Volvo Seal Burping

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Amp1ng

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I'm usually in a marina berth and hence afloat all the time. However last week I took the boat over to another yard that dries (mud). Picked the boat up and promptly departed ontop of the tide cleanly forgetting to bleed the shaft seal. I motored for about an hour on 3/4 throttle back to the marina tied her up and went home.

Last night i had a very sleepless night when I suddenly remembered to bleed the seal. What is the likelihood of total damage to what was a brand new seal at the start of this season, what should I have noticed as being the symptoms of a seal running dry? Shaft exits from a GRP stern tube from right under the boat so I I presume an air lock is very likely.

Thanks
 
Amp1ng said:
I'm usually in a marina berth and hence afloat all the time. However last week I took the boat over to another yard that dries (mud). Picked the boat up and promptly departed ontop of the tide cleanly forgetting to bleed the shaft seal. I motored for about an hour on 3/4 throttle back to the marina tied her up and went home.

Last night i had a very sleepless night when I suddenly remembered to bleed the seal. What is the likelihood of total damage to what was a brand new seal at the start of this season, what should I have noticed as being the symptoms of a seal running dry? Shaft exits from a GRP stern tube from right under the boat so I I presume an air lock is very likely.

Thanks
Click to expand...

When are you next down to your boat?
The seal could now have a slow drip. Worth going sooner rather than later.
I have made a similar mistake. The seal had to be replaced soon after.
 
Or you could look on the bright side. If it wasn't so new and getting on a bit maybe it was time to renew it anyway.
Depending upon what access you have some people replace them with the boat still in the water.
I actually carry a spare on board because invariably they start to drip when the boat's away on its holidays.
 
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If the stern tube is 'right under the boat' it's likely it didn't dry out.
I have owned two boats with those seals, both in a mud berth, sometimes I burped, sometimes I didn't, the seals lasted for ever, never a drip. They are excellent, but remember to give them a good feed of (the proper) grease at the start of each season.
 
I think the answer to the question is we really don't know.
A friend of mine did the same on his Hallberg Rassey. The following weekend the slow drip was still enough for the water to be up to the undersides of the sole boards.
Do you have an auto bilge pump fitted?
I would hope for the best but plan for the worst to use and old cliche.
If you can get down to the boat I would go.
Your profile doesn't give a location. May be someone local could check in on the boat.
If you know your shaft diameter I would order a spare. Even if you don't need it yet it would still be handy to have.

You're not going to sleep well until you take a look.
 
A couple of years ago I ran mine for about 1 hour without burping it and became aware of an odd noise from the shaft, can't remember or quantify the noise - it just sounded different
When I realised what it was, I went below to burp it and the shaft was too hot too touch !! (Hunter 273, 1GM10 and 25mm shaft)
Soon cooled down after it was burped but it always leaked after that - not much but enough to warrant replacing it
If you are going to replace it, the new Radice seal from Silette Marine looks a good option, just like a Volvo seal but has a vent tube so no need to burp and it has a greasing nipple
 
Doubt it has run dry. It soon tells you because the fluted rubber bearing protests loudly if it is dry - to remind you that it needs burping.
 
Thanks all.

The seal was brand new this season, well greased and I didn't hear any unususal sounds whilst underway so I'm hoping for the best.

I'll probably go down before the end of the week though just to check, if only to get a decent night sleep (or not as the case may be)!
 
Aha. A helpful Tranona response, thank you. I carry a spare because I assume that one day/year after lying alongside a wall I will forget:eek:
 
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I recently sailed a school boat where the owner warned me to listen out for an odd noise and if I heard it then burp the seal. Heard the noise on two occasions and burped the seal shortly afterwards each time - air came out both times. I just hope all crews are as observant.

In this case the boat was not out of the water but had recently been fitted with a big 3-blade prop - I suspect cavitation had been forcing air up the stern tube.

- W
 
Amp1ng said:
I'm usually in a marina berth and hence afloat all the time. However last week I took the boat over to another yard that dries (mud). Picked the boat up and promptly departed ontop of the tide cleanly forgetting to bleed the shaft seal. I motored for about an hour on 3/4 throttle back to the marina tied her up and went home.

Last night i had a very sleepless night when I suddenly remembered to bleed the seal. What is the likelihood of total damage to what was a brand new seal at the start of this season, what should I have noticed as being the symptoms of a seal running dry? Shaft exits from a GRP stern tube from right under the boat so I I presume an air lock is very likely.

Thanks
Click to expand...
If you have one, like my Bene, with a tube coming out of the top to a thru hull seacock then I wouldnt worry about it. Mine self bleeds/burps.
Stu
 
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