squealing Halyard shaft seal

Malish

Malish

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Hi
My recently acquired boat has a Halyard shaft seal (age unknown); on engaging gear it occasionally squeals for a minute or two before quietning down to zero noise. The oil level is fine but I do not know the grade of oil and there seems to be no leakage. Is the squeal a common feature? is there a fix? or Is the seal telling me that it is on its last legs ?
 
Moonfire said:
Hi
My recently acquired boat has a Halyard shaft seal (age unknown); on engaging gear it occasionally squeals for a minute or two before quietning down to zero noise. The oil level is fine but I do not know the grade of oil and there seems to be no leakage. Is the squeal a common feature? is there a fix? or Is the seal telling me that it is on its last legs ?
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Seal infrequently squeals, when oil seals are about to go. Water seals last for (nearly) ever.

I would plan the replacement of the Halyard in toto, now - as it was gravely disappointing in service and the manufacturers discontinued support about 12 years ago.

I replaced mine with a PSS, in 1998, which has given about 5700 hours use - occasional movement of the rotor down the shaft, resulting in leaks, to which I fitted a new bellows (unneccesarily it turned out), last summer.
 
I, on the advice of the boatyard, replaced the oil in the seal with grease suitable for a stern gland with fitted greaser. The oil line from the reservoir was connected to a greaser and the whole thing filled with grease. No subsequent issues. The seals had been perfect but careless removal of the shaft, by another yard, had resulted in seepage and oil loss.
 
I have a Halyard seal - the type with a remote oil reservoir. It was on the boat when I bought it nine years ago - it wasn't dripping then and it isn't dripping now, some 12,000 miles later (admittedly, far fewer under motor). If yours isn't dripping water or leaking oil then its probably alright. The only problem I've had with mine was when oil leaked out when the engine became misaligned with the shaft - as soon as I re-aligned the engine the problem disappeared.

From memory, O-rings spin with the shaft and keep the water out while lip-seals are static and keep the oil in. It is also worth noting that the set-up of the "collar" (it's not a collar at all but I can't think of the right name for it - I'm referring to the bit sticking out the front, with shaft going through it and the allen screws in) is critical. From memory, with everything at rest the "collar" should project forward from the face of the unit by about a centimetre - 12mm I think. For what it's worth, I've had the prop-shaft on my boat out and back in several times over the years. There is no problem if you are careful and the part of the shaft going through the seals is smooth (i.e. with no burring around splines or holes) and clean. The biggest risk in the process is damaging the O-rings or lip-seals by subjecting the seal to too much force.

The fluid to top up with is Automatic Transmission Fluid or similar.

Although the unit is no longer made, Halyard Marine were very helpful when I rang up, adnittedly some years ago, to ask questions. Spare seals were available (I think they are bought in).

I won't worry about mine until it starts to give problems. Mine has never squealed and I suspect it is unlikely to unless the shaft is turning in the "collar" thingo - either because it is seized (highly unlikely) or because the allen screws are loose (unlikely to produce a squeal unless perhaps the "collar" moves too far in or out). Perhaps the squealing is coming from something else close to the seal?
 
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kacecar said:
I have a Halyard seal - the type with a remote oil reservoir. It was on the boat when I bought it nine years ago - it wasn't dripping then and it isn't dripping now, some 12,000 miles later (admittedly, far fewer under motor). If yours isn't dripping water or leaking oil then its probably alright. The only problem I've had with mine was when oil leaked out when the engine became misaligned with the shaft - as soon as I re-aligned the engine the problem disappeared.

From memory, O-rings spin with the shaft and keep the water out while lip-seals are static and keep the oil in. It is also worth noting that the set-up of the "collar" (it's not a collar at all but I can't think of the right name for it - I'm referring to the bit sticking out the front, with shaft going through it and the allen screws in) is critical. From memory, with everything at rest the "collar" should project forward from the face of the unit by about a centimetre - 12mm I think. For what it's worth, I've had the prop-shaft on my boat out and back in several times over the years. There is no problem if you are careful and the part of the shaft going through the seals is smooth (i.e. with no burring around splines or holes) and clean. The biggest risk in the process is damaging the O-rings or lip-seals by subjecting the seal to too much force.

The fluid to top up with is Automatic Transmission Fluid or similar.

Although the unit is no longer made, Halyard Marine were very helpful when I rang up, adnittedly some years ago, to ask questions. Spare seals were available (I think they are bought in).

I won't worry about mine until it starts to give problems. Mine has never squealed and I suspect it is unlikely to unless the shaft is turning in the "collar" thingo - either because it is seized (highly unlikely) or because the allen screws are loose (unlikely to produce a squeal unless perhaps the "collar" moves too far in or out). Perhaps the squealing is coming from something else close to the seal?
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In 9 years my boat would have done nearly 3 times the mileage and more than half of that on the engine.

The words I used were chosen with care, they're the same as were used to me by one of Halyard's directors.

As I've pointed out - the very much simpler PSS seal has given no trouble over x3 the work-period of the Halyard.

PS The PSS seal was the one recommended to me by Halyard - who I have to confirm, were extremely helpful and supportive in trying to get the seal to give satisfaction.
 
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kacecar said:
I won't worry about mine until it starts to give problems. Mine has never squealed and I suspect it is unlikely to unless the shaft is turning in the "collar" thingo - either because it is seized (highly unlikely) or because the allen screws are loose (unlikely to produce a squeal unless perhaps the "collar" moves too far in or out). Perhaps the squealing is coming from something else close to the seal?
Click to expand...

Just to tidy up the thread - this was the problem. The allen screws had become loose and the shaft collar had moved out, re-setting it has cured the squel. Thanks for the guidance, I just wish access to the unit was a little easier!
 
Hi Moonfire

I'm glad you've found the problem.

I just checked the manual for my shaft seal in case the info I gave you in my earlier post was flawed.
a) The 12mm measurement is correct and, according to the manual, is vital - the the thing I called the "collar" is the "rotating shaft sleeve" and it (and the shaft) have to be able to move back and forth inside the seal body to "accomodate engine movements on soft mounts" The manual also says "If the 12mm setting is out by more than 3mm, the seal may run against its end movement stops causing . . . premature failure." Use of locking fluid on the grub screws is recommended.
b) As pvb says, the oil to be used is " . . . any good engine lubricating oil with a viscosity of up to 30w, or with multigrade oil 10w/30w. Lubricating oil for diesel engines can be used but contains a detergent which may make the oil appear dark after 100 engine hours." The manual goes on to say "TIP... Automatic Transmission fluid (ATF) may also be used."

Hope that helps.
 
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