Every Suzuki owner's manual gives the same two transport rules: drain the motor before you lay it down, and never let the lower unit sit higher than the power head. For trailering, keep the motor in its normal operating position unless there is not enough ground clearance; if you must tilt it, support its weight with a transom saver bar or similar device, and never hold it up on the tilt lock. What changes by family is which side you lay it on, what you drain (fuel on the portables; fuel, engine oil and cooling water from the DF40A up) and what the tilt lock is called. This page collects what each manual prints; where a manual says nothing, the table says so. Storage follows the same rule, so our storage guide ends where this one begins: upright, drained and dry.
The two rules every manual repeats
Rule one: every manual warns to drain the fuel from the fuel line and carburetor (or fuel vapor separator on the injected models) before transporting the boat or outboard and before removing the motor from the boat, and never to lay the motor on its side without draining fuel. The portable manuals add: do not place the engine on its side before the cooling water has drained from it completely, as water may enter the cylinder through the exhaust port. From the DF40A up, engine oil joins the list: always drain the engine oil and cooling water completely before laying the motor on its side, or oil may enter the cylinder from the sump, water may enter through the exhaust port, or the outer casings may be damaged.
Rule two: never let the lower unit sit higher than the power head when transporting or storing your outboard, because water may trickle into the power head and damage the engine. The portable manuals also print drawings headed "do not rest the engine in any of the positions shown below"; look at them before you load the motor.
Carrying a portable: DF2.5 to DF30A
Removal has the same shape on every tiller-handle portable: make sure the engine has stopped completely, shut off or disconnect the fuel, drain the fuel from the engine, remove the mounting bolts (DF4A and up) and loosen the clamp screws, lift the motor off the transom, stand it vertically and drain the water from the lower unit, then carry it by the handhold in the table. The fuel step differs:
- DF2.5 and DF4A/DF6A (built-in tank): fuel cock lever to the right, tank cap and air-vent screw tightened, then loosen the carburetor drain screw under the motor cover and drain the gasoline into a suitable container. DF4A/DF6A: fuel hose off first if fitted, connector plug cap on the fuel connector.
- DF8A/DF9.9A: fuel hose off. The carburetor drain screw is behind the starboard engine side cover, which comes off with a screw and fastener, its rubber, six bolts and one more screw.
- DF9.9B/DF15A/DF20A: fuel hose and motor cover off; pull the drain hose end out of the steering tension adjuster (remote model: the drain hose holder); drain the fuel vapor separator at its drain screw with the motor tilted fully down, then again tilted fully up; retighten and put the hose back.
- DF25A/DF30A: fuel hose and motor cover off; seven bolts (8 mm box wrench) and the starboard side cover off; tilt fully down and drain the vapor separator at its drain screw.
For the remote-control versions of these families the manual stops there: if it is necessary to remove the outboard motor from your boat, Suzuki recommends asking your authorized Suzuki Marine Dealer to do the work. That sentence is the entire MOTOR REMOVAL section of the DF40A/50A/60A manual, and the larger manuals in our set print no owner removal procedure either. Refitting is covered in our mounting guide.
