SUZUKI 25 HP DF25ATHL2 OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale here is a new 25 HP tiller outboard with a 20 inch long shaft, electric start and power trim and tilt. It is the fully loaded tiller version of Suzuki’s three cylinder DF25A. We sell it new in the factory crate, the price is shown on this page, and we ship worldwide with the freight quoted before you pay.

If you run a 16 foot aluminium boat, a jon boat with a 20 inch transom, or a small work skiff, this is the motor we point most people toward. You get the starter and a switch to lift the motor, and you still steer by hand from the back seat.

The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale in plain words

We get a lot of emails asking what all the letters mean. Here is the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale broken down:

• DF is Suzuki’s name for its four stroke outboards.
• 25 is the horsepower.
• A is the series: the three cylinder, battery-less EFI generation.
• T means power trim and tilt.
• H means tiller handle steering.
• L means long shaft, 20 inches.
• 2 is the version suffix for this production series.

Power trim models on the DF25A come with electric start, so there is no E in the code but there is a starter and a key. There is also a recoil rope for emergencies. No W in the code, so this is the standard dark grey and black Suzuki finish. If you want white, look at the Suzuki DF25ATHLW2, which is the same motor in white.

Boats that suit the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

A 20 inch shaft means your transom needs to be about 20 inches tall. That covers most 14 to 17 foot aluminium boats, many jon boats, bigger rigid inflatables and plenty of small fibreglass skiffs. The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale fits these well because it is light for a 25 with power tilt.

Customers who get the most out of this model:

• Anglers on rivers and lakes who run tiller boats all day.
• Duck and goose hunters who run into shallow marsh and need to lift the motor often.
• Small commercial users: oyster farms, survey crews, ferry tenders.
• People who beach the boat a lot and do not want to fight the motor up by hand.

The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale is not ideal if you want to steer with a wheel. For a console boat with cable steering, the remote model Suzuki DF25ATL2 is the one to look at.

What to expect on the water

On a 16 foot aluminium boat with two people and gear, a properly propped Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale will normally plane without fuss and cruise comfortably in the high teens to low twenties mph. Lighter boats go faster, heavy loads slower. Do not trust anybody who gives you exact numbers without knowing your hull.

Power trim helps here more than most people expect. Trim down to get on plane quickly, trim out a bit once running to lift the bow and pick up speed. With a manual trim rod you set it once and live with it. With power trim you adjust every run.

Specifications of the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

These numbers follow Suzuki’s published data for the DF25A family. Weight is dry, without prop and oil, and is approximate.

For the factory overview, Suzuki has the DF30A and DF25A on its global marine lineup page.

Features that make the difference

Power trim and tilt on a tiller motor

This is the main reason to pay more for the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale over a manual tilt model. There is a trim switch on the tiller handle area. Press it to raise or lower the motor in small steps while running, or tilt it all the way up at the dock. It also lets you raise the motor a bit to run through shallow water without hitting bottom, as long as the water intakes stay submerged.

Lifting a 25 by hand is doable, but if you do it twenty times a day in a marsh, you will be glad you paid for the switch.

Battery-less EFI and Lean Burn

The fuel injection system makes its own power once the engine turns, so the motor can be rope started even with a dead battery. Lean Burn Control reduces fuel use at steady cruising speeds. In practice, owners of the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale tell us they refill the portable tank less often than with their old carb motors.

Three cylinder smoothness

Three cylinders, an offset crankshaft and roller rocker arms make for a smooth, quiet motor. You notice it most at idle and at trolling speeds, where twin cylinder 25s tend to shake the tiller.

Warning and protection

• Three LED warning lights for oil pressure, overheat and over rev.
• Rev limiter to protect the engine if the prop ventilates.
• Start in gear protection, so it only starts in neutral.

Practical details

• Freshwater flush port.
• Front mounted shift lever.
• 12V 14A alternator for battery charging and small electronics.
• Suzuki anti-corrosion finish.

Rigging the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

Rigging a tiller motor like the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale is about as easy as it gets. No control box, no steering cables, no gauges unless you want them. For the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale you need:

• A 12V starting battery. A marine starting or dual purpose battery in a vented box. The starter and the power trim both use it.
• Battery cables. The motor comes with its lead. Plan where the battery sits so the cable reaches without strain.
• A fuel tank and line. Portable tank with primer bulb.
• Through bolts. With power tilt on a 25 we strongly recommend bolting through the transom, not just using the clamp screws.
• The right prop. See the section below.
• Oil. Check the oil on arrival. Do not start it dry.

If you like, add a battery switch and a small fuse block for a fish finder and lights. The 14 amp alternator handles small electronics without any problem.

Propping

With your normal load, the motor should reach between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm at full throttle, trimmed for best speed. If it hits the limiter, go up in pitch. If it stops short of 5,000, go down. A Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale on a heavy work boat often wants a lower pitch than the standard prop. Send us your boat details and we will suggest one.

