Honda 2.3 HP Outboard Propeller Issue

[sailcapt340]

I have a 2 year old Honda 2.3 HP Outboard. This season I hit the silt and mud at the dinghy dock. I bought this air cooled outboard just for this reason, the silt was ruining the impeller and water pump assembly on my Mercury.

I kicked up a heck of a lot of mud but went our way for the rest of the year.
While changing the fluids I tried to get the prop off but it would not budge.
I ended up having to cut a notch in the propeller to get a puller in place.

Finally got it off but found that the shear pin was bent and jammed in the metal insert housing in the propeller.
I never had a shear pin so bend drastically and not break. I would have welcomed that. Not to mention I am having a heck of a time trying to get the shear pin out. It won’t snap with pliers or cutters. I’ll end up cutting that off as well.

Have any others had this issue with their outboard propellers? The motor is always tilted up when we leave for the day, so it’s not sitting in salt water. I don’t give it a fresh water rinse though, don’t know to many that do. Maybe that’s the key.
Given that a new propeller is in my future, there are 3 types available. All metal propellers, all plastic (no metal insert) and the original plastic and metal insert.
What are your suggestions?

 

[dLj]

I think you pretty well tested the original plastic with metal insert... I'd probably go with that same again.

dj

 

[sailcapt340]

I spoke with Honda and was told they use stainless steel shear pins.
What kind of alien xenomorphic mutant metal did they find and from what planet did it come from! I have brass sheer pins for my Mercury 3.5 HP outboard. Now those work as they should. And they’re from the planet Earth.

I finally got the pin out. It took over an hour +……. I had to drill into it and that broke bits, and it bent, it did not break.

I have never encountered a sheer pin like this and hope I never do again.


Now on to a new propeller. DJ, you’re right, even after hitting the mud the blades were only scratched not really nicked. So it holds up.

 

[dLj]

I wouldn't want a brass shear pin at that location. I'd stick with the OEM shear pin. Now if that shear pin doesn't have shear lines, you could machine two of them in. But the current setup sure seemed to work well..might have been hard to get apart but that can happen no matter...

dj

 

[FastOlson]

Having spent some time fishing with my father in the 50's, I recall shear pins being kind of a disposable item for a day on the water. So much so that he carried spares in his tackle box, and some small steel nails as a final resort, if the proper ones were all used up.
The idea of an "unbreakable" shear pin just seems weird.

 

[sailcapt340]

Same here, these items were always carried as spares. Even for the snow blowers. That’s why I still have 2 brass pins for my Mercury 3.5HP.
The whole idea behind a sheer pin is to break “Before“ the lower unit gets damaged. A pin this hard and resistant to breaking is just wrong.
I guess we all have to deal with this in our boating, but going forward I will try to machine 2 grooves in any stainless pins I have to buy, as DJ suggested.
A $5 sheer pin should break to protect the very costly parts connected to it. If its by design or cost of materials, this is wrong on so many levels.

 

[dmax]

I have a Honda 2.3 - I snapped the shear pin cleanly when I hit some rocks so they do work correctly sometimes. If you haven't noticed, Honda put a spare shear pin and cotter pins under the front of the engine in a little rubber holder.

 

[sailcapt340]

they do work correctly sometimes

You were very fortunate to have that happen. Wish mine did. The brief inconvenience of having to row would have been far better than the alternative.
I do have the spare Honda put under the engine. I will try to score this one, but not to hopeful.

 

[DRhoads]

Come to Annapolis. I have a 6 hp outboard I will give you. Yes, of course it works just don't need it.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The Mercury 3.5 was made by Tohatsu should you ever need parts

 

[sailcapt340]

I gather from your offer it’s a Honda as well.
I have no complaints with the motor, performance, quality etc. It’s actually what I need given the very shallow area I have to get through……..Just this sheer pin design
I have contacted Honda again and waiting for an answer back regarding if the pin needs to be this level of strength.
My concern is if the centrifugal clutch would be affected by using a lesser metal, like brass.
There is a considerable amount of torque applied if you don’t have the throttle in the start position and you start the motor. Would that sheer the pin by itself given the fact the motor lurches forward under this scenario. All good questions…..awaiting the answer.
I would take you up on your offer but I have no plans to travel to Annapolis any time soon. I thank you for the offer but I am sure there is someone in the area that could use a motor. Also, I am starting a collection of used outboards now by default and don’t want to add to it.

