I was very worried about a centrifugal clutch on an outboard, but went with the Honda 2.3 for its light weight in comparison to others.
My problem is that on startup, when you put the throttle to the start position, when she fires its enough to engage the prop therefore lurching the boat forward. Less throttle, she won't start. Also, once running, when you play the throttle and choke until the engine is warm and idles comfortably, the prop tends to engage/disengage. These are times when I just would prefer to have a gear select so that I could start and play the throttle without the danger of the boat surging ahead unpredictably. Also, when turning the motor around for reverse, swapping the tiller to the other side changes the throttle unintentionally as well causing undesired thrust sometimes.
I'm very used to centrifugal clutches having grown up on snowmobiles - but this is much worse. I'm really debating on getting rid of it after only a few months of use.
I have had the engine in at a dealer once and all adjustments were checked so that eliminates throttle settings etc. Am I somehow doing something stupid? When it surges, its only momentarily before I dial back the throttle, but any less throttle and it just won't start. Its a real pain in the rear and I'm really embarrassed when people see me start my engine and it surges forward a foot. I've been around outboards most of my life. Not like this is my first rodeo, but with this Honda it sure feels and looks like it!
My problem is that on startup, when you put the throttle to the start position, when she fires its enough to engage the prop therefore lurching the boat forward. Less throttle, she won't start. Also, once running, when you play the throttle and choke until the engine is warm and idles comfortably, the prop tends to engage/disengage. These are times when I just would prefer to have a gear select so that I could start and play the throttle without the danger of the boat surging ahead unpredictably. Also, when turning the motor around for reverse, swapping the tiller to the other side changes the throttle unintentionally as well causing undesired thrust sometimes.
I'm very used to centrifugal clutches having grown up on snowmobiles - but this is much worse. I'm really debating on getting rid of it after only a few months of use.
I have had the engine in at a dealer once and all adjustments were checked so that eliminates throttle settings etc. Am I somehow doing something stupid? When it surges, its only momentarily before I dial back the throttle, but any less throttle and it just won't start. Its a real pain in the rear and I'm really embarrassed when people see me start my engine and it surges forward a foot. I've been around outboards most of my life. Not like this is my first rodeo, but with this Honda it sure feels and looks like it!
