Lost prop power on 5.5 Ted Williams. Any ideas what may be wrong?

[OutboardNewbie313]

I took my 5.5hp Ted Williams to Fletcher's Floodwaters in Michigan this last weekend. This was the first real test for this motor that I bought for 80 bucks. This motor ran great until I hit a stump and broke the shear pin. After replacing the shear pin I was back up and running, no problem. Later that evening I was running at 3/4 throttle and all of a sudden I lost most of the power to the prop. I assumed it was the shear pin again but after getting the motor home and seeing the pin was still intact I'm now stumped on what the problem could be. When I pull the cord to start the motor the prop still spins like everything is fine but when the motor is running there seems to be a lack of torque to the prop.

Any insight into this issue would be a plus. Thanks in advance for your time and your responses.

 

[F_R]

Re: Lost prop power on 5.5 Ted Williams. Any ideas what may be wrong?

I don't know about the Ted Williams, but almost all other motors have some sort of a rubber shock hub in the propeller. The rubber often comes loose and the hub spins inside without turning the prop. Check it out.

 

[The-Machinist]

Re: Lost prop power on 5.5 Ted Williams. Any ideas what may be wrong?

That should be a solid aluminum prop with no hub. I would drain the grease from the lower unit and look for metal, But I would be willing to guess that it is most likely a problem with fuel or spark that is causing the "lost power".
One question: Was the engine revving but you were not being pushed?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Lost prop power on 5.5 Ted Williams. Any ideas what may be wrong?

Please post the model number of your Sears outboard. If this is one that has a neutral and a forward shifter, then you may have blown up its clutch. With the model number, you can look at a parts explosion over at the Sears parts site.

 

[OutboardNewbie313]

Re: Lost prop power on 5.5 Ted Williams. Any ideas what may be wrong?

The engine was running fine I just have very little power to the prop. This motor does not have a clutch or reverse speed. As soon as the motor starts, your in drive and moving. It has a slide throttle on the front to control the speed. When the motor is turned up it still revs up like everything is fine but there is a lack of power to the prop. My gear oil was fine and there were absolutely no metal shavings in the lower gear housing.

I'm gonna check out the rubber shock hub today. Hopefully this is the problem.

Thanks for the help. I'll keep you posted on what the problem is, if I can figure it out.

 

[OutboardNewbie313]

Re: Lost prop power on 5.5 Ted Williams. Any ideas what may be wrong?

Well I think I may have figured it out. There is another pin similar to the shear pin that holds the actual gear onto the prop shaft. It was broke!! I ordered another one from Sears and I'm hoping that this is the fix for my problem. I'll keep everyone posted as to if the repair goes good.