Honda bf45 grinding when reverse engaged .save me!!!!!

[Krill OG]

Hi all, fresh fish here. Recently bought a hourston glasscraft 16 with a mid-late 90s honda bf45 4stroke. Thing runs amazing but when shifted into reverse I'm hearing a sort of clacking/grinding noise. The gear is engaging and the boat will move but the noise worries me. If I put the muffs on and shift into reverse out of the water it shifts perfectly fine and there is no grinding sound whatsoever. Seems like the gear isn't fully engaging when in the water... Wondering if it could be as simple as a cable adjustment or if its a deeper problem in the gear case/lower unit. Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks
Scratch, aka. The krill OG

 

[woodsailboat]

Re: Honda bf45 grinding when reverse engaged .save me!!!!!

Try adjusting the linkage or drain a little of the lower unit oil and check for metal shavings. Good luck