PSS seal with vent tube

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FairweatherDave

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I'm just trying to learn about my PSS seal and have been studying vy cox's very useful stuff

http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Sternglands.aspx

(the PSS seal is right near the bottom)

As the boat is new to me the seller suggested I should burp the seal once the boat was craned in. Not a proper burp as the seal has a vent tube. I managed to do this and get a little water to pass out of the seal into the bilge, then motoring heard nothing that worried me and assume I had done it right. This post is really just a double check. What I want to confirm is should this just be a launch process at the start of the season? If I dry out on the beach for the night or after a month away from the boat on her occasionally drying mooring I don't need to burp the seal? I don't fully get the role of the vent tube. Also what is the reasonable life expectancy of a PSS seal? I note that there is a service kit available from ASAP for something that is supposedly maintenance free. Thanks for any replies.
 
You don't need to burp a PSS seal, the vent tube ensures water can get up the stern tube to lubricate the seal.
If the boat has not been used for some time, it is recommended to push the seal back, briefly separating the sealing faces (and letting a small amount of water into the boat) to ensure they haven't stuck together, before starting the engine. If you come out for winter, it is recommended to flush the seal faces with fresh water, to reduce the risk of the stainless bit pitting
They don't need day to day maintenance, but they recommend the bellows are replaced every 7 yrs as the rubber may degrade with time. This may just be to ensure spares are sold regularly.......
Only had ours for a year, so can't comment on life expectancy.
 
Thanks Andrew, that's really useful stuff. Just curious where to get information on the seal and issues to watch for, I seem to have drawn a blank so far. I reckon mine was fitted in 2008 so I will certainly try and get through 2015 before replacing the bellows.
 
You can find the instructions here

http://www.shaftseal.com/en/about/installation_instructions

I made a mistake above, as they recommend changing the bellows every 6 yrs now.

Also if you do a search on here, you'll find things like

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?410212-Esper-Refit-35-PSS-Dripless-Seal-dimmable-LED-lights

The general consensus seems to be they are very good. I swopped from a Volvo seal to a PSS last year, partly because we are on a semi tidal mooring, and burping is a pain and partly because it was done as part of a new engine, and was recommended and fitted by TS marine, (I got the impression he does a few of them). There is one detractor on here, but I'm not convinced he had a genuine PSS.
 
Brilliant, thanks. Will study it all later when I get some peace :). I did do YBW's search using PSS seal but did not get that one, (at least not on page one). Cheers
 
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