Lack of power/trans issue?

[Jeremyvmd]

So yesterday my plan was to take shady out looking for some tasty Black Sea bass, well those plans quickly changed. Left the slip and everything was running well. Was heading out oyster creek channel (for those who remember same place I wrapped something last year and bent my shaft!) cruising at 15knts when my speed started to fall off. Assuming it was the current picking up (it rips through there) I bumped up the throttle. Next thing I know I'm getting a overtemp alarm! Now no matter how I've pushed her I've never gotten an over temp alarm. So I shut her down and checked the strainer (I checked it before I shoved off but figured I didn't reassemble right or something). Everything looked fine, so I started her back up and started cruising slow. Temp came way down so I assumed I fixed the problem. Brought her back up to cruise (tach isn't working but about 3/4 throttle) which should have been 15-16knts but she was only turning 12! On a lark I pushed her to the pins and she turned 15! Now I knew I had a problem so I shut her down and called for a tow. Now I prob ran her for like 30-40 minutes like that before I realized I had a problem. First thing I did was check the fluids in the trans, level was good and a nice healthy pink color. Marina seems to think I'm dragging something but I don't know if i buy that! She seems to be every bit at responsive as normal to throttle inputs in reverse but forward even at low speeds she is going slower than she should for given throttle input. I'm thinking clutches are dead...opinions?

[Russell]

Can you make a quick dive to see if something is wrapped in front of the propeller? I once ran over a black PFC that wrapped the prop and all the flotation material came out leaving the netting wrapped around the shaft. If something is wound around the shaft it might be forced forward when you are in reverse and not be as noticeable.

[Jeremyvmd]

Doing a short haul tomorrow morning to check the prop and shaft, I'm hoping it's just something wrapped

[Pitou]

Lack of power can be as simple as air restriction.
When's the last time that you changed or cleaned your air filter?

[Jeremyvmd]

Filter is brand new and no black smoke noted. Motor has less than 30hrs on it

[Tree]

You don't have a ladder in the bathing platform at all? Possible that's slipped down if you do?

[Pitou]

Lack of power can be as simple as air restriction.
When's the last time that you changed or cleaned your air filter?

Filter is brand new and no black smoke noted. Motor has less than 30hrs on it

The combo of a new filter and no black smoke takes an air restriction out of the equation.

In absence of something hung up in your running gear or "dragging something", if you're lacking power and have reduced RPM's the next thing to look at is a fuel restriction. With all of your trials and tribulations, I'm hoping it's something simple for you.

[Jeremyvmd]

Ok soooo...hauled the boat today. Prop and running gear are normal. Some slight growth which cleaned off easily. Dropped her back in and took her for a spin. Still doing it. So I checked the ATF again...yea it's not even on the dipstick. That's what I get for trusting someone else to check it! Rookie mistake. It it doesn't seem right check it yourself! Tempted to send that particular buddy then I'll for the short haul! Still doesn't tell me WHERE the atf went. Just it's not there. So we put a quart in and it just wetted the end of the dipstick. Couldn't get the full cover back on (screw was jammed) so we had to call it for today. But even with 1qt it ran better!! Pretty happy but I don't know where the atf went

[Pitou]

Still doesn't tell me WHERE the atf went. Just it's not there. So we put a quart in and it just wetted the end of the dipstick. Couldn't get the full cover back on (screw was jammed) so we had to call it for today. But even with 1qt it ran better!! Pretty happy but I don't know where the atf went

If the Gear was full before and now it's not and it's not in the bilge then it's time to check the Gear cooler. If the core is compromised you'd be pushing ATF out with the raw water exhaust. I'm certainly hoping that's not the case, but I would pull it and have it pressure tested.

[Jeremyvmd]

I didn't see it in the bilge but honestly I was so frustrated with the screw that losens the full cap oring stripping that i didn't really pay attention, incidentally it's a m8x1.25, 30mm long on my zf tranny. I might call peninsular, when I got the new motor they supposedly tested and cleaned all the bolt ons (they had the trans too). Need to ask them if they serviced the trans cooler!

[RobS]

.......Need to ask them if they serviced the trans cooler!

FWIW - What you need to ask them is if they pressure tested the gear cooler AFTER acid cleaning it.......seriously doubt it as this is not the usual low psi heat exchanger pressure test.... the tranny runs at over 300 (to 350) psi and needs to be tested accordingly (ie. scuba tank)

[Jeremyvmd]

Thank you rob! Yea I'll be sure to ask when I call manana!
Ill prob be down at the boat sat, gonna check the bilge and see if I see anything scary. New trans cooler is 230 from peninsular, if no tranny fluid in bilge might be worth just buying a new cooler and be done with it!