electric start comes with it.
• H: tiller handle steering, with the throttle twist grip and shift lever on the motor.
• L: long shaft, 20 inches from the clamp bracket to the anti-ventilation plate.
• 2: the production version suffix Suzuki uses for this series.

There is no W at the end, so the cowl is the standard Suzuki dark finish. If you want the same motor in white, look at the Suzuki DF20ATHLW2. Mechanically the two are the same engine.

Which boats suit the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale

The 20 inch shaft and tiller layout point to a specific kind of boat. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale fits transoms of roughly 19 to 21 inches, which covers most aluminium jon boats in the 14 to 16 foot range, many V hull fishing boats, larger inflatables with a long shaft transom and plenty of small workboats.

Power tilt matters more than people think on these boats. A 20 HP motor with electric start weighs well over 100 lb. Tilting that by hand from a rocking boat, every time you hit a beach or a shallow ramp, gets old fast. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale does it with one switch on the bottom cowl.

Common setups we ship this motor for:

• 14 to 16 foot riveted or welded aluminium boats used for fishing lakes and rivers.
• Rigid inflatable boats and larger inflatables rated for 20 HP with a long shaft transom.
• Sailboats and small keelboats on a bracket, where a long shaft keeps the prop in the water in a chop.
• Duck boats and marsh boats where you tilt up often to clear weed and mud.
• Small ferry and work skiffs that run all day and need a motor that starts every time.

Check your boat’s capacity plate first. If it says 15 HP max, do not go to 20. Insurance and the law in many places follow that plate. If your plate allows 20 and you run heavy loads, the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale is the right size.

Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale: full specifications

Dealers list slightly different weights because some include the prop and some do not. Use about 123 lb for planning your transom load and freight. You can compare the whole small motor range on the official Suzuki 2.5 to 30 HP outboards page.

Features that matter on this motor

Battery-less fuel injection

This is the big one. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale uses fuel injection that does not need a battery to run. The flywheel generates enough power for the injection system. So if your battery goes flat, you can still pull start the motor with the emergency rope and get home. No choke, no flooding, no carb to gum up over winter.

Lean Burn control

At cruise speeds the ECU leans the mixture based on load. On a 20 HP that sounds minor, but our customers who run all day on a river notice they fill the tank less often than with an old carb 20. Suzuki claims a solid fuel saving over the previous model, and in practice it is real at part throttle.

Power tilt with shallow water drive

The power tilt switch sits on the lower cowl. You can raise the motor partway and run slowly in shallow water, which helps on rivers with gravel bars. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale also keeps a manual release so you can tilt by hand if the battery is dead.

Tiller handle layout

The tiller has the twist throttle, the stop switch with lanyard, a throttle friction adjuster and the start button close to hand. The shift lever is on the front of the motor. People coming from older tillers like that the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale has the key and button where you can reach them seated.

Charging output

The alternator charges your starting battery while you run. It is enough for a fish finder, nav lights and a small bilge pump. It will not run a big live well pump all day plus a fridge. If you have heavy electrical loads, plan for a second battery.

What you need besides the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale

A tiller motor needs less than a remote one, but it still needs a few things. Budget for these when you order the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale so the boat is ready the day the crate arrives.

• Battery: a marine starting battery, around 500 to 650 CCA is plenty. Not included in the crate.
• Battery box and cables: a vented box strapped down, with correctly sized cables and a fuse. The motor comes with its battery leads.
• Propeller: a prop is normally fitted or packed with the motor. You may want a different pitch for your load. Ask us.
• Fuel tank and line: many packs include a portable tank and line. Check the listing or ask us before ordering.
• Transom bolts: for a 20 HP with power tilt we recommend through-bolting, not only the clamp screws.
• Kill cord: comes with the motor. Use it every time.

Suzuki sells genuine props, covers and tanks through its network, and you can browse them on the Suzuki genuine parts and accessories site. We can also add common items to your order.

How to measure your transom for a 20 inch shaft

Measure from the top of the transom where the clamp sits, straight down to the bottom of the hull at the centre. Do it on the outside, with the boat level. If you get 19 to 21 inches, the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale is the correct length.

