Suzuki 9.9 HP DF9.9BTS5 Outboard Motor

Description

The Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale is a new 9.9 HP Suzuki four stroke with a 15 inch short shaft, remote throttle and shift, electric start and power tilt. We sell it new in the factory crate at the price on this page, and we ship it worldwide.

It fills a gap that many buyers find hard to fill. Short transom boats are mostly steered by tiller, so a short shaft motor you can drive from a console is not easy to find. If you have a low transom, a helm and a control box, this is the Suzuki that fits.

This page covers the specifications, the family of 9.9 models side by side, how to rig a remote short shaft motor, the boats it suits, break-in and care. Ask us anything before you order. A good question now is cheaper than a wrong crate later.

Where the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale Sits in the 9.9 Family

Suzuki builds the same 327 cc engine in many forms. What changes is the shaft length, the steering and the cowl colour. The model code tells you which.

If your transom is 15 inches and you steer from a console, the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale is the match. If you steer from the back of the boat, take the tiller version in the same shaft length.

Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale: Full Specifications

Check the plate on the motor you receive, because weights differ a little between sources. The official Suzuki 2.5 to 30 HP outboard page shows the full range for comparison.

Decoding the Letters

DF is the Suzuki four stroke family. 9.9 is the horsepower. B is the fuel injected generation. T is power tilt. S is the 15 inch short shaft. There is no H, so there is no tiller handle, and the motor is a remote model. The 5 is the production series.

Why a Short Shaft Remote Motor Is Uncommon

Short transoms are usually found on small boats, and small boats usually use a tiller. A console on a boat with a 15 inch transom is rarer, but it does exist: small RIB tenders with a centre console, compact fishing skiffs, light aluminium boats with a steering wheel, and some rental boats.

For these, the remote short shaft motor is the only clean solution. Fitting a long shaft engine ruins performance. Bolting a tiller motor to a boat with a wheel makes a mess. The Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale lets you keep the layout and the performance.

Boats That Suit the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale

Small RIBs with a console

Compact rigid inflatables used as tenders or for harbour work. Check the transom rating, as many RIBs limit engine weight.

Light aluminium console boats

Small V hulls of 12 to 14 feet with a steering wheel. A 9.9 gives good performance for two people and gear.

Rental and club boats

Boat hire fleets like remote controls because customers find a wheel easier than a tiller. The electric start and low maintenance suit them too.

Compact fishing skiffs

A narrow skiff with a console and low transom, used in sheltered water, is a natural fit.

Dinghy tenders for yachts

Larger tenders that carry guests ashore from a yacht sometimes have a console. The Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale offers quiet running and easy starting.

How the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale Drives

Fuel injection on the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale gives easy starting and a steady idle. The 2.08:1 gearcase lets a bigger prop turn slowly and push well. On a light hull, the boat comes up on the plane quickly. With more weight aboard, a lower pitch prop makes the difference.

At the helm, the control lever shifts into forward and reverse and sets the throttle. Steering comes from the wheel. Power tilt moves the leg up and down from the switch. A light boat with a short shaft motor feels lively and responsive.

Rigging the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale: The Parts List

• A side-mount control box with throttle and shift lever.
• Throttle and shift cables of the right length.
• A helm and steering cable, or a hydraulic system.
• A key switch and wiring harness.
• A marine battery, box, cables and fuse.
• A fuel tank, hose and filter.
• A suitable propeller.

None of these are in the motor crate. Plan them before you buy. If the boat already carries a remote outboard with a standard cable set, you can often reuse the control box and cables on the new motor, after checking they are in good condition.

Setting the Cables and Steering

Route cables in smooth curves and clip them down. Set neutral on the control box and the motor, then fix the shift cable. Check forward and reverse. Set the throttle cable so idle is steady and full throttle is reached at the end of the lever travel.

For steering, a cable system connects the helm to the motor’s tilt tube. Check that the cable end is free to swing, that the nut is locked and that the wheel turns lock to lock without binding.

Height on the Transom

A 15 inch shaft needs a transom of about 15 inches. Measure from the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull at the centreline. If you have 16 or 17 inches, you can sometimes get away with a short shaft, but check that the anti-ventilation plate sits level with the hull bottom. If it sits above the hull bottom, the propeller will ventilate in turns.

Adjust the motor height by moving the clamp, or by using a transom plate designed for that purpose. Make small changes and test after each.

