Volvo Shaft Seal greasing

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cliffb

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I'm well impressed by this bit of kit and have no problems with it leaking. However, I want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. In an earlier post on this seal, in a link to volvo web page, there's reference to a grease tube. Can anyone tell me what this is, does anyone use it? And if I don't have it what can be used instead? And while I'm on it... just for clarity's sake ... where do you poke the grease, i.e. which end (or both) of the seal? Also... I use thinnish marine grease. Do you use this or will any old auto grease be OK.
TIA
Cliff
 
This topic was on the forum a couple of weeks ago.
But just to let you know a new seal comes with a tube of "VOLVO" grease. so I assume that is the one they recommend.Just insert the tube nozzle under the rubber where it touches the shaft and sqeeze in a couple of milliltres to each end of seal. The grease is available on its own from a volvo dealer.I squirt some grease into the seal after a relaunch and after I have bled the seal.Squeeze it gently to let the air out.
 
They are referring to the proper Volvo grease which comes in a tube with a nozzle. Squeeze the seal where the shaft goes in and it will open up a little to allow you to squirt some in. Do it when out of the water otherwise the water will push it out.
 
Cliff, as you say a great piece of kit. I use the Volvo seal grease in a small tube which unusually for Volvo is not expensive. Take a stiffish plastic bag, cut off a corner and put about 1 cc of grease in the corner. Squeeze the front of the seal to open the lip, put bag into it and squeeze grease into the seal, as far round as you can.
Job done! No need to grease the other end, that just needs to be watertight.
 
The grease tube referred to is actually a tube of grease which can be obtained from any Volvo-Penta dealer; it is a small tube of grease with a longish nozzle which is easy to insert under the lip of the seal. Just pinch the seal together and insert the nozzle of the tube and squeeze in the recommended amount of grease (2 cm ??). A small tube will last a few years. You should be able to insert this into the end of the seal that sits on the shaft .... the other end should be attached to the stern tube with a jubilee clip (as in photo on Volvo site).

Alan.
 
I'd just add that sometimes the added grease stops the water and air getting past the seal initially when you try and "burp" it on launch. When this happens I use the blunt end of a small cable tie or similar just to push enough grease out the way to allow the air to escape - this done whilst pinching the end of the seal.

Rob
 
Getting the nozzle between the shaft and the seal, and then getting the grease in without splitting the tube is not as easy as it sounds. A quick and effective method to get enough grease in the seal is to unfold the sealed wide end of the tube, fold it round the shaft, then gently slide it under the seal. Squeeze the tube to insert the grease in the seal, with the cap on the nozzle of course, and the job is done.
 
This amuses me... Amber had a Volvo seal fitted and I went to "pinch the seal" to burp it... Now I'm 6' 3 and 16 stone and I had to near enogh do a one handed press up supported by the shaft seal to burp it. That thing is hard and tough!
 
I find it is all about technique. Press both sides of the seal below the level of a horizontal line drawn through the prop shaft, and a gap opens up in the top half wide enough to burp the seal or insert the end of the grease tube. You may have to apply the pressure just behind the hard lip at the end of the seal. And no, my seal is not badly worn to allow the movement.
 
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