Volvo Shaft Seal - Lubrication

[hunter323]

At last getting to the end of winter maintenance and ready for launch - just need to lubricate seal.

I favour the drinking straw method but am unsure how far this needs to be inserted to get to the appropriate spot - assume between the two seals. Would be grateful for the answer

 

[ghostlymoron]

AFAIK you need to get grease between the two seals as you correctly assume. There's a cut through picture of one on Vyv Cox's website http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Sternglands.aspx which could help you estimate the depth of penetration. You may be able to feel when you've passed the first lip.

 

[rotrax]

which could help you estimate the depth of penetration. You may be able to feel when you've passed the first lip.

OOOOH! You mucky pup!

 

[superheat6k]

Insert the end of the straw about 10mm, that's all, and rotate the shaft as you squeeze to spread the grease around the periplery of the seal.

 

[ghostlymoron]

At last - a reply from someone who has actually done it!

 

[jakeroyd]

I use a hyperdermic syringe without the needle on of course.
Mine has a stem about 10mm long with a rounded end.
It's great cos you can dispense the required 10ml.

Only problem I get is that some grease escapes out where the stem penetrates the seal

I don't do it afloat

 

[vyv_cox]

I use a hyperdermic syringe without the needle on of course.
Mine has a stem about 10mm long with a rounded end.
It's great cos you can dispense the required 10ml.

Only problem I get is that some grease escapes out where the stem penetrates the seal

I don't do it afloat

That's the beauty of the MacDonalds straw technique. No grease is lost and the equipment is free. No harm at all in doing it afloat.

As a slight aside, I have repacked my stern gland twice in the past couple of months, boat afloat throughout. The amount of water entering the boat was tiny, not enough to trigger the automatic bilge pump.