Converting a Tiller Boat to Console Steering

Some customers buy the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale because they want to turn a tiller boat into a wheel boat. It can be done on a small hull, but think it through first. You need space for a console or a seat with a wheel, a place for the control box, a route for cables from the helm to the transom, and a floor strong enough to hold a driver in a new position.

Weight distribution changes. The driver moves forward, which helps trim on a light boat and cuts stern squat. On a very small hull it may be too much weight forward, so test with ballast before you cut the floor. Keep the first layout temporary, run the boat, then fix the console in place.

Cable routing is the usual problem. Cables need smooth bends. If you must pass under a deck or through a bulkhead, use a grommet and a sleeve so the cable does not chafe. Keep the cables away from the fuel line and the battery cable.

Choosing Controls for the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale

The standard match is a side-mount single lever control box. It combines gear shift and throttle in one lever. Push forward to engage forward, further to add throttle. Pull back through neutral into reverse. A neutral throttle button, usually on the box, lets you warm the engine without engaging a gear.

Top mount boxes also exist, for boats where the control sits on a console top. Check whether the box fits your console, and check cable length again. Buy a quality control box. Cheap boxes wear out, stick and cause problems that look like engine faults.

Some boxes include the key switch, the kill switch and the tilt switch. That simplifies wiring and reduces holes in the console. Check that the box you choose works with the motor’s harness plug, and ask us if you are unsure.

Steering Feel on a Light Boat

A small boat with a short shaft motor can feel twitchy at speed. The motor is light and the hull is light, so small wheel movements change course quickly. Take the first runs gently, and learn how much wheel the boat needs.

If steering feels heavy, check that the cable is clean and lubricated, that the cable end is not binding on the tilt tube and that the wheel mount is solid. If it feels loose, look for play at the cable ends. A stiff cable can have a kink somewhere along its length.

Torque from the propeller pulls slightly to one side. It is normal with a small outboard. If it bothers you, adjust the trim tab on the gearcase, a small fin that corrects steering pull. Make small changes and test each time.

Who Buys the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale From Us

Our buyers are mostly small boat owners with a low transom and a wheel. Some run rental fleets. Some are tender owners. A few are builders making compact RIBs with a console. Some are simply replacing an older short shaft remote 9.9 whose carburettor has given up.

Their feedback is much the same. It starts easily, it is quiet, and the power tilt makes shallow water work easier. When there were complaints, they were about cables and steering, not about the engine, which is why we spend so much time on rigging on this page.

Electric Start and Battery

Press the key and the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale starts. A 12 volt marine battery is required, since the motor has no battery of its own. The pull cord is still fitted for an emergency.

On a small boat, secure the battery in a box with a strap, away from fuel and away from spray. Fit a battery switch if you run other electrical gear, so you can isolate the starting circuit.

Charging System

The 12 amp alternator keeps the battery topped up on a day’s run. For a boat with a sounder, lights and a bilge pump it is fine. For a boat that adds a large chartplotter and other loads, monitor the battery voltage.

Propeller Choice

You want the engine to reach 5,000 to 6,000 rpm at full throttle with your usual load. If it over revs, use more pitch. If it cannot reach the range, use less. A boat with a lot of weight in the stern needs a lower pitch than a light boat with one person.

The Suzuki genuine parts and accessories range lists propellers. Aluminium is common, cheap and easy to replace after a knock. Send us your boat details and we will suggest a starting prop for the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale.

Breaking In the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale

Follow the owner’s manual. Vary the revs, avoid long full throttle runs at first and change the oil at the first service interval. Check cable adjustment and steering tension after the first few trips.

Maintenance

• Flush with fresh water after each use.
• Change oil and filter at the first service, then yearly.
• Change gear oil every season and check for water.
• Replace the impeller every two or three seasons.
• Check and replace the anode when half gone.
• Replace plugs and fuel filter per the manual.
• Lubricate cables and the steering system.

Fuel and Running Costs

Fuel burn depends on the boat, the load and the throttle. We do not print made-up numbers. The Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale runs on ordinary unleaded fuel, needs no oil mixing and uses Lean Burn control to match fuel to load.

Buying Questions About the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale

Is 15 inches really the right shaft for my boat?

Measure it. From the top of the transom to the bottom of the hull at the centreline. If you are within an inch of 15, the short shaft is right. If you are at 20, buy the Suzuki DF9.9BTL5.

