For the mechanically minded...lost drive on my Honda bf8a 1998 outboard

[StefanYHU]

Hi guy,
I was out with my nephew at the weekend and he accidentally put the engine from drive into neutral at full
Throttle .

It let out a couple of clunks and died. When I got it started , I still had reverse but putting it into drive caused it to cut out

On rotating the propeller in drive it was completely stuck . I gave it a few rotations in neutral and reverse, and then managed to get it rotating in drive. I started it up and got drive, although I’m convinced the engine doesn’t sound as smooth as it did but it could all be in my head.

Would anyone have any advice as to what sort of inspection should be undertaken after this incident and what work should be done? Should o avoid using the engine now.

It ran on full throttle for approx a mile back to shore with no reduction in performance.

Thanks

 

[CliveF]

Well running it on full throttle any damage is done now!
I would suggest prop off, drain the drive unit and take the front off.
I would be expecting to see lots of nice shiny metal bits in the oil and the forward drive dog broken off and minced .

That will have been the couple of clunks as it rotated until it jammed and stalled the engine. You obviously managed to unjam it enough for it to run. Hopefully it has not chewed up the drive gears as well.

I hope I am wrong and that its not as bad as the picture i have painted , but don't be surprised if it looks pretty sad inside the drive unit.

Good luck and don't worry it should be fixable.

Regards Clive

PS DO NOT use the engine until this is checked out.

 

[StefanYHU]

Well running it on full throttle any damage is done now!
I would suggest prop off, drain the drive unit and take the front off.
I would be expecting to see lots of nice shiny metal bits in the oil and the forward drive dog broken off and minced .

That will have been the couple of clunks as it rotated until it jammed and stalled the engine. You obviously managed to unjam it enough for it to run. Hopefully it has not chewed up the drive gears as well.

I hope I am wrong and that its not as bad as the picture i have painted , but don't be surprised if it looks pretty sad inside the drive unit.

Good luck and don't worry it should be fixable.

Regards Clive

PS DO NOT use the engine until this is checked out.

Unfortunately I didn’t really have much of a choice, the weather turned to 30mph gusts on an open lough and all I could think about was getting it back in