Gearbox leak when in gear - lever shaft seal?

[demonboy]

I have a Hurth HBW 250, which has fresh oil in it. On our last couple of trips (i.e. since leaving the shipyard after a year) I noticed that it is leaking and I think it is coming from the lever. I've read that this is common, easy to fix and can be done in situ, but the problem is I don't have spares (other than the internal plates). You can see the lever section highlighted in this illustration:

In another forum I read that this would only take 40 minutes:

Remove the shift lever off the shaft.
Remove the 4 nuts retaining the shift cable mounting plate and the plate over the shaft seal. Carefully pry or tap the plate to break the seal.
Replace he shaft seal.

Sounds easy enough but before I take it apart what I am trying to work out is:

a) which number on the diagram is the shaft seal (I'm guessing 8)
b) is this likely to be an O ring or a standard water seal (I have a box of O rings with one that may fit)
c) i am assuming that by shaft seal he is not talking about the plate gasket

If this is a specific spare part is there anything I can use in the meantime?

I can find loads of service kits for Hurth gearboxes but nothing about parts for this seal.

 

[Niander]

Its an oil seal. May get one on the bay...
you need to take out and get the size.
nothing will do ....you need the correct seal
8 on your pic

 

[demonboy]

Its an oil seal. May get one on the bay...
you need to take out and get the size.
nothing will do ....you need the correct seal
8 on your pic

:encouragement:

 

[vyv_cox]

If not available locally, try here http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Seals/c19/index.html They will deliver overseas. I have used them several times, excellent service.

 

[demonboy]

If not available locally, try here http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/Seals/c19/index.html They will deliver overseas. I have used them several times, excellent service.

Thanks, Vic. Struggling to find OEM spares so will take apart when back in Langkawi and try and source locally. Failing that, will get in touch with your suggestion, ta.

 

[Heckler]

Thanks, Vic. Struggling to find OEM spares so will take apart when back in Langkawi and try and source locally. Failing that, will get in touch with your suggestion, ta.

Measure the shaft, measure the outside diameter, measure the width. Oil seals are usually a std size.
S

 

[demonboy]

In the meantime, in order to get back to langkawi, I'm interested to know if it's possible to top up a gear box whilst motoring. Can I put the boat in neutral and do this or am I likely to spray myself in burning ATF? If this is the case, how long should I leave it before attempting to top up?

 

[Niander]

:encouragement:

Yea no messin!

 

[trthebees]

I can't speak for Langkawi, but from time out in SEA, a wander around the backstreets looking for the more general purpose car and motorbike stores may well produce a seal. Thing is though, they like a sample to compare rather than dimensions if they're going to hunt around for you. And they are quite good about saying "try such and such a store". I notice ATF is compatible with nitrile, probably the most common material.
Actually, just a silly thought. If the leak is really annoying and you're still travelling, I see you say you have O-rings, I wonder if temporarily you could take the lever off and squidge a thin section O-ring on the shaft between the lever and the existing seal. It might slow it a bit, and hopefully rotate with the lever against the seal.

 

[demonboy]

I can't speak for Langkawi, but from time out in SEA, a wander around the backstreets looking for the more general purpose car and motorbike stores may well produce a seal. Thing is though, they like a sample to compare rather than dimensions if they're going to hunt around for you. And they are quite good about saying "try such and such a store". I notice ATF is compatible with nitrile, probably the most common material.
Actually, just a silly thought. If the leak is really annoying and you're still travelling, I see you say you have O-rings, I wonder if temporarily you could take the lever off and squidge a thin section O-ring on the shaft between the lever and the existing seal. It might slow it a bit, and hopefully rotate with the lever against the seal.

Exactly that. I'm hoping the old one is salvageable enough to take in as a sample. There is one very good seal and bearing shop in town, I'm pinning my hopes on that.