2008 suzuki df300 keeps spinning prop

[brkrgrl]

any ideas about this problem..? is anyone else consistently spinning props..?

[Harper]

Only one other recent new member seems to be having the problem.

[Moonlighter]

There are thousands of DF300's out there and if this was an endemic problem we would know about it! And its rarely reported on this forum.

So it isnt a common problem.

From my quick research, it seems to occur on various engines from different manufacturers at times, which suggests that it is more to do with maintenance regimes rather than any design fault with engine or prop itself. The Suzuki prop system is common to many other brands, nothing special or different that would contribute to the issue.

I did some digging and there seems to be a couple of views about possible causes:

- the nost common suggestion is that the engine is running hot, so that hotter than normal exhaust gases causing rubber hub to be damaged and let go. As we know, heat will loosen tight fittings. In fact, I gather that new hubs are sometimes frozen in liquid nitrogen and then pressed into props hubs under pressure so that they get an extremely tight fit when they return to normal temps.

Solution: find out why engine is running hotter and fix that problem.

Stale or low quality/grade fuel, impeller and housing needs to be replaced (alway sdo both together as a set), poppett valve not working properly/stuck, thermostat not opening properly/stuck - these would be some things to check out.

Or, engine cooling passages may be clogged with calcium/mineral/corrosion buildup - how do your anodes look? When were they last replaced?? It may be worth doing a vinegar rinse treatment to help clean out those cooling passages.

- some are suggesting that once props have been rebushed more than twice, the hub may be stretched and no longer will hold the bush. Solution: new prop.

The only times I have been on a boat where the prop spun a hub were many years ago, and in one case was simply a very old prop where the rubber bush just deteriorated due to age, the other was on an engine that was in the process of carking it and was running very hot. So there seems to be some credibility to that line of thought about heat being a factor.

You may also want to talk to a prop guru - someone like Ken from Propgods.com would be the best.

Good luck, let us know how you go.

[joepizz]

spinning props

Just an FYI, spinning props on the 300's is a known issue. Discussed this with a #1 prop dealer in south florida. Suzuki is aware of the issue. New props should no longer have this problem with the hub.
I spun a hub at 30 hours. My Friend with the same engine spun a hub 3 months before. I carry spare props because of this. (I had just gotten to Bimini)

So while the issue may be hush hush, this is an issue- even if an uncommon one- that is resolved with new props and or new hubs.