 

[Allowishish]

We sheared ours on a sandbar in Mexico. It sheared in a bent manner. I used a nail and a rock to pound it out.
we now carry a nail just for that reason. If I find a sturdy ice pick I will change. It took enough pressure that the nail bent.
it is a fine line between small enough to fit in the hole to pound out the sheared pin and sturdy enough not to bend while doing so.

 

[sailcapt340]

It took enough pressure that the nail bent.
My point exactly….how much effort is required to hammer out this pin and how can that be better for the propeller shaft and gears.

I have spoken with Honda and emailed them my photos….
“It was a pleasure speaking with you. We regret to learn about your concern with the sheer pin (58131-ZV0-000).
When you have a moment, please send the additional photos so that our model specialist will be able to review.”

Just waiting to hear back from them. Hoping to not get a response that I have to use their proprietary items or void any warranty’s. I imagine that regardless of who makes an outboard the answer would be the same.
I’ll wait and see what the model specialist recommends.

 

[sailcapt340]

Well, I heard back - enclosing the email for you to read as well.
It looks like my Honda performed as it was intended to do. Bend and not break. And they say that protects the propeller shaft and internal gears.
So how I left it is:
Sent photos of my propeller they wanted to see.
I asked for guidance as to how Honda removes a bent stainless steel sheer pin from a shaft.
What tool does Honda use to remove bent stainless steel sheer pins from shafts.

I’d be more than happy to purchase the tool and avoid the hammering that was needed. I’ll let you all know what I hear back.

…………………..

Good Morning,
After reviewing with our model specialist, they confirmed that the sheer pin is designed to bend when the propeller encounters an impact.
It doesn’t bend on its own; rather, it responds to external force, such as striking an underwater object or obstruction.
This bending is intentional and helps protect more critical components like the propeller shaft and gears.

If the sheer pin is bent, it typically indicates that the propeller made contact with something during operation.
To better understand what may have occurred, we’d appreciate seeing the condition of the propeller itself.
That will help us assess whether the pin performed as intended.

Honda has 1 type of sheer pin for your model and recommends using the Honda Sheer Pin, part number 58131-ZV0-000.

 

[dmax]

Hard to believe that bending is somehow superior to just shearing, which would transmit less force - is their intention to allow you to keep motoring?

 

[sailcapt340]

Go Figure…..Makes me wonder as well.
I can’t imagine the tool I‘d be told about to remove the pin. But waiting to hear.

 

[Allowishish]

The bending prior to shearing could be an incremental slowing as opposed to the sudden stop?

 

[sailcapt340]

Latest and last installment of my ongoing outboard motor issue. Grab a coffee, this gets good.
Seeing I had Honda on the line, I asked a few other questions as well. Doesn’t hurt to ask, right.
I asked about special tools needed, how technicians deal with bent sheer pins and if a metal propeller for this model is available.
Short answers are No Tool, Like the rest of us and No.

Here is the email:
Good Afternoon,

Thank you again for your thoughtful message and for sharing the photos.
We appreciate your care in maintaining your Honda outboard and your understanding of how the shear pin functions to protect the internal components.

Regarding removal of a bent shear pin, there’s no easy or universal method.

In some cases, service dealers had to carefully cut one end of the pin flush with the propeller shaft, then use a punch tool to drive it out.
The most important thing is to support the propeller shaft during removal to avoid bending or damaging it while applying force.

As for your question about an aluminum propeller for the Honda 2.3: Honda does not manufacture an aluminum propeller for your model. Nothing less than a BF8 model.
Honda Propeller Options
While aluminum is tougher than plastic, it’s not recommended.
If an aluminum propeller strikes an object, it’s more likely to transfer impact directly to the gearcase, increasing the risk of internal damage.
The plastic propeller is designed to absorb impact and help protect the engine.

We’re glad to hear you’re planning to replace the damaged propeller and keep spare shear pins on hand.
Your Customer Relations Case is now closed.

If you need help locating parts or have any other questions, feel free to reach out.
Again, thank you for your time and for allowing me the opportunity to assist you.

Thank you again for choosing Honda Marine. I look forward to assisting you again in the future

Best regards,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Going ahead, I guess I have to use the only available sheer pins, which seem to be stainless steel for most, if not all outboards.
I don’t know whatever happened to the brass pins that were once the only ones available or why they disappeared. But the C464 naval brass is still being manufactured and I believe that’s what they were made of.
I will definitely row myself out of the shallow area before starting the motor next year.