Setting up the tiller for a long day

A tiller boat is only comfortable if the handle sits right for you. On the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale there are a few things to adjust before your first real trip, and they take ten minutes.

• Steering friction. There is an adjuster that sets how freely the motor swings. Set it so the motor holds course if you let go for a moment, but still turns without effort.
• Throttle friction. Tighten it enough that the grip stays where you leave it when trolling. Loosen it if your wrist gets tired.
• Seat position. Sit so your forearm is roughly level with the tiller. Too low and you are reaching up all day.
• Kill cord. Clip it to your life jacket or wrist, not the seat. That is the whole point of it.

Some owners add a tiller extension for standing or for sitting further forward. It is a cheap accessory and makes a 16 foot boat much easier to balance with one person aboard. Ask us and we can add one to the order for the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale.

Steering torque

Every outboard pulls slightly to one side at speed because of prop torque. On the DF25A there is a trim tab on the gearcase above the prop. If the boat pulls left or right with your hand off the handle, adjust the tab a few degrees and test again. On the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale, a properly set tab makes a long run far less tiring.

Measuring for a 20 inch shaft

Before ordering the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale, take a tape measure to the boat:

1. Find the centre of the transom where the motor will mount.
2. Measure from the top edge straight down to the bottom of the hull.
3. Around 20 inches: this long shaft model is right.
4. Around 15 inches: you need a short shaft such as the Suzuki DF25ATHS2.
5. Around 25 inches: you are probably looking at a bigger motor with an extra long shaft.

When mounted, the cavitation plate should be level with the bottom of the hull or slightly below. On some flat bottom jon boats people set it one hole higher for shallow running. That is fine if the motor still gets clean water.

Running in your Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

The first ten hours set up how the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale runs for years. Do it properly:

The main thing: do not hold one steady rpm for a long time while the motor is new. Keep changing speed. And check the oil every time you go out during break-in. A little use is normal on a new engine.

Looking after the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

Suzuki’s owner’s manual has the exact schedule. This is the version we give customers:

• Every trip: check oil, check the telltale stream, flush after salt.
• Every 100 hours or yearly: engine oil and filter, gear oil, check spark plugs, grease all fittings, check anodes, check the power trim fluid level.
• Every 200 hours or 2 years: replace spark plugs, inspect water pump and thermostat.
• Every 3 years or so: replace the impeller as a precaution.

Genuine filters, plugs, impellers and anodes are on Suzuki’s genuine parts and accessories site. We can ship a service kit together with the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale if you are going somewhere far from a dealer.

Power trim care

The trim unit is sealed but not maintenance free. Check the fluid level at the reservoir once a season with the motor fully tilted up. Keep the trim rams clean, and if you are in salt water, rinse around them after every trip. Grease the tilt tube. A trim unit that is looked after lasts for many years.

Salt water use

Suzuki rates the DF25A for salt water and the anti-corrosion finish is good. Owners still have to do their part. For a Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale used in the sea, we suggest:

• Fresh water flush through the flush port after every outing.
• Rinse the whole motor, including the trim unit and bracket.
• Leave the motor tilted up at the mooring. Power tilt makes this a two second job.
• Check sacrificial anodes regularly and never paint them.
• Wipe the electrical connections with a dielectric grease.
• Keep the battery terminals clean, salt air is hard on them.

Shallow water and trailering with power tilt

Power tilt changes how you use a boat. With the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale you can creep into a backwater, lift the motor a few inches with the switch, and keep going where a fixed motor would hit bottom. Watch the telltale, though. If the water stream stops, the intakes are out of the water and you need to lower the motor right away.

At the ramp, tilt the motor up before the trailer wheels hit the shallow end. For road travel, do not rely on the trim rams alone to hold the motor on bumpy roads. Use a transom saver or motor support bar between the gearcase and the trailer. It takes stress off the bracket and the trim unit. Most damage we see on tilt units comes from long trailer trips without support.

The manual release valve

Every power trim unit on the DF25A has a manual release valve on the bracket. Open it a couple of turns and you can raise or lower the motor by hand. Know where it is before you need it. Close it again before running, or the motor will kick up in reverse.

Fuel and layup habits

The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale is fuel injected, which makes it far less fussy than a carb motor. Still, clean fuel is the cheapest protection you can buy.

• Use fresh unleaded with as little ethanol as you can get.
• Add stabiliser if fuel will sit more than a month.
• Fit an inline water separating filter if your fuel supply is doubtful.
• Close the tank vent when stored, open it before starting.

For winter, run stabilised fuel through the motor, flush with fresh water, change the engine oil and gear oil, and store the motor upright or tilted on the boat. Charge the battery every month or keep it on a maintainer. In spring, a Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale prepared like this usually starts on the first turn of the key.

