Stern Gland Oil reservoir

[Tranona]

Can I ask those who are infinitely more technically minded than myself, what would be the best course of action, if any, should there be major damage to the bellows while under way ? For example if a cable gave way and got caught up and ripped it ? Would I be OK to sail myself out of trouble or is it mayday time ?

First, highly unlikely to fail as they are made of re-inforced material. There is no wear in normal use and unlikely anything would get near it to damage it. Don't understand your remark about "cable gave way" What cable and how would that damage the bellows?

Flexible connections are used extensively in shaft seals of all types and just need regular inspection.

But if they do fail water comes in!

 

[LeonF]

First, highly unlikely to fail as they are made of re-inforced material. There is no wear in normal use and unlikely anything would get near it to damage it. Don't understand your remark about "cable gave way" What cable and how would that damage the bellows?

Flexible connections are used extensively in shaft seals of all types and just need regular inspection.

But if they do fail water comes in!

Well it was just a thought. My morse cables run quite close to the thing and I often wonder what might happen if they came undone and rested on the bellows and chafed it through without my knowing. A vivid imagination perhaps!

 

[26footer]

Shaft Seal

Ambasador Marine aslo make a oil lubricated shaft seal called a sealmaster. It has 1 rubber pipe that goes to a reservoir (looks like a brake reservoir) they suggest normal engine oil.

The seal is a brass cylinder attached to a rubber bellows and has 2 lip seals.

Have used one for 30,000 miles and it does not leak

 

[26footer]

Hi, we are pretty sure we have a Sealmaster SM5 seal originally sold (to the previous owner around 1999-2003 probably by Ambassador Marine), and which has performed perfectly to date. But now we have the engine on our Victoria 26 out for other reasons and are wondering whether we ought to do any servicing on the shaftseal, (or replace it).

Does anyone have any technical info on what if anything was serviceable and whether those parts are standard? A manual would be useful, we just have a single page with some some installation instructions.