Changing a prop shaft seal

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10oxometer

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Hi All,
Just had a good look at my Halyard prop seal and i`ts leaking oil slightly, as i`ts over 10 years old i`ve decided to replace with a PSS seal. here in is the problem I will have to remove the Engine and fuel tank to gain access to the shaft. very limited room in the engine bay about 225mm above and arm width either side, it`s not possible to to winch from above as the cockpit sole covers it, but the steps are removeable so I can see the front of the engine. Do any of you gents have experience of this problem and how is the best way to tackle it!
PS. i`ts a UFO31 with a Beta 20.
 
10oxometer said:
Hi All,
Just had a good look at my Halyard prop seal and i`ts leaking oil slightly, as i`ts over 10 years old i`ve decided to replace with a PSS seal. here in is the problem I will have to remove the Engine and fuel tank to gain access to the shaft. very limited room in the engine bay about 225mm above and arm width either side, it`s not possible to to winch from above as the cockpit sole covers it, but the steps are removeable so I can see the front of the engine. Do any of you gents have experience of this problem and how is the best way to tackle it!
PS. i`ts a UFO31 with a Beta 20.
Click to expand...

Have you considered fitting a flush plastic waterproof hatch in your cockpit sole above the seal? https://seamarknunn.com/acatalog/ac...z5bEDS7DCkCj4XfkeYIiK6XHiFNgu74xoCsAYQAvD_BwE . This could be of benefit in the future for seal, shaft coupling, gearbox maintenance.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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You will probably have to slide it forward after you have disconnected from the prop shaft. Expect you will have to build up some form of support for the front of the engine once the forward mounts have cleared the beds. A beam across the hatch and a small chain hoist or use your mainsheet will enable you to lift it. Then the choice is either to get it out into the cockpit using the boom as a crane jib or move it further forward into the cabin so that you can crawl down to replace the seal.
 
Hi Plum,
Its a good thought a screw down waterproof hatch could work to remove the fuel tank which is directly above it. at least the iron horse cold stay put
 
10oxometer said:
Hi All,
Just had a good look at my Halyard prop seal and i`ts leaking oil slightly, as i`ts over 10 years old i`ve decided to replace with a PSS seal. here in is the problem I will have to remove the Engine and fuel tank to gain access to the shaft. very limited room in the engine bay about 225mm above and arm width either side, it`s not possible to to winch from above as the cockpit sole covers it, but the steps are removeable so I can see the front of the engine. Do any of you gents have experience of this problem and how is the best way to tackle it!
PS. i`ts a UFO31 with a Beta 20.
Click to expand...

I suggest very strongly that you rebuild the Halyard instead. The seals are standard automotive ones, which from Simply Bearings will cost you less than £10. I added some pics of this job to the new version of Cox Engineering yesterday. The site is not fully launched yet but you can see the page at http://coxeng.co.uk/stern-gear/stern-glands/ My latest addition, incomplete, is near the bottom of the page.

I used something like Tranona's method to remove my engine, although I did have some hoist access for the front of the engine from above. I positioned a plank beneath the engine, put a skateboard on it and lowered the engine and gearbox onto that. It was very easy to roll them into the saloon, which I covered with carpet tiles and cardboard beforehand.
 
Hi VYV. Now that sounds like a practical way of moving the engine! and repairing the leaking seal.
Would the rubber bellows although it looks ok br an issue as it`s over ten years old.
but good practical advise-- thanks.
 
Fitted a PSS seal to my UFO31 two years ago now and I haven't looked back. It's fit and forget. My engineer didnt have to remove the engine or fuel tank to do this jod. At the time had a Perkins Perama M30. Maybe your back end is configured differantly??
 
Euphonyx said:
Fitted a PSS seal to my UFO31 two years ago now and I haven't looked back. It's fit and forget...
Click to expand...

I've heard 'fit and forget' used before about PSS seals. This tends to be a throw-away phrase but, for anyone taking that too seriously, PYI do have maintenance guidelines http://www.pyiinc.com/downloads/pss-shaft-seal/sport-boat-guide-lines.pdf
Advice on ensuring the faces don't bind at the beginning of the season looks particularly important.

This article from a US rescue and towboat operator is worth a read. https://www.passagemaker.com/technical/dripless-shaft-seals
 
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