Do I need a power tilt motor on a small boat?

It is not essential, but most buyers who try it do not want to go back. On a 118 lb motor, the switch saves your back.

Can I use a tiller on this model?

No. For a tiller short shaft, order the Suzuki DF9.9BTHS5 instead.

What does the manual start do on an electric start motor?

The pull cord is a back-up. If the battery goes flat, you can start the engine by hand.

Handling and Carrying

At about 118 lb, the motor needs two people to lift. Use a hoist or ramp where possible. Lift by the handle and the midsection, never by the cowl. Keep it upright or as the manual allows, to stop oil running where it should not. Strap it down on a trailer or in a vehicle, and do not let it lean or roll.

Lock the motor to the transom when the boat is left at a mooring. A clamp lock costs far less than the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale.

Trim, Tilt Pin and Shallow Water Settings

The motor has several tilt pin positions that set the angle of the leg against the transom, plus power tilt for raising it clear. On a short shaft boat, the right angle matters. If the leg tilts too far out, the bow lifts and the prop may ventilate. If it sits too far in, the bow plows and the boat feels heavy.

Start with the leg vertical when the boat is at rest, then adjust the pin one hole at a time while you test on the water. Look for a level ride with the propeller biting cleanly in turns. Move one hole only, run again, and note the result. The Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale responds well to small changes, and a good setting is worth a few minutes.

In shallow water, raise the leg partway with the power tilt, or use the shallow water drive setting where it is fitted, so the propeller clears the bottom. Run slowly and keep your eyes on the water ahead. Sand and weed do far more damage to a lower unit than most people expect.

Break Down of a Typical Day Out

To make the setup concrete, here is how a normal day goes with the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale on a small console boat. You check oil, fuel and battery on the dock. You lower the leg, squeeze the bulb and turn the key. The engine fires and settles. You check the water stream, let it warm for a minute, and slip the lever into gear.

You run to your spot, easing the throttle as you enter shallow water, and use the power tilt to lift the leg when you beach or anchor. At the end of the day, you flush the motor with fresh water, wipe the cowl, tilt the leg and cover it. That is all there is to it. The simple routine is a large part of why customers keep coming back to us for more Suzuki motors.

Storage and Winter Care

Flush the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale, change the oil, treat the fuel and store it upright. Tilt it up when moored. Put the battery on a maintainer. Keep the control box and cable ends dry.

Common Faults

No crank. Check the key switch, the battery and neutral.

Will not shift. Check the cable ends and adjustment.

Prop ventilates. Lower the motor a little or check the trim.

Weak water stream. Clear the outlet and check the impeller.

Shipping the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale

The motor ships in its factory crate. We quote delivery to your port, airport or door before you pay, and we send tracking and export paperwork when it leaves. If you have a freight forwarder, we can hand the crate to them. We deliver worldwide.

Warranty

Suzuki provides a factory warranty. The term depends on your region and on leisure or commercial use. Keep your receipt and service records, and ask us about warranty in your country first.

Buying the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale From Us

Every motor we sell is new, and the price of the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale is shown on this page. We confirm the exact model code and shaft length with you before dispatch. Read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions, see what buyers say on the reviews page, learn about us or order through the contact page.

More Suzuki Models

• All 9.9 HP Suzuki outboards
• Suzuki DF9.9BS5, 15 inch pull start
• Suzuki DF9.9BES5, 15 inch electric start
• Suzuki DF15AES5, 15 HP short shaft
• Suzuki DF6AS5, 6 HP short shaft
• All Suzuki outboards
• The full shop

Our blog has more outboard guides. Suzuki’s global site, globalsuzuki.com, shows the worldwide range.

FAQ: Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale

Is the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale new?

Yes. New, unused and in the factory crate.

Is the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale a tiller motor?

No. It is a remote model, driven from a wheel and a control box.

What transom height suits the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale?

About 15 inches.

Does the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale have power tilt?

Yes. The T in the code means power tilt.

Will the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale ship to my country?

We ship worldwide and quote delivery before you pay.

Final Word

For a low transom boat with a wheel and a control box, the Suzuki DF9.9BTS5 for sale is the right small Suzuki. New, priced on this page and shipped worldwide. Order it now, or send us your boat details first and we will confirm the fit.