Halyard Shaft Oil Seal

[Guest]

I read an earlier posting with interest but seek advice regarding my Halyard Oil Seal.
I fitted it myself 3 years ago to my yacht, having carefully and gently polished the shaft with emery paper turning in a lathe. Assembly was trouble free and I am certain the oil seal was not damaged during this. The seal has never let in any water, but it used a container full of oil each of the first 2 years (about 100 hours motoring each season).
Hayard's instrction book suggests about 1cm oil per season; but they did offer to take a look if I returned it to them. Due to poor access to the stern tube it is a major job to get it out again so I just topped up.
This season the oil consumption has rocketed and the bilge is faithfully collecting it all. I've refilled the resevoir 3 times. The last one only lasted about 5 hours so I guess a seal has gone completely.

Has anyone else experienced this trouble?

 

[jfkal]

Yeah. Looks like the lipseal is gone. I had the same trouble with the outside seal. I lost oil but it went overboard. No way this thing can be fixed. Halyard stopped producing them but might have residual stock. I got a 25 mm one three month ago.
I suggest you replace with another brand.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that. I hope not to have to pay for the replacement seal on the grounds that it was a failure of their product since Day 1. However I'll just have to wait and see what Halyard say. Going by previous dealings with the company regarding failure of sound inslation, I'm sure they will be helpful.

 

[jfkal]

Yes I would give it a shot. The seal should not loose oil after the first "load" has settled down. My new one is not loosing any oil at all (at least not yet).

 

[Guest]

Halyard's seal wont be something special - they wouldn't have the volume. as like as not, it will be a standard item and you will be able to get one from an engineers merchant or seal specialist in your nearest big town. just make sure you ask for a stainless spring (they have a spring inside the lip) or fit the one from the original seal if undamaged,
you will find the size and number of the seal embossed on it. cost will be small change