Odd sized Volvo shaft seal

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Bluboy456

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The shaft seal on my Kingfisher 30 drips steadily, although not catastrophically. I'd like to replace it but I I can't find anyone who supplies a seal to fit. The shaft is 1 inch and the stern tube is 1 7/8 inch diameter. The existing seal looks like a Volvo (see photo), but Volvo only do a 1 3/4 inch stern tube seal for a 1 inch shaft. Is it possible that a previous owner forced a 1 3/4 inch seal over the stern tube?
 

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Yes as I did. However, I have a grp stern tube and was able to file the lip at 1 7/8ths down a bit to help getting the seal on. Those aren't the original Volvo clips either, though given the shortage of space you have it may have been a necessity.

How do you get grease into the seal which they need once a year? You might be better off with the orbital trade version which has a grease and vent ports, see ASAP supplies website.

Pete
 
We had a problem the other way with a Gibsea 96. The stern tube was shy of the required dimension.

Using a bit of alloy scaffold tube I turned up a thin - 1/8th inch - spacer and epoxied it in place.

AFAIK it is still there, seal fine after 11 seasons, just annual attack with a McDonalds straw and rubber grease.
 
Look at the Elich radice RMTA seals here https://www.sillette.co.uk/catalogue.pdf#page=17
Both 25mm and 1 inch seals are available for 42mm stern tubes. 42mm is 1.623 inches i.e for 1&5/8 inch. I suggest you check the stern tube with a vernier to confirm its exact diameter. The RMTA seal proved excellent on my boat, though I did not have the problem of stretching it, I think it will stretch a little to go on if you make sure the tube has no rough or sharp edges. I expect Sillette Sonic will be able to tell you.
 
Using calipers the stern tube is 48mm (1 7/8) diameter behind the seal. I
Pete7 said:
Yes as I did. However, I have a grp stern tube and was able to file the lip at 1 7/8ths down a bit to help getting the seal on. Those aren't the original Volvo clips either, though given the shortage of space you have it may have been a necessity.

How do you get grease into the seal which they need once a year? You might be better off with the orbital trade version which has a grease and vent ports, see ASAP supplies website.

Pete
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Stern tube is steel, so filing down won't be so easy, unfortunately. Do you remember how hard was it to get the seal over the lip - did you have to heat up the seal to soften it?
 
Using calipers the stern tube measures 48mm (1 /7/8in) behind the seal. I'm wonder if there might be a step down under the seal. I'm going to the boat this weekend and will loosen the clips and slide it forward a bit to have a look. (The boat is out of the water!)
 
Daverw said:
Coopec, I’m a bit confused, we are talking about a marine shaft seal,
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I assume you want a lip seal? It will have to be the correct material then because an oil seal is different to one used for sea water. When I wanted a seal for my rudder shaft I bought off a UK manufacturer and it may have been SKF

For the prop shaft I used a Tides Marine shaft seal
SureSeal-500x500.jpg


Are you talking about a dripless seal? Maybe you want one of these?
Seals for Inboard Shafts
 
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Bluboy456 said:
Using calipers the stern tube is 48mm (1 7/8) diameter behind the seal. I

Stern tube is steel, so filing down won't be so easy, unfortunately. Do you remember how hard was it to get the seal over the lip - did you have to heat up the seal to soften it?
Click to expand...
No but some violence and washing up liquid was required. The large Volvo double circlip also needs 3 hands. I put one longer bolt through first to pull it together and then put the other one in to clamp it tight, then go back and replace the first with right sized bolt.
 
Thanks for the advice. In the end I found that a 1 3/4in Volvo seal will stretch to 1 7/8 diameter quite easily after being softened in very hot water. The Volvo hose clamp won't stretch that far though, so I used two jubilee clips instead.

Boat goes back in the water soon, fingers crossed!
 
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