No forward Power on Port Engine

[manifishdestiny]

Tried to go out this morning on my 31 Aquasport and as I was pulling out of slip I noticed as I tried to turn to starboard I had no forward power on my port engine.  Once I got back into the slip I had some reverse power. Once I tied off I tried kicking it into gear from nuetral and nothing. I could hear it kick in in reverse. I also noticed if I went from reverse to forward it kicked in some.  The only thing I have worked on before this trip was tightening the stuffing box on the port side. Not sure if this has anything to do with it.  I also notice shaking of port engine when reving up.  Any ideas are appreciated! Thanks

Anthony

[Blue Agave]

How old is the shift cable?  I'd start there, check both ends.  Can you shift it into forward manually by hand where the cable attaches to the motor?

[GoneFission]

Check the shifter cable.  You may have bumped it or moved it so it's not shifting right.  

Also, did you tighten the stuffing box with the shaft turning or stopped?   You should tighten it with the shaft turning slowly until water only drips a drop every 10-30 seconds or so.     Are you using a graphite-based packing or wax-based?  The packing can seize to the shaft if you tighten the stuffing box with the shaft stopped and then leave it for any period of time.   :x  

Hope this helps - good luck!

[manifishdestiny]

Check the shifter cable.  You may have bumped it or moved it so it's not shifting right.  

Also, did you tighten the stuffing box with the shaft turning or stopped?   You should tighten it with the shaft turning slowly until water only drips a drop every 10-30 seconds or so.     Are you using a graphite-based packing or wax-based?  The packing can seize to the shaft if you tighten the stuffing box with the shaft stopped and then leave it for any period of time.   :x  

Hope this helps - good luck!

We didn't repack at all just tightened the stuffing box nuts on both sides so it stopped dripping so much.  It was dripping very rapidly so we tighten then the dripped stopped. We did this while the shaft was stopped. Anyway to redo this properly? Or have I already caused damage?

[seabob4]

Anthony,
First,disconnect the shift cable from the arm on the tranny.  Shift into fwd by hand (may need a pair of channel locks) to determine the tranny is actually going into forward gear.  If the packing glands are too tight, you'll see the output flange start to try and rotate, but can't overcome the friction that the packing is putting on the prop shaft.

Since tightening the packing glands is the only change you have made so far, well, like CJ said, start there...

[manifishdestiny]

Anthony,
First,disconnect the shift cable from the arm on the tranny.  Shift into fwd by hand (may need a pair of channel locks) to determine the tranny is actually going into forward gear.  If the packing glands are too tight, you'll see the output flange start to try and rotate, but can't overcome the friction that the packing is putting on the prop shaft.

Since tightening the packing glands is the only change you have made so far, well, like CJ said, start there...

I will start there. I did check the shaft it is rotating but not sure if this tells the whole story or not. Thanks for the help and I will keep you updated.