Honda Pioneer 500 Emergency Gear Change Selection

If something goes wrong with your gear shifting on a Honda Pioneer 500, you can use a tool under the seat to put the machine into a gear that will get you home.

I've scanned two pages from the Honda Pioneer 500 User manual so I can blow it up and keep these instructions handy under the seat.

Here's a picture of the diagram showing where the special tool goes:

You may also want the instructions of the two pages, scanned as PDFs.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oqsYdOm6x1v2w2U1qjOj_afvFW3ptwre
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OAWSQCwhfhGohXAExJjga8oeKAAzhe9J

I haven't been able to find an online PDF from Honda. That's odd, because the dealer gave me links to the shop manual as PDFs.

Transport Canada Plans Major Restrictions on Small UAVs Like the DJI Phantom

Transport Canada is preparing to clamp down hard in 2016 on the use of "drones" by hobbyists and photographers. For example, it will be illegal to use a flying camera after dark or take pictures above 300 feet at any time.

Of course in the era of Internet trolls, this means foes of the hobby will be scanning social media for shots that prove you violated the rules. Police or Transport Canada inspectors can seize your aircraft and logs to prove a case against you.

The visual line-of-sight rule hits those of us in a forest setting where trees often block a clear view of the device even though we can fly safely with first person view.

The DJI Phantom models will fall under the Very Small UAV category which means these rules:

• Devices cannot be flown at night
• Operator must always be in visual line-of-sight of the device (even when under waypoint navigation)
• Maximum altitude 300 feet above ground level
• Must pass a knowledge test concerning air law, airspace, navigation and flight operations
• Owner identification permanently affixed to the UAV
• Cannot fly over people

The Model Aeronautics Association of Canada appears to have powerful friends at Transport Canada leading to proposals for major exemptions for members' model aircraft. Clearly, quadcopters are the main target of the new rules.

If you're concerned about what's going on, read the Notice of Proposed Amendment - Unmanned Air Vehicles (http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/NPA-APM/actr.aspx?id=17&aType=1&lang=eng) and send your comments to carrack@tc.gc.ca by August 28, 2015.

Brands Made by Parsun Outboards

As I've been researching the Chinese-made Parsun 4-stroke outboard motors, I've run across many different brand names for the same product.

This is where I'm collecting pictures of Parsuns by another name. Here's a picture of the Parsun 5 hp like I own. I think that's supposed to be shadow and not smoke at the bottom of the photo:

The first non-Parsun brand is Genovo. This isn't too suprising because I learned that "Genovo Power Pioneer Co.,Ltd. is the shareholder of Parsun Power Machine Co.,Ltd. and is responsible for all the overseas marketing."

The next brand is close to home because the Parsun outboards are sold as APS by Canadian Tire stores:

Coleman is a well-known brand for outdoor equipment such as camping gear. It turns out they've slapped a Coleman label on some Parsun engines and they're being sold in Walmart stores in the U.S.

Some Parsun outboards are sold in Europe under the Jetmarine label. Did you notice that all outboards shown on this page have white propellers?

An Australian company known for its aluminum boats is marketing the Parsun/Genovo outboards under the Vortex brand.

As a reader pointed out, Parsuns use the Golfstream (by Parsun) brand in Russia.

In the USA, Parsun provides MAPI Outboards.

If you have any more Parsun labels - or if you feel the ones I've listed are incorrect - please let me know?

Ken

Fixing a Parsun F5BMS 4-Stroke Outboard Motor

In May 2009, I bought a Parsun model F5BMS 5 hp outboard motor. The motor ran fine for about 7 hours. At 8 hours of use, it began to stall at idle. Not long after that it refused to start.

The motor sat unused in the garage for two years (more on the reasons in another post) until this week (July 2011) when I discovered a technical service bulletin from a Canadian Parsun distributor concerning thes Parsun 5 hp outboard filter:

PROBLEM
Due to engine vibrations, the filter, under the gas tank, can move down in the gasoline tube in some cases. It may reduce the gasoline flow and sometimes it can stop the engine.

It was a very lame engineering mistake. The tiny filter at the bottom of the internal gas tank slips down into the fuel line and blocks the flow of gasoline.

SOLUTION
In order to fix the problem, remove the tube from the tank and push the filter inside the tube.
Then, set the tube in place.

In my case, I just pulled off the fuel line, fished the tiny filter out of the line, and re-attached the hose to the internal tank. There's already an inline filter on the motor, so there's no need to take a chance on the stupid little tank filter leaving me stranded again.

Here's some French text for those searching Google for Parsun en français : Arrêt du moteur hors-bord PARSUN 5hp