Servicing a PSS shaft seal

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sheyes

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I’ve had a PSS shaft seal on my Sadler 34 for a number of years and am very pleased with its performance. The bellows on the seal should be replaced every 6 years but I am having problems getting the correct size for my one inch prop shaft and one and a quarter inch stern tube. ASAP have sent me one which is too large and at the moment are having difficulty getting the correct size.

If you have any experience regarding this problem I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction

Regards
Steve
 
From memory the stern tube diameter may be 1.75 inch, not 1.25 inch. When I fitted mine, also to a Sadler 34, PSS did not make bellows with the combination of 1 inch shaft, 1.75 inch stern gland. I needed to buy the next size up, 2 inch I assume, and fitted a tubular rubber collar that they supplied. Mine came from Aquafax.

I fitted mine many years ago. This list PYI Inc. | PSS Shaft Seal Maintenance Kit suggests that they have added sizes now and there may well be one that fits.
 
I measured my stern tube as 37.5 mm when I got the latest PSS and Aquafax and ASAP recommended going for the 1-1/4 size. It is interesting that you have the 2 inch version with the insert as the one they have sent me is 2 inches at the stern tube end but with no insert and my present insert is too small to fit safely into the bellows. This is useful information for my discussions with ASAP

It took a few weeks for delivery as there are clearly delivery problems as mentioned on the PYI site

Thanks for the reply Vyv, useful as always.
 
I changed to the new PSS six years ago as I keep the boat on a drying mooring and the newer versions include a vent pipe which means I don’t have to “burp” the seal every time I go sailing. Have you changed your bellows at all, mine look fine but the advice from PYI is to change them at about 6yrs?
 
I did mine two years ago, at about 10 years. ASAP supplied the replacement but only the bellows not the full refurb kit as shown on the manufacturers website. As it was over a hundred quid for 50p piece of rubber I rather wish I had bought a complete new seal. I notice the new units are shown with a metal rather than nylon (?) water injection spigot which may well be a useful improvement.

The new bellows were slightly more heavily made than the original from 2008 ish. However the old was the identical length and had not been compressed even a fraction. I was able to give it a very close inspection and it seemed to me to be as new.

I won't replace again unless I actually have real doubts based on condition.

.
 
Yes it is a lot for a piece of rubber. I notice fro my original invoice I paid £161 for the whole thing originally although now the complete kit is £325
 
sheyes said:
I measured my stern tube as 37.5 mm when I got the latest PSS and Aquafax and ASAP recommended going for the 1-1/4 size. It is interesting that you have the 2 inch version with the insert as the one they have sent me is 2 inches at the stern tube end but with no insert and my present insert is too small to fit safely into the bellows. This is useful information for my discussions with ASAP

It took a few weeks for delivery as there are clearly delivery problems as mentioned on the PYI site

Thanks for the reply Vyv, useful as always.
Click to expand...
37.5 is near enough 1 1/2" which is listed as a bellows size for 1" shaft here lakesterngear.co.uk/catalogue.pdf
 
sheyes said:
I changed to the new PSS six years ago as I keep the boat on a drying mooring and the newer versions include a vent pipe which means I don’t have to “burp” the seal every time I go sailing. Have you changed your bellows at all, mine look fine but the advice from PYI is to change them at about 6yrs?
Click to expand...
I fitted mine a long time ago, more than 10 years but the boat is only afloat half the year. It came with the vent. Last time I checked the bellows were still quite flexible and in good condition.
 
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