Greasing a Volvo Shaft Seal?

[Norman_E]

I replaced the shaft last year, and the seal dripped after re-launch, so I greased it with grease squirted in from an aerosol can with a thin plastic tube. Now the boat is out of the water how should I grease it, (i.e. should I undo the clamp and put grease in behind the seal) and what grease should I use?

 

[simon597]

No need to grease behind the seal just use the volvo grease inside the "Lip" of the seal facing forward...
DO NOT use an areasol based spray but ask a volvo agent for the correct grease, it comes with a special nozzle to aid the use. and unusually for volvo reletivly cheap too.

The seal is a water lubricated bearing similar inside to a Cutlass bearing and so do not try running the engine out of the water in gear !!!!

Hope that helps

 

[Cloven]

The shaft seal should have come with a small tube of the correct Volvo grease and also a small red plastic collar. The idea is that you put some grease on the shaft close to the seal and then push in into the seal with the red collar. The collar is then romoved from the shaft and stored with the grease for next use.

 

[jerryat]

Norman, just take a polythene bag made of fairly thick plastic (e.g. a sandwich bag is too thin) and fill one corner with the grease you intend using. Put an amount about double what is recommended i.e. circa 2cc's or a touch more.

No need to use the Volvo stuff - I and my friends have been using Blakes Seacock grease for years and years and it's perfect.

Cut the corner off the bag with the sides around 3" long, fold the sides and end in to form a sort of 'cake icing' tool. Cut off the extreme corner to give a slot about 6-8mm wide.

Squeeze the shaft seallupwards (we use a hand held adjustable plier type thingy) insert the 6-8mm corner well into the gap made, and squeeze the grease in, folding the ends in as you go to ensure the grease IS going into the seal and not back into the bag.

You won't be able to get it all in - hence putting at least double in the 'icing bags' -but you'll get plenty there. Frankly, I always put more than the recommended minimum since I can't see how it would be a problem.

Release the adjustable 'pliers (don't know the real name!) and withdraw the bag. Wipe any surplus grease off the shaft to stop it being flung about the engine compartment, and Bob's your ........!

This really does work every time, and has done for me for the last 19 years. Hope it helps you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[beneteau_305_553]

Suspect something is wrong with the seal. You may have damaged the lip of the seal when fitting it as they should not drip till they are so worn that they dont touch the shaft. (usually 20 years!)

Its easy to catch the seal on the keyway when sliding it onto the shaft unless you use the plastic sleeve provided.

A touch of the volvo grease every year is all they need but lots never get greased and are still drip free for years.

 

[pvb]

I always thought that the red plastic collar was supplied with the new seal to protect the lip seals during initial installation.

 

[Cloven]

pvb - you may well be correct that the red collar is indeed to protect the seal when fitting but when I first launched my boat from new, the marina staff suggested retaining it for the purpose that I have mentioned above. Certainly seems to do the job.

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
I always thought that the red plastic collar was supplied with the new seal to protect the lip seals during initial installation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, and that's ALL it should be used for. Definitely nothing to do with the greasing process!

 

[StugeronSteve]

[ QUOTE ]
The seal is a water lubricated bearing similar inside to a Cutlass bearing and so do not try running the engine out of the water in gear !!!!

[/ QUOTE ] And DO remember to burp it before running the engine when the boat goes back into the water.

 

[Norman_E]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I think that the problem when I fitted the new shaft was simply that most of the old grease was lost when the old shaft came out. After greasing it with the aerosol it remained drip free for the rest of last season.
I will try to get some Volvo grease. Burping it to ensure that water has reached it after re-launch sounds a good idea too.

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
.........

I will try to get some Volvo grease. Burping it to ensure that water has reached it after re-launch sounds a good idea too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Norman, 'burping' isn't just a good idea, it's absolutely essential! And as I noted above, you don't need Volvo grease, Blakes is fine and may be easier to obtain, besides having a multitude of other uses aboard. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jimg]

Burping is essential to release the trapped air, it is meant to be water lubricated.....

 

[AHoy2]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I always thought that the red plastic collar was supplied with the new seal to protect the lip seals during initial installation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, and that's ALL it should be used for. Definitely nothing to do with the greasing process!

[/ QUOTE ]

There again, when inspecting a potential boat for purchase, when I queried what the plastic tool tied to the gearbox was for, I was told by "one-who-should-know" that it was the Volvo seal tool and was used for inserting the grease /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[samwise]

Burping the seal is a lot more than just a good idea, it is downright essential unless you want the seal to overheat, destroy itself and sink the boat -- not to be too dramatic about it!

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
There again, when inspecting a potential boat for purchase, when I queried what the plastic tool tied to the gearbox was for, I was told by "one-who-should-know" that it was the Volvo seal tool and was used for inserting the grease /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Regrettably, "those-who-should-know" often don't! Volvo provide good instructions with the seal.