Wont Plane

[BILL BASCONE]

I just bought a 95 Four Winns 238 Vista. I tested it on the lake prior to buying and it seemed to run fine. First time out after I bought it, I was just idleing along for about an hour when I decided to give it a run and plane it out. It wouldnt plane. The engine (5.8 EFI) just seemed to over rev. The prop has been checked and it is okay.

Any Idea's?

Thanks

[redtech]

sound like a cobra drive guessing by year and engine
if the prop is ok the check drive oil for metal then the engine coupler

[JimboFromIrmo]

Sniff your engine compartment for the unmistakable smell of burning rubber. Look for white burning rubber smoke abaft of the engine when the over-revving is occurring. Look around the area below rear center of the engine for little black "eraser dust" glob-lets of rubber.

Smell it? See them? Two things to do:
1- replace the ENGINE COUPLING; a rubber donut that separates the engine's driveshaft from the stern drive. Make sure the engine & stern drive are PROPERLY ALIGNED when they're recoupled!!!
2- have an experienced professional thoroughly inspect your TRANSOM and FLOOR STRINGERS for ROT, especially if the alignment is off.

No see-um? Post more symptoms. If your prop is ventilating, you'll notice a hideous-huge ball of bubbles abaft when you open 'er up. You said the prop itself was checked out OK, so I'm assuming the rubber hub in it is OK too... Did the prop-checker also check the thrust washer? It's the round hunk of bronze or brass that goes on first when you install the prop.

Are you ever able to plane? As in, easing up after a long, gentle push?

Other than slippage in the mechanism(s) or slippage in the water, not much else could cause the over-revving on takeoff.

Jimbo

[8008man]

Sounds like cavitation to me. Make sure drive is in the lowest position and try again.