Shaft Seal

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cazzascotta

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hello, my Voolvo Penta shaft seal has begin to drip. After antifouling and re-launching the boat (yes, I burped and greased), I note that:
1-in idle or engine off no water enters;
2-when (at the pontoon) I put in forward or in reverse and get more RPM the water begin to enter;
it is a little quantity, but how long can it last before the drama?
If you like, see these photos: the water is just a spray, but also a spray can be dangerous if uncontrolled.
Thank for opinion and suggestions.
photo1
photo2
photo3
 
Thoses piccies are for the archives - that's the first time I've ever heard of one leaking!

A question - did it leak when you were last in the water? If not what, if anything, aside from greasing/burping was done.

These things are pretty foolproof and it sounds as though something might have got trapped just under the seal. How did you squeeze the grease in? Could a tiny bit of plastic bag or similar have got left under the lipseal?

Although not designed for the purpose, I think I'd use the red split plastic collar that is provided in the fitting kit to protect the seals when fitting the shaft. I'd well grease this and gently slide it into and past the forward seal to dislodge whatever may be trapped there.

With luck, it'll clear it and allow the seal to sit snuggly on the shaft as designed.

No idea whether this is the solution, but it's the first thing I'd try.
 
ashonvega:
the pipe is for lube water, as for my knowing. It comes from a hull seacock and I've heard that someone does not burp thanks to this system.
jerryat:
have you ever done so? Many people says it is dangerous becaus the plastic collar can damage the lip-seals...
 
Cazza, I have one of those. I have recently acquired an engineers hypodermic where I can inject a pea sized portion of waterproof grease into the business area. I believe mine leaks more than yours when the engine is working. Experts on the Beneteau Owners website assure me that the seal can be replaced whilst drying on a tide. I'm not sure I have that confidence. I will put up with the leak and wait until next lift out to replace the seal.

If showing play, the cutlass bearing will be renewed at that time.
 
[ QUOTE ]

have you ever done so? Many people says it is dangerous becaus the plastic collar can damage the lip-seals...

[/ QUOTE ]

I used the plastic collar for the first burp after launching because I suspected that it would take some time to get rid of all the air. I greased the collar, and started by entering one corner, and then working my way round the shaft. Obviously, check that the collar is smooth, but I wouldn't have thought that it would cause damage.

54BurpingSternGland.jpg


Ash
 
Ah, now I am glad that I changed my volvo shaft seal before re-launching. It didn't take very long to do, probably no more than an hour and I haven't done it before.
HOWEVER if you wanted to do it between tides you would need to be somewhere you could get access to the outside of the boat (so on teh hard rather than on a mudbank!) as we found the shaft was very difficult to pull backwards, and required tapping the prop with a rubber mallet. When puting it back the alignment of the cutter was also important.

Interestingly the new opne had a date on it whereas the old one didn't - at least taht is whet we decided part of the numbering meant.

Regards
 
[ QUOTE ]

HOWEVER if you wanted to do it between tides


[/ QUOTE ]

Cazzascotta is from Italy. I don't know which part but I suspect that he does not have much of a tide. Perhaps he can confirm?

Cazzascotta, stanno suggerendo che puoi cambiarla nell intervallo tra una marea e la prossima. Ma, esiste una marea, la' dove tieni la barca?
 
>>>jerryat:
have you ever done so? Many people says it is dangerous becaus the plastic collar can damage the lip-seals... <<<<

The red split collar is supplied by Volvo in the box with the seal and is specifically designed to protect the seals when first fitting the seal. Therefore there is no way that you should damage the seals by using it. I suggested you grease it, purely to make it's sliding along the shaft and into the unit easier.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, if it wasn't leaking last season, something must have happened in the interim. Possibly a bit of rubbish has got caught between the lip of the forward seal and the shaft. It seems to me that using the plastic collar is possible way of pushing it out of the way!

The outer seal (the 'wet' one) will stop any water entering unless that too, is not bedding against the shaft properly. This does appear likely, otherwise I can't see how the water is reaching the foreward seal as either seal is quite capable of keeping the water out on it's own.

I, like another poster, also wonder if that water feed pipe is a possible cause. On reflection, and slightly diffent from my earlier post, I would try pushing the plastic collar right through both inner and outer seals. As you are in the water a tiny amount will enter, but as it will only be a matter of moments before you withdraw the collar, it'll probably be measureable in teaspoons full!
 
I live in Sardinia, no tides. I am in a port that has a 2.70 m of water at my mooring.
I think it will be necessary to lift the boat. But the question is: if I don't do this immediately, what is the risk?
 
I think that the normal (due to gravity) water pressure on the seal is minimal and that's the pressure the seal is designed for. Maybe the additional water provided by the hose is causing the leak. If you have a way of decreasing the water flow of the hose you could check again.

AIMHO.
 
Hi,
I have the same problem and was told it may just be 1 old and needs replacing. 2 Engine mounts worn and lots of movement. 3 My thoughts when the hull has been pressure washed some of the dirt has been forced up it?
 
Anybody got a section drawing of the Volvo seal; I'd really like to see how the thing is constructed and know how far you really need to get the grease in!! The rubber lip really neeeds to be greased to seal it but what about the insides??

Alan.
 
Thanks for your reply. I have had them fitted on two boats but have never seen a "section" through one. I think I'll try to get hold of an old one and cut it in half.

Alan.
 
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