| Family (manual) | Carry it by | Vertical transport | Horizontal transport | Trailering section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF2.5 (2019) | The lower cover handle | Raise the tiller handle; clamp bracket secured to the carrier with two clamp screws | Port side down on a case protector, tiller handle raised | None. The only trailering line: never use the tilt up lock arm to hold the motor fully tilted when trailering |
| DF4A/DF6A (2020–2024) | The hand grip and rear handle in the engine lower cover | Incline the handle backward; two clamp screws | Port, starboard or front side down on a case protector, tiller inclined backward | Yes: normal operating position unless ground clearance forces a tilt; transom saver bar |
| DF8A/DF9.9A (2014) | The steering bracket and engine side cover | Two clamp screws | Port side down on a case protector, tiller raised if equipped | Yes, same wording |
| DF9.9B/DF15A/DF20A (2020) | The steering bracket and engine side cover | Two clamp screws | Drain the engine fuel line first; port side down on a case protector, tiller raised | Yes, same wording; tilt up lock arm or knob |
| DF25A/DF30A (2019 model year) | The tiller handle bracket and engine side cover | Two clamp screws | Drain the engine fuel line first; port side down on a case protector, tiller raised | Yes, same wording; tilt up lock arm or tilt lock lever |
In a car or truck bed
The manual lists vertical first: clamp the motor to a carrier that holds it upright, and never use the display stand for transportation. If it has to lie down, lay it on the side the table gives, on a case protector where the manual's drawing shows it, tiller raised or inclined backward, and only after the fuel and cooling water are out. The DF2.5 label puts it bluntly: fuel can leak, creating a fire hazard, if you tilt the motor with a loosened air vent screw or lay the motor on its side. The cap label on the built-in tanks and on the Suzuki portable tank reads: VENT SCREW should be CLOSED for transportation and OPEN for OPERATION and CAP REMOVAL. On a built-in tank, lower the motor back down to the normal position before opening the air vent screw again. Vertical is also the freezing-weather position: when the motor is stored out of the water in freezing temperatures, stand it up in the vertical position so that the cooling system drains completely.
Transporting a mid-range or large motor: DF40A to DF350A
Vertical transport is the same for all of them: attach the motor to the carrier by securing the clamp bracket with two sets of transom bolt and nut, and never use the display stand. Horizontal transport is three steps in every manual: drain the engine oil (quantities on our oil capacity chart), drain the gasoline from the vapor separator, then rest the motor on a case protector with the stated side downwards. The side and the route to the drain are what differ.
| Family (manual) | Side down | Reaching the vapor separator drain | Family-specific notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DF40A/DF50A/DF60A (2022–2024) | Starboard | Steer fully to starboard, pull the drain hose end out, loosen the drain screw; retighten, replace the hose | Motor removal: dealer recommended |
| DF75/DF90A (2023) | Port | Remove the motor cover, side cover rubber and side cover; pull the drain hose end out, loosen the drain screw | None printed |
| DF100A/DF115A/DF140A (2016) | Starboard | Seven bolts, 8 mm box wrench, starboard side cover off; drain hose out, loosen the drain screw | Horizontal transport may damage the matte finish paint |
| DF115B/DF115BS/DF140B (2023); DF115BG/DF140BG (2022–2023) | Port | Eight bolts, 8 mm box wrench, starboard side cover off; drain hose out, loosen the drain screw | DF115B/140B manual: for matte finish paint models, no horizontal transportation is recommended |
| DF150A/DF175A/DF200A (2020; 2023–2024) | Port | Remove the motor cover; loosen the drain screw | For matte finish paint models, no horizontal transportation is recommended |
| DF225/DF250 (2022 model year) | Port | Remove the motor cover; drain hose out, loosen the drain screw; retighten, replace the hose | If the motor contacts the motor well while tilting, adjust the tilt limiter cam |
| DF250AP/DF300AP (2022 model year) | Port | Remove the motor cover; loosen the drain screw; retighten | None printed |
| DF300B/DF350A (2023 model year) | Port | Remove the motor cover, tilt fully up, drain hose out, loosen the drain screw; retighten, tilt down, replace the hose | Integrated steering model: a Suzuki steering stopper is required for trailering |
The side flips between manuals of the same horsepower: the 2016 DF100A/115A/140A manual says starboard, the 2023 DF115B/140B manual says port. Use the manual for your model and year.
