Shaft greaser

[pugwash]

My boat has one of those gadgets with which you screw a dollop of grease into the prop-shaft where it exits the hull, can't remember its official name. Question is, how often should I use it? Some say once an hour. Others say once a day. Or every time you think of it. Obviously it's one of those things you can't do too often, but what's best?

 

[Evadne]

Stern greaser, sounds about right:

I'm not sure there is a hard and fast rule, but once per hour sounds like the bearing is a bit rattly or the packing is getting a bit worn. If there is drip at the shaft seal then I give it a turn, or once per weekend at the most. But not if I don't use the engine. Or if I'm doing hours and hours of motoring, in which case I'll check it every few hours ... or more accurately, when I remember. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif As you say, you're doing no harm by doing it too often.

 

[supermalc]

You may find it is easy to remove and fit with a grease nipple, or better still a remote greaser. If it is similar to mine it just unscrews from the sterntube like a bolt. Unless there is a seal you can push out, I know of no reason how you can grease it too much. As long as you grease it when you stop, to prevent the seal leaking, and grease it occasionally to prevent any excessive wear, 'when you remember' is sufficient.

I use liberal amounts of grease. I've just made and fitted a new shaft. Maybe I didn't manage to balance it quite as good as I would have liked.....had to jerry rig a pair of parallel bars. But I find plenty of grease keeps it running smoothly.