If you get 15 inches, you need a short shaft. The Suzuki DF20ATS2 is the short shaft remote version, and we can quote a short shaft tiller on request. If you get 24 to 26 inches, you need an extra long shaft, which in this range is more common on the 9.9.

A shaft too long drags in the water and throws spray. A shaft too short sucks air and the prop ventilates. On a 20 HP that difference is easy to feel. When in doubt send us a photo of the transom with a tape measure and we will tell you.

On a bracket or a sailboat, measure from the bracket clamp point to the water surface with the boat loaded, then add a few inches. Long shaft is usually right on brackets, but some sailboats with high sterns need extra long.

Installing and setting up

Center the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale on the transom. Tighten the clamp screws, then drill and through-bolt using the holes in the bracket. Seal the holes with marine sealant. A loose 20 HP can walk off a transom, and we have heard that story more than once.

Set the anti-ventilation plate level with, or just slightly below, the bottom of the hull. Then set the trim pin so the motor sits close to vertical when the boat is running with your normal load. Too far in and the bow plows. Too far out and the bow rides high and the prop ventilates in turns.

Connect the battery leads with the motor switched off: red to positive, black to negative. Check the tilt switch works both ways before you put the boat in the water. Prime the fuel line bulb until firm, then start. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale should start on the first or second push of the button once fuel reaches the injection system.

Confirm the tell-tale water stream is flowing from the side of the motor within a few seconds of starting. If not, stop and check the water intake is under water and not blocked.

Break-in for the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale

The first 10 hours set the tone for the life of the engine. Suzuki gives a break-in procedure in the owner’s manual, and the version below follows the usual pattern for this range. Follow your manual if it differs.

• First 2 hours: mostly at low speed, under half throttle. Brief bursts above are fine. Vary the rpm.
• Next hour: up to about three quarter throttle. Get on the plane, then ease back.
• Up to 10 hours: short runs at full throttle are fine, but avoid holding it flat out for long.
• After 20 hours: first service, including the first oil and filter change and the gear oil.

Do not let the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale sit idling for long periods during break-in. Steady idling is not good for new rings. Vary the load.

Service schedule

Small four strokes are simple to look after. Most owners do the basics themselves. Here is a practical schedule for the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale based on the usual Suzuki intervals. Your owner’s manual has the final word.

Valve clearance on this engine is checked at set intervals in the manual. A dealer can do it in about an hour. Do not skip it if you run the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale hard every week.

Salt water care

Salt kills small outboards that are not flushed. After every salt run, flush the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale with fresh water. This motor has a flush port, so you can connect a hose without muffs. Run fresh water for about 10 to 15 minutes with the motor off, or follow the manual for running flush.

• Rinse the outside, especially the clamp bracket, tilt tube and the power tilt unit.
• Wipe down and spray a corrosion inhibitor on the bracket and electrical connections.
• Leave the cowl off for a while in a dry spot so moisture can escape.
• Check the anodes. In warm salt water they can go faster than you expect.
• Keep the motor tilted down when stored on a trailer so water drains from the lower unit.

We get salt water customers from small islands and coastal fishing towns all over the world. The ones who flush every time are the ones whose motors still look good after five years.

Common issues with the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale and simple fixes

Will not start on the button

Check the kill cord clip is in place. Check the motor is in neutral. Check battery voltage, it should be above 12.4 V at rest. Most no-start calls on the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale come down to one of those three things.

Power tilt will not move

Check the battery and the tilt fuse. If the motor is stuck up and the battery is dead, open the manual release valve and lower it by hand. Close it again before running.

Rough idle after storage

Old fuel is the usual cause. Drain the tank, refill with fresh fuel and replace the fuel filter if it looks dirty. Use a fuel stabiliser if the boat sits for more than a month.

Weak tell-tale stream

Usually a blocked tell-tale outlet. Poke it with a thin wire. If the stream is still weak, the impeller may be worn. Get it checked before it overheats.

Prop ventilation in turns

Check the trim pin and shaft height. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale on a transom that is too low will ventilate. Raising the motor one hole or moving the trim pin in usually fixes it.

