In Mexico need help honda 15 trans problem

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dabfd

New member
We are in Mexico the 15 hp honda on our sailboat will not engage the tran. Motor is running fine it acts like a shear pin but this motor does not have one. Getting ready to pull lower unit. No shops in Loreto. No parts either. Is there an easy fix once we pull it. Linkage is working. With engine off when we put it in gear forward or reverse the prop spins. It does appear the prop may have hit something.
 
dabfd":3dzvbjj5 said:
We are in Mexico the 15 hp honda on our sailboat will not engage the tran. Motor is running fine it acts like a shear pin but this motor does not have one. Getting ready to pull lower unit. No shops in Loreto. No parts either. Is there an easy fix once we pull it. Linkage is working. With engine off when we put it in gear forward or reverse the prop spins. It does appear the prop may have hit something.
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It sounds like you have a spun prop, where the propeller is loose on the rubber hub.
 
Your only choice if you can't replace the prop would be to drill a hole through the outer part of the prop hub. Then using a screw, screw into the rubber shock material between the inner and outer metal hub. You may even have to go a little bit into the inner hub. Use a fairly large screw as it will be taking the torsional load transmitted to the outer hub into the inner hub that is over the shaft spline. I'd probably try to use a screw as large as a quarter inch. You are creating a big shear pin that only goes into one side of the prop outer and inner hub. If that one job goes well, you could put another opposite the one you just put in for extra strength. Tilt up and check the thing frequently during your run to make sure the screw stays tight. So, this is a temporary job at best to get you to where you can get a prop. Keep the RPM's low as possible to give you reasonable forward speed. Take more screws with you as they may need to be replaced before you get to a better destination.
 
No rubber hub surprises me. I need to go out to my tin boat and check the prop on my 15.

Since the shaft spins freely with the engine in either gear, I wonder if the linkage could have become disconnected in the leg...
 
I just checked with a friend who is a former Honda dealer - he said to check the clutch springs. If I am understanding your situation correctly that the shaft spins when in gear, a clutch situation sounds logical. Apparently, the length of the spring is critical, and there have been some springs shipped that were a very minute shorter length and caused some issues.

Hope that helps.

If you can't get parts there, check Boats.net - I understand they do ship internationally.

Jim B.
 
I agree, pull the lower unit, and double check the linkage manually--I suspect that that is the issue. Of course Jim's suggestion is also likely--but that may be much harder to fix and get the parts for.
 
We did some further trouble shooting yesterday. We are sailing a Corse Air 31. It will perform at lower rpm and when we throttle up it starts slipping and making noise. The clutch issue is most likely the problem. We have the workshop manual and have viewed the clutch mechanism. Thanks for the assistance guys. At this point we plan on taking the lower end off and return to CA to have it repaired. It caused us to miss some really nice days at the islands. The sea of Cortez has been great. Yellow tail fishing has been super. Have not seen any C-dory's down here.
 
Just curious. What Honda outboard has a clutch with springs? Looking at my 9.9 Honda and the 150 Honda, neither has a clutch. The shifting is done by moving a set of dogs on a slider to engage either the forward or reverse bevel gears. There is a shift spring, which appears to preload the dog clutch and shift rods, but that doesnt have any load going through it. So where are the plates and spring stack? If the shift shaft is screwed, it might not be pushing that dog clutch correctly. And if I'm wrong I'm willing to learn. Here's an exploded view of the output shaft. The clutch shifter is a dog clutch.

I would also be surprised if that propeller didn't have a rubber cush. I can't see any in the 150 prop, but I sure spun it. Same on an Evenrude I had.

I always thought the way to check if you have a spun prop is to watch the drive shaft and see if it spins forward/reverse when one shifts the motor. On our 150, yes it will drive the boat slowly, but if the rubber cush is gone, you're not going any faster.

Boris
 
If you can borrow a propeller you can see if the problem is in the prop. If it behaves the same with a borrowed prop, then the problem is most likely in the gearcase.
 
gonna hafta study up on this clutch thing. I've never heard of such an animal. Maybe it is a replacement for the shear pin and or the rubber shock stuff in a prop. As a clutch, it wouldn't really be a clutch, but maybe just a spring loaded pressure disk system that slips when the prop hits something.

My Honda 7.5 and 10, from the 80's only had good old fashioned shear pins as I recall. Something that could be fixed anywhere in the world with a rusty nail if need be.

I will be looking forward to hearing the end of this tale.
 
In my experience almost all of my outboard lower units had a "dog" type of clutch--that does not give any protection to the shaft form hitting an object by the prop. I sold my 15 hp Honda about 5 years ago--but as I remember there was a hub in the prop (although not obvious).

Anyway--he has the work shop manual--and hopefully there were enough winds to push the lovely Corsair along! (OK back up for the motor on a sailboat?)
 
I want to thank all who responded, what a great source of information. I am back home now and want to share that indeed the problem turned out to be the rubber hub in the prop had separated. After re-reading all the suggestions on the forum I had the boat owner put the motor in gear while lifted with the motor not running and turn the prop by hand and sure enough the prop turned but the shaft was stationary. Looking at the prop it appears that it is one piece, the rubber hub is not visible. Thanks again guys.
 
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