Loss of thrust, Rpms redline instantly
 

Was out tonight, boat was running fine, threw it down wot, and a few seconds later I lost all forward thrust and flew forward, rpms went above 6k. I have an 89 22ft scarab with a carb 350 mag, alpha gen 1. I limped in at idle, boat does fine till around 1200 rpms and then I lose thrust and the rpms skyrocket. Reverse works fine still, shifting seems normal. With boat off and in forward drive prop locks to the left and spins fine clockwise. In reverse it spins freely in either direction. Is this a tranny issue, or outdrive? My buddy who slips at my marina suggested the prop is slipping and that it is as simple as the rubber gasket or ring inside the prop needs to be replaced.....another thing I noticed, I felt some sort of different vibration as I lose thrust above 1200 rpms. I listened to the engine and the only difference I hear is something that sounds like a rattle(not very loud) near the drive, however that could have been there before so idk. Any help is appreciated

Sounds to me like you trashed the drive coupler. It couples the drive to the rear of the engine at the flywheel. Drive will have come off and engine pulled to change it. Sounds like it's more than just a spun prop hub though that would be the first thing you would want to check.

Sounds like the rubber hub in the prop let go.

that's what I didn't want to hear....anything in particular that makes you think that?

I hope that is all, I have had no problems until today, boat runs great and hard.....is a failure like this common with no symptoms?

It is very common with rubber hub props. I don't think it is the coupler, or it wouldn't move at all. I would bet it is the prop. You may not be able to tell right away. Just pull the prop and take it to a prop shop and have it replaced.
It should only be about $50.
Eddie

I am going to pull the prop tomorrow, hopefully it's just
the prop

Sometimes the hub can spin without showing visible signs when you pull the prop. Depends on whether it is the old press in style or the flo-torq interchangeable kind.

One way to know for sure.
Spin that baby up for ten seconds, immediately kill the motor, dive in the water and grab the prop hub. If it's been spinning it will be hot. You'll have about fifteen seconds to check, cause the heat gets pulled off of the prop by the surrounding water pretty quickly. But if it's the hub, the prop hub will be hot.

MC

Prop hub. As Eddie said if it was the coupler it's DRT. Dead right there

Pulled the prop yesterday, hub appears to be shot, rubber is ruined. Good call to everyone who suggested the hub. Off to the prop shop this afternoon, thx again for all the advice.

Right on Eddie, 54 bucks with tax, shaft lube, new hub and hardware. Boat runs alot smoother now than before, I guess that should have been a warning sign......again thx for all the help everyone

I have lost an engine coupler and still been able to idle back to the trailer.
If you lose the engine coupler you can usually smell the rubber burning.

same here, when I smoked my coupler, I would idle as far as I could, let it cool down and re-bond a little, idle a little further and so on...:eek:

Glad it was just your prop, thats alot cheaper!

new fuel injectors
 

Ive been putting my 509 back together, all new SS lines new injectors etc. etc. Figured I would do a pressure check to see if all was good before I buttoned it up and put fuel to it. I put a gauge on the regulator, and I am dropping about 3 lbs a minute. I can hear it though the intake runners. I am having a hard time believing the new injectors are leaking. Or could they be open alittle?? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks, Dave

Glad to hear you got it fixed and are back running.
Eddie