Check this for me on your boat - Shaft Wobble?

[Denis]

I'll put this out there and if a couple of people can check this for me it would help me.
With the boat tied to the dock and in forward gear at idle, look at the shaft where the stiffing box is located. Is there any vibration or wobble of the shaft at that point on your boat?
I was performing a final adjustment of the stuffing box when I put it in gear and noticed the wobble. I freaked out and stopped right away. I called the mechanic and he said that kind of wobble is sort of normal under those conditions. He said to take it out and run it to see if there is any vibration at speed. I have not done that yet. I am going to check the alignment soon to make sure that is ok.

[tomcat rio]

if possible, could you post some photos of your stuffing box adjustment technique? i'm sure a lot of folks here would find it informative.
thx
ed

[Denis]

Once I saw the mechanic get into position, and what tools he used, I could finally understand how it was done.
I am not too good with the photo thing so I'll try to describe it.
He slid in on the port side with his legs alongside the transmission and his head toward the rear of the boat. From that point, he could easily reach the covering over the packing and all the necessary nuts.
The tool he used was a Sears #43285. It looks like a long screw driver with a bend on the end.
After you loosen the hose clamp that holds the cover, rotate it to expose the two nuts. The nut to the rear is the locking nut, use the tool to loosen the nut a little. Then use the tool to adjust the packing nut, the forward nut for proper drippage. Tighten the locking nut and move the cover back into place and tighten the hose clamp.