Fuel use

Fuel use depends on hull, load and throttle. As a rough guide, cruising at part throttle on a typical 16 foot aluminium boat many owners use somewhere around 1.5 to 2 gallons (6 to 8 litres) per hour, less when trolling, more at full throttle. Treat that as a ballpark only.

Why a tiller 25 still makes sense on a bigger boat

Some buyers wonder if they should go remote steering on a 17 foot boat. Our experience: a tiller gives you more floor space, no console to trip over, fewer things to break, and lower rigging cost. You feel the boat better, which matters in current or when backing onto a bank. The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale with power trim takes away the biggest downside of a tiller, which was lifting the motor by hand.

If you mostly carry passengers who want to sit up front and you drive from a seat with a windscreen, a console makes sense. For fishing and work, tiller wins most of the time.

Problems owners call us about

Trim will not move

Check the battery first. The trim motor pulls a lot of current, so a weak battery will crank the engine but not lift the motor. Then check the fuse and connections. If you need to lower the motor without power, there is a manual release valve on the bracket.

Starter clicks

On the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale this is usually the battery again, or a loose or corroded terminal. Make sure the shift is in neutral and the kill cord is attached.

Motor will not start

Open the tank vent, squeeze the bulb hard, and confirm the fuel connector is fully seated. Old fuel is the next suspect.

Poor telltale stream

Clear the hole with a wire. Check the intakes for weed. If still weak, the impeller probably needs replacing.

Boat porpoises

Too much trim out. Trim in a little until the bow settles. This is where the power trim on the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale earns its keep.

Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale compared with nearby models

We keep the full small Suzuki range, so here is how the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale compares:

• Suzuki DF25ATHLW2: identical motor in Cool Test Gray white. Slightly higher price.
• Suzuki DF25ATHL5: the 5 series version of the same layout.
• Suzuki DF25ATL2: remote steering version with power trim, for console boats.
• Suzuki DF20ATHL2: 20 HP twin with the same features. Cheaper, less punch.
• Suzuki DF30ATHL2: same body, 30 HP. If your hull is rated for 30, this is worth a look.

The DF30A and DF25A share the same basic block, so weight is almost the same. If your boat capacity plate allows 30 HP, many customers pay the difference for the extra power. If it says 25, the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale is the most motor you can legally hang on it. See every option in our 25 HP Suzuki category.

Buying the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale from us

We are an outboard dealer selling new engines to buyers around the world. Every Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale we ship is new, never installed, with the serial number recorded on the paperwork.

Step by step

1. Send us the model and your delivery address or port on our contact page.
2. We reply with a delivery quote and expected timing. You pay nothing at this point.
3. You accept and pay for the motor plus freight.
4. We crate, ship and send you tracking and documents.

The motor price is on this page. Freight depends on your location and the method: courier, air freight or sea freight. Import duties and taxes are generally paid by the buyer at destination. We will tell you what we know about them before you commit.

Warranty

The Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale comes with Suzuki’s factory limited warranty. The length depends on the region where the motor is used and on recreational or commercial use. In many markets it is three years for recreational owners. We confirm the terms for your country before you order.

Read our refund and return policy and our terms before buying. We keep them short.

What you get in the box

Exact contents can vary by batch and market, so ask if something specific matters. A Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale normally includes:

• The outboard with tiller, starter and power trim and tilt unit
• Battery cable lead
• Propeller in a standard pitch
• Portable fuel tank and hose, depending on the batch
• Tool kit
• Owner’s manual and warranty papers

A battery is not included with the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale. Buy one locally, it is cheaper and safer than shipping one.

Checklist for the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

• Transom about 20 inches tall.
• Capacity plate allows 25 HP or more.
• You want tiller steering.
• You have room for a 12V battery.
• You know which prop pitch you need, or you will ask us.
• Delivery address or port ready.

FAQ: Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale

Is the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale new?

Yes, brand new in the Suzuki crate. We do not sell used motors as new.

Can I start it if the battery is flat?

Yes, with the emergency recoil rope. The battery-less EFI will run the engine. The power trim needs the battery though.

How heavy is it?

About 74 kg (163 lb) dry. Power trim adds a bit compared with manual tilt models.

Will it fit my 16 foot jon boat?

If the transom is about 20 inches and the capacity plate allows 25 HP, yes. Send us the boat details if unsure.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Every order gets a delivery quote before payment.

Where can I see other Suzuki models?

Browse our Suzuki outboards, the full shop, or Suzuki’s own outboard range.

Ready to order?

Message us with your address and we will price the delivery for the Suzuki DF25ATHL2 for sale. You can read about our shop, check feedback on our reviews page, and find more rigging advice on the blog. The motor is in stock and ready to go.