Clutch dog days of summer

[bama0766]

I posted a question yesterday, thanks for the help Rwise, and haven't had time to check on the suggestion I was given. Just working on a sensible direction for continuing. I recently acquired a 61 Evinrude, 18 hp motor (swapped my old Johnson with my Dad, he couldn't pull the rope hard enough to start the evinrude anymore and I hate to see anyone not fishing!) He replaced the clutch dog in the motor and it has only had a few trips since. It pushed my old flatbottom as well as my 25 did for the first 3 trips, but on the 4th trip something got all screwy. It will push good until about 1/4 throttle and then just spins and runs up the rpms. I spoke to my dad and that was what it had done and why he had replaced the clutch dog. I took the foot apart and couldn't see that there was any wear on the dog but it is identical on both sides and I went ahead and flipped it over. It didn't help either. My fishing partner thought maybe the bushing in the prop was bad, so I bought another prop for it. Stupid man trick, took it to the Tennessee River camping to try it out. Spent the whole weekend using the trolling motor within sight of my campsite because it still does the same thing. Any thoughts on what would make it do this? 2 things of note, it doesn't kick out of gear, it just disengages. It stays in forward and will catch when you get back to about 1/4 throttle. 2nd, the clutch dog he put in came from a machine shop rather than a Evinrude parts dealer and I wonder if that could be the problem? I have just spent way too much time trying to get this thing running and way too little on the water and I am in serious need of a "fishing fix"

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

When the clutch dog jumps, it's usually unmistakeable. It's not like it slips (you've seen it so you know what I mean), but when it jumps it momentarily disengages and re-engages. Feels a lot like striking a log a speed with the engine banging away on the transom.<br /><br />Did you get a brand new prop for this, or is it possible you've replaced one spun prop for another? A simple test is to mark the hub against the outer, blade part and see if the marks line up after taking it for a spin. Is it possible you're cavitating/ventilating? Any think sticking down from the hull forward of the propeller? Did it ever work on that hull? Have you got the tilt pin set correctly?<br /><br />There arn't really any parts of the driveline that can slip smoothly. One possibility is the crankshaft/driveshaft splines have stripped out, but I don't think you would get 1/4 throttle with them long in that condition.

 

[BF]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

Just a thought...<br /><br />What about the drive pin running through the prop shaft and the prop? (not the cotter pin holding the cone on the back). Are you using a proper drive pin? When I bought my '70 25 hp, about 1/4" of the pin was broken off, and it was just barely long enough to keep the prop from spining freely. The spare prop I got with the motor had marks where it had been spun around a sheared drive pin. If you don't already, you should have spares in the boat. I pushed a couple spares into holes in a rubber stopper, and then zip-tied it to the side of the motor under the cowling.<br /><br />Is it possible you missed putting the drive pin in, and just have the prop held on by the friction of the cone/nut on the back?

 

[bama0766]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

Paul, <br />It is a reconditioned prop, which I can only assume means that it has had the bushing in it replaced. It is on the same boat that it has been on every time I have taken it out. I can actually run it in a barrell and it will do the same thing. I am going to mark the prop this evening and hope that is what it is. I appreciate your time and thoughts. I am going to be pretty sore at the dealer I bought the prop from if that is all it is, but it sure would be a relief.<br /><br />BF, <br />Thank you for your response. I keep 2 extra pins in the boat and 1 in my tacklebox. I actually was stranded the first time I had a motor shear a pin because I had no idea it had one. That was a once in a lifetime mistake ( I hope

 

[BF]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

well, I had to ask... thought maybe you were used to them newfangled OB's with their through the hub exhaust, splined prop shafts, and all that fancy nonsense <br /><br />BTW, I like your subject title... made me chuckle (and then read)<br /><br />Oh, 1 more thing... when I was talking to my regular prop repair guy about these old style props, he said that he doesn't like trying to fix a slipping hub in them 'cause the fix often doesn't hold well... so it could be that re-conditioned means the blades have been repaired, but maybe as Paul says, the hub/prop is still bad.

 

[bama0766]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

You guys rock! I have been worrying myself to death trying to figure this thing out. I know less about outboards than I do about brain surgery, and I work for a trucking company if that gives you an idea how much that might be. I will mark the prop and try that this evening and hope to be celebrating, at least, discovery of my problem. I plan to be on the lake again this weekend and I sure would like to be able to fish more than a couple of hundred yards of shoreline!

 

[rwise]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

what say you bama?

 

[bama0766]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

Good morning rwise. You were absolutely right. I am ordering another prop and am sure that the third time is a charm! I guess I am going to find someone out here who can replace the bushing in the other two and press them. I just couldn't imagine having 2 bad props. I certainly appreciate your help!

 

[rwise]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

at least you know what the problem is. I picked up a prop for mine at a flee market for $12.00 used in unknown condition. about 2 weeks later I had to use it, saved the day!<br />I think I would take the prop you bought back and tell the you want it replaced and see what they say.<br />must be time to go fishin' now!!!

 

[bama0766]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

I am headed back up to Lake Guntersville (on the Tennessee River) for the weekend. I suppose I will just chalk the other prop up as a loss. It is a long drive to replace it and it was only $30. I just hope I can get someone to replace that bushing and have a spare. I was actually figuring on ordering a prop from here, but there are so many choices with different blade pitch and I have no idea what would work best. I am not sure it would make a difference, but I hate to assume anything anymore! My fishing partner called me when he got home last night and told me he found an outboard at the landfill. He brought it home and we are going to play around with it a little this evening. The only thing we know so far is that it is an 85 model and is a good bit smaller than my 18. I think it is an Evinrude, but not sure yet. It had an electric start on it, that is all that was missing (and the cowling) He was thinking parts, but I want to play with it a little and see what we can come up with. If you ever need an inexpensive small motor, I know of the best place in the world for that, too. There is a little sporting goods place out here that has between 300 and 400 small motors and I had actually talked to him about the 18 I have. He offered to sell me its twin brother with an electric start for $300. He said his 25's are around $400 and he sends them out to be serviced when he gets them in. He is good for hard to find parts and that is how I found him. (carb for my 7.5 Elgin)

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

Sheesh! Outboards at the landfill. What a deal. Lots of people trash outboards just because they can't get 'em to run. It's always worth a little work to see what's really wrong with them.<br /><br />I never seem to find these trashed outboards, though. Maybe I should visit the landfill more often, eh?

 

[bama0766]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

He works for the County Waste Water Treatment Plant and they are on the same piece of land. He looks everytime he goes near there and you would be amazed at all of the crap he takes home with him. I guess they are right when they say "one man's trash..."

 

[rwise]

Re: Clutch dog days of summer

I know someone who goes to the landfill, found a complete set of sterling silver in the box and nothing missing! Found purses with money in them etc. if it's not worth fixing ebay the good parts!