Mercury seems to be slipping

[kegger]

Hello all, <br /><br />new to board, probably have stupid questions.<br /><br />I have a 79 50hp Merc 4cly outboard.<br />when it gets up to speed it seems to start slipping and jumping a little bit. I have it on an old 28' pontoon boat with a homemade mount.<br /><br />would this problem be the motor or gears, or maybe the homemade mounting? <br /><br />How far does the motor need to be in the water to start with?<br /><br />Told you, stupid questions

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Mercury seems to be slipping

when you are up on plane, the water level should be just at or slightly below the cavitation plate. If this is OK, you might want to try another prop (maybe the hub is slipping on the prop)

 

[gto]

Re: Mercury seems to be slipping

I just spent 150.00 on a little 10hp seahorse. first time I ran it down the river i though it was great. When I started back every time I would gas it pretty hard it would start slipping. It turned out to be the prop slipping in hub and another 70.00 bucks. Put your motor in gear (fix it where it want accidently start) and try to turn prop with your hands, strain just a little if nessary if prop turns with out turning motor prop is the trouble.