Hello All, I have a 1999 340 DA...

[Mike_T]

Hello All, I have a 1999 340 DA with approx. 500 hours, which has been running fine ,but when we filled up the fuel tanks this weekend the Port took about 25 more gallons of gas to fill it.While under power at approx. 3,200 RPM's the boat would sound like it was free reving for a second. It didn't happen all the time but maybe 2 times on plane for a  1/2 hour cruise. This weekend the Port side engine is running fine but the it seems to be in neutral. We brought it back to our dock on 1 engine . The Port engine sounds and runs fine ,but will not engage in drive or reverse. Any ideas to where we begin?

Thanks

[wingless]

Which tank provides fuel to the generator?

Has the transmission fluid level been properly verified?

Have the transmission shifter cable action and adjustment been properly verified?

Has a cooler failure permitted water intrusion into the transmission?

[Mike_T]

My boat does not have a generator.

The transmission fluid looks and smells fine.

The cooler looks fine and there appears to be no water in the fluid.

We will be looking at the shifter cable more closely tonight but when we moved the shifter it did appear to be operating .

Thank you for your suggestions.

[SMT]

Sounds like your cable is loose could be at shifter or transmission. My 97 450 came loose twice once on the trans and once on the shifter.

[Mike_T]

Thanks everyone, but it is the V-Drive unit . Does anyone know if it can be removed without pulling the engine? It looks like there may just be enough room but not sure. Thanks

[wingless]

Will the boat be floating during the transmission removal? If so, that is complicated by the propeller shaft going through the transmission.

The engine / transmission has four motor mounts, two under the engine, two under the transmission. If the transmission is separated and removed then that end of the engine will need to be supported.

Why is the transmission being removed? Has a complete transmission failure requiring removal / rebuild been determined?

There are many transmission repairs that may be performed while the transmission is in-place.

[Mike_T]

The mechanic who looked at it said it has to be removed. He also wants the boat lifted out of the water. He has removed many before but not on a 340 . Which is very tight with the 7.1 engines. What else should he be looking at to determine if ot really needs to be removed? Thank you

[wingless]

There are specific problems that require removal.

If the analysis has determined failure that requires removal to effect repair, then yanking both together while the boat is on the hard looks to be the only option.

https://images0.boattrader.com/resize/1/98/50/6779850_20180719064902228_1_LARGE.jpg?t=1303822

[Athena]

I have the same year and model and had identical problem last year. Had to pull boat and motor and rebuilt transmission. Friend next to me had same problem this year with same boat. Both were port engine.

[Mike_T]

Thanks everyone for the comments. The boat is back in the water , we were able to remove the V-Drive while the boat was on the hard without removing the engine. It was tight but was able to twist it around and out., getting the rebuilt one back in was tough but it's in. It took about 8 hours . Thanks again