16hp artic suzuki needs help

[hulk]

My friend has a problem with a 16hp suzuki artic, it starts

pretty good and it sounds good, motor seems to run strong

the problem with it today was that it would be

running along just fine when for no reason it would lose power and and rev up, just like as if the motor had come up out of the water, you'd have to back off the throttle and the motor

would engage again, it was sporadic and didn't seem to make

any sense why it happened, I'm thinking something is slipping

but not sure where to start looking, don't think its gas or electrical, and we didn't hear any grinding, any thoughts?

Thanks, J.

[marine_man]

It sounds to me like the prop hub is slipping intermittently. Take the prop off, and draw a line from the splined portion that fits on the drive shaft over the hub to the outside of the prop.

Then, take the boat for a spin, run it till it does this again, then pull the prop. If the line doesn't line up anymore you've got a spun hub... time for a rebuild at a prop shop.

marine_man

[hulk]

Thanks, that takes us from clueless to a logical start, I hope

theres one more warm day to get the boat out

J.