TOPIC: Slipping in Reverse on my Flying Scott

We are getting our 1960 McCulloch Flying Scott ready for another summer of fun. At the end of last summer I started experiencing a little slipping (or what seemed like slipping) when in reverse. When pulling back away from the dock it seemed I needed to power-up more than usual to get the boat moving in reverse. Earlier in the summer I spun my prop so I did replace the prop with the same model as before. I'm not getting any grinding or noise and forward seems to be just fine.

Since last year was my first season with this motor and I'm a newbee, I want to make sure I check everything before summer. What should I be looking at?

The first thing I would check is to see that the shift cables are adjusted correctly.
Try this put the boat in the water disconnect the shift cable at the motor. Now start the motor in neutral- then manually shift into reverse. Back up the boat and see if you can make it slip.
If it slips with out any gear noise I still would check your prop. Is your new prop new or just a different old one.

>check is to see that the shift cables are adjusted correctly
I'll take a look at that. I had the lower apart last season to replace the impellers. Maybe I'm not shifting all the way into reverse.

>Is your new prop new or just a different old one.
Well yes, its a brand new 50 year old prop. (Never on a boat, but that doesn't mean it isn't dry rotted.) I guess I should send it to a prop service to have it inspected?

I've seen folks use a marker (sharpie) to put a line or dot on the center hub of the prop (that slides over the prop shaft) and another on the prop in the same spot. (Probably have to pull the prop nut to do this?) Run it then re-check the marks to see if the hub is slipping.

Just a thought in case the shift linkage adjustment doesn't fix the issue ........

I was thinking the same thing... sounds good. Thanks!