Trailering with the motor on the transom
The TRAILERING section reads the same from the DF4A/DF6A to the DF300B/DF350A: keep the motor in the normal operating position unless there is not enough ground clearance; if you need more, trailer the motor in a tilted position using a transom saver bar or similar device to support the weight of the motor. The reason for not trusting the lock: towing motion or poor road surfaces may cause unexpected tilt lock release, resulting in damage to the motor and the tilt lock mechanism. The DF2.5 manual has no TRAILERING section; its one line, in the tilt-up lock arm section, is never to use the tilt up lock arm to hold the motor fully tilted when trailering, because the arm could release. Whether to tilt a DF2.5 for clearance, and how to support it, is not stated in the manual we have.
What "the tilt lock" is on your motor
- Tilt up lock arm: DF2.5, DF4A/DF6A, DF8A/DF9.9A, the manual-tilt DF9.9B/15A/20A and the DF25A/DF25AR.
- Tilt up lock knob: the power-tilt DF9.9BT/BTH, DF15ATH and DF20AT/ATH. It relieves pressure from the power tilt and should only be used when the boat is stationary; do not use it when trailering.
- Tilt lock lever: DF25AT/ATH and DF30AT/ATH, DF40A/50A/60A, DF75/DF90A, DF115B/DF140B, DF115BG/DF140BG, the DF150A/175A/200A in its 2023–2024 manual, DF225/DF250, DF250AP/DF300AP and DF300B/DF350A. The DF25A/30A, DF40A–60A and DF115B/140B manuals add the same stationary-only wording.
- Tilt lever: the 2016 DF100A/115A/140A and 2020 DF150A/175A/200A manuals, with the same instruction: do not use the tilt lever when trailering your boat and motor.
To lower a power-tilt motor onto a transom saver with no battery connected, turn the manual release screw two turns counterclockwise, move the motor to the desired position, then retighten the release screw (DF9.9B power-tilt, DF25A/30A PTT, DF75/DF90A, DF115B/DF140B, DF150A/175A/200A, DF225/DF250); the DF40A/50A/60A manual says four turns. Make sure your grip and footing are secure and that you can support the weight of the engine. The DF225/DF250 manual also asks you to make sure the tilt pin is securely installed in the proper position, and the DF300B/DF350A manual refers integrated-steering owners to the Steering Stopper Operation Manual supplied with it. How the tilt systems work on the water is on our tilt, trim and shallow water drive page.
After the trip
- Tilt pin. On the manual-tilt portables, if you operate the motor with the tilt pin removed you may not be able to control steering as expected; check it before the first run.
- Tank vent and pressure. Open the vent screw for operation. Before connecting the fuel hose to a portable tank, loosen and retighten the tank cap once to relieve the fuel pressure.
- Engine oil. If you drained it for horizontal transport (DF40A and up), refill it before starting.
- Cooling water. As soon as the engine starts, water should spray out of the pilot water hole, indicating that the water pump and cooling system are working properly. Never run the motor when there is no water coming out of the pilot water hole, or severe damage can result.
Parts for this job
Suzuki motors up to 30 hp are in our Suzuki outboards collection. A fitted cover from our Suzuki engine covers keeps road grit off the cowling in a truck bed, ECSTAR water resistant EP2 grease is for clamp screws and tilt pivots after salt water, and tilt pins, lock arms, release levers and PTT parts are in the trim and tilt parts collection. Boat Max Online is an authorized Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha dealer; orders over $149 ship free to the lower 48, and motors ship free.
Sources: Suzuki owner's manuals for DF2.5 (2019), DF4A/6A (2020–2024, 99011-97L60-03B), DF8A/9.9A (2014), DF9.9B/15A/20A (2020), DF25A/30A (2019 model year), DF40A/50A/60A (2022–2024), DF75/90A (2023), DF100A/115A/140A (2016, 99011-90J70-03B), DF115B/140B (2023), DF115BG/140BG (2022–2023), DF150A/175A/200A (2020 and 2023–2024), DF225/250, DF250AP/300AP (2022 model year) and DF300B/350A (2023 model year). Figures are Suzuki's published values; confirm against the manual for your model year and serial number.