Clutch slipping or prop spun?

[jbetzelb]

Ran into an issue on labor day weekend where i got engine rpm going up and the boat slowing down. It only happened trice. Both times this occured after I had gone through a sea weed area. My boat is a 1989 Reinell with a 4.3 and OMC outdrive. I cant see any sign that the prop is starting to spin the hub but the prop has been on there, untouched for a long time. Boat was flawless the rest of Labor day weekend. It for sure had something slipping in the drive line twice. Maybe 500 rpm on the tac but I backed of the throttle pretty fast both times it did it.
Are there clutches in the cobra outdrive in 1989?

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Clutch slipping or prop spun?

Usually when a prop hub starts spinning they dont get better. When the clutch dog starts slipping you will feel a very solid thud. A very similar feeling to hitting something under water. My guess is that you had weed wrapped around the prop.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Clutch slipping or prop spun?

I experience my engine revving and boat slowing down several times per outing. All boats in our lake system frequently stop, reverse to clear the weeds, then off they go again.
Cavitation is normal when your prop is balled up with weeds.
We have millfoil so thick it's like boating in a forest this time of year.


Those little outboards with no reverse are not even used here. You can't clear the weeds.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Clutch slipping or prop spun?

Cool, sounds like the weeds. It is always easy to think the worst.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Clutch slipping or prop spun?

A clutch dog,nothing inside that will"slip".
If your prop is been on there a while??
You might want to take it off and re-grease.
It will eventually NOT come off??