Honda BF50 prop slipping?

[viaregia]

Hi, new to board. My 2000 BF 50 recently developed the following: At higher rpms the prop seems to spin, i.e. the motor revs but boat stops moving and there is a clicking noise (higher pitch than motor running). If I lower the rpms below 3000 I am able to move forward, but now the noise is appearing even at 3000 rpm and thrust is lost intermittantly, forcing me to run motor even slower. I rotated the prop by hand with motor off and in gear. In forward gear the prop turns clockwise easily with a clicking noise. It cannot be turned counter-clockwise. In reverse gear it is not possible to hand turn the prop in either direction. Since reverse seems fine, I am assuming that the clockwise rotation while in forward gear is related to the problem. Any ideas on what is wrong and how to proceed with repair? TIA<br /><br />Jack

 

[Navigator]

Re: Honda BF50 prop slipping?

Sailor Jack,<br />Welcome to the forum!<br /><br />It sounds like you have spun the hub inside the prop. What this means is that at high speed, the rubber bushing binding the prop to the prop shaft has torn free and is spinning. Symptoms of a spun hub are normal accelleration up until mid RPM, then the rpm climb and the boat doesn't go any faster. Most marine shops can re-hub your prop. They will press in a new hub bushing for about 35 dollars.<br /><br />The clicking you hear is normal. The gear case is ratched to let the prop spin free when you rapidly decellerate.<br /><br />Nav