How it compares with other Suzuki 20 HP and nearby models

The 20 HP family uses one block with different trim. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale is the top of the tiller range. Here is how it sits against the others we stock.

• Suzuki DF20AEL2: electric start and long shaft, tiller, but manual tilt. Cheaper and a few pounds lighter.
• Suzuki DF20ATL2: power tilt and electric start, but remote steering and controls instead of a tiller. Choose it if you have a console.
• Suzuki DF20ATHL5: the later production version of this same spec. Check which one is in stock.
• Suzuki DF15ATHL2: same block and layout at 15 HP, for boats rated 15 HP max.
• Suzuki DF25ATHL2: the step up, a three cylinder 25 HP with tiller and power tilt.

The 15 and 20 share the same 327 cc engine and weight, so if your boat is rated for 20 there is not much reason to take the 15. If you want more torque for a heavier load, the 25 has a third cylinder and is noticeably smoother, but heavier.

You can see every 20 HP motor we stock in our Suzuki 20 HP category, or the whole range on our Suzuki outboards page.

Buying the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale from us

We are an outboard dealer that sells new motors and ships them worldwide. The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale comes new in the factory crate, never run, with all the paperwork from Suzuki. The price shown on this page is the price of the motor.

Here is how ordering works:

1. You send us your delivery address through the order form or our contact page.
2. We quote shipping to your door, by sea or by air, before you pay anything.
3. You confirm, pay, and we pack and dispatch.
4. We send tracking and stay in touch until the crate arrives.

Freight for one 20 HP crate is usually affordable because the motor is light and compact. We also handle export paperwork. Import duty and local taxes depend on your country, and we will tell you what documents your customs agent needs.

Warranty

The Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale carries the Suzuki factory warranty. The term depends on the region where the motor is registered and used, and on whether it is for private or commercial use. We help you register it and explain what is covered. Read our refund and return policy and our terms and conditions before ordering.

What comes in the crate

Contents can vary slightly by market, but a typical Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale crate contains:

• The motor with tiller handle and power tilt installed
• Propeller (fitted or packed separately)
• Battery cables
• Kill switch lanyard
• Owner’s manual and warranty card
• Small tool kit and spare parts bag, depending on market
• Portable fuel tank and line where included in the pack

Check the crate on arrival before you sign. Take photos of any outside damage. It is rare, but if the carrier has been rough you want a record.

Checklist before you order the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale

• Your boat’s capacity plate allows 20 HP.
• Transom height is about 20 inches (long shaft).
• You want tiller steering, not remote controls.
• You have or will buy a starting battery.
• The transom can take about 123 lb plus fuel and a battery aft.
• You know if you want the dark cowl or the white W version.
• You have sent us your address for a delivery quote.

If everything above checks out, the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale is the right motor. If one point is unclear, send us a message and we will help you pick the correct version.

Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale: FAQ

Is the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale new?

Yes. It is new, never run, in the factory crate, with the Suzuki warranty card. We do not sell used or refurbished motors as new.

Can I run it without a battery?

The fuel injection is battery-less, so the engine runs without one once started. You still need a battery for the electric start and the power tilt. With a dead battery you can rope start it using the emergency start.

How fast will my boat go?

It depends on the hull, weight and prop. A light 14 foot aluminium boat with two people often reaches the low to mid 20s mph with a 20 HP. Heavier boats will be slower. Ask us with your boat details and we will give you a realistic idea.

Do you ship the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale to my country?

We ship worldwide. Send your address and we will quote delivery before payment.

What is the difference from the DF20ATHL5?

Same spec and layout. The last digit marks a different production version. Specs that matter to you, such as the shaft, start, tilt and power, are the same.

Can I fit a remote kit later?

Tiller and remote versions are built differently. It is easier to buy the remote DF20ATL2 from the start if you plan to run from a console.

Order the Suzuki DF20ATHL2 for sale today

If you want a 20 HP tiller that starts with a button and tilts with a switch, this is the one. Send us your address for a delivery quote, or browse the rest of the shop first. You can read about us on our about page, see what customers say on our reviews page and find rigging tips on our blog. Suzuki’s worldwide marine site at Global Suzuki Marine has more on the full range.