Volvo shaft seal real life

[KAM]

I fitted one of these 13 years ago. Its now done 1400 hours. Volvo give a life of 1000 hours. Showing no signs of leakage. Just wondering how long others are leaving theirs before changing. Does anyone have any practical actual experience of the mode of failure.

 

[johnalison]

I had one for about ten years on our old boat and didn’t pay much attention to its durability. As far as I remember when I fitted it I was told that they more or less go on for ever though some heavily-used charter boats might eventually drip. Despite this, it’s not a very expensive item and if it were me I’d want to change it before it started worrying me.

 

[Martin_J]

It might not be leaking but it's hard to see any cracks that might have formed in the rubber just under the edge of the clip that holds it on...

Very difficult even to try and see cracks forming in that area until you swap it out then try bending it and you might see what I'm talking about.

 

[Martin_J]

A picture speaks a thousand words. It was in the area circled below that I found cracks starting to appear.... but only after I had swapped it out.

 

[Plum]

I fitted one of these 13 years ago. Its now done 1400 hours. Volvo give a life of 1000 hours. Showing no signs of leakage. Just wondering how long others are leaving theirs before changing. Does anyone have any practical actual experience of the mode of failure.

Good question. Never heard of one failing catastrophically. Changed mine at 1000hrs, 18 years, but only for peace of mind as it was not even dripping and no signs of deterioration on removal.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Tranona]

Much depends on the installation. If it is very flexible and the shaft moves a lot this can shorten life. Running dry can wreck the seals. Long periods with no movement can result in crevice corrosion on the shaft or build up of deposits in the water around the seals. Sometimes the wear is in the shaft with grooves where the seals run. I changed mine after 10 years for a Radice and there was no wear on the original. Latest boat fitted with a vented Radice. Expect it will outlast me!

 

[rotrax]

Me too.

My vented Radiche was moved forward 8 inches with a ASAP exhaust joiner in thick wall GRP for better access. I could barely touch it after evacuating my lungs and leaning forwards full stretch. To adjust the OE bronze gland was impossible. Very easy to reach and lube annually now.

A fellow club member had an old Volvo stuffing box on his Westerly for 17 years. The boat was kept on a drying mooring in Fareham.

One of the better products available to boaters.

 

[awol]

I ran a 25mm Volvo seal on a 1" shaft - they didn't do a 42mm/1" version - and after about 10 years it produced a fine spray when running but drip-free at standstill. Now have a Radice of the correct size.

 

[tjbrace]

Mine has done 17 seasons. So far so very good.

 

[Norman_E]

I fitted one of these 13 years ago. Its now done 1400 hours. Volvo give a life of 1000 hours. Showing no signs of leakage. Just wondering how long others are leaving theirs before changing. Does anyone have any practical actual experience of the mode of failure.

When I bought my boat it had a Volvo seal which was probably original and if so it had survived 7 years charter use, and about 4000 engine hours, though I don't know if it was a replacement or original. I did not change it for several years and another 1000 hours. I replaced it with the Eliche Radice seal which is very similar but has a greasing point and a vent, so does not need burping. Both appear to me to have a very good life expectancy provided they are greased fairly regularly, and not run dry.

EDIT: I only replaced it as a precaution because it was old. It never leaked.

 

[opwanderer]

Boat launched new in 1999. Approx 1800 hours running time. Not a drip to date

 

[Lightwave395]

I'm one of the tiny minority that has failed miserably with the Radice seal, I got through 2 in 5 years and despite spending an inordinate amount of time on prop alignment (boat in the water), a new shaft and new engine mounts neither I nor my engineer could stop them leaking after a fairly short while.
At the begining of last year I gave up and fitted a PSS seal and haven't had a drop of water in the boat since.
Go figure...!

 

[Amlov]

I'm one of the tiny minority that has failed miserably with the Radice seal, I got through 2 in 5 years and despite spending an inordinate amount of time on prop alignment (boat in the water), a new shaft and new engine mounts neither I nor my engineer could stop them leaking after a fairly short while.
At the begining of last year I gave up and fitted a PSS seal and haven't had a drop of water in the boat since.
Go figure...!

There’s a challenge - I would start by checking the engine coupling and the shaft to see if the shaft is running off centre to the gearbox output. The brave can feel this on a rotating shaft, but a dial gauge saves fingers.

 

[Lightwave395]

There’s a challenge - I would start by checking the engine coupling and the shaft to see if the shaft is running off centre to the gearbox output. The brave can feel this on a rotating shaft, but a dial gauge saves fingers.

The shaft was initially checked by the finger method and then dial gauge, it appeared remarkably good but should have been too by the amount of time spent on it ! Gearbox flange to shaft coupling was spot on by feeler gauge on all 4 points
It remains a mystery (to me at least), but it's history now and I love my PSS seal, expensive that it was although 2 more Radice seals would make them equal !

 

[PetiteFleur]

I fitted a Volvo seal soon after I bought my boat several years ago, it started leaking after 5 years so replaced with a Radice seal which has been perfect. Lubricated yearly. I found on inspection of the Volvo seal that the internal water seals had inverted which must have happened when I fitted it... also of course it was 25mm and my shaft was 1".

 

[Tranona]

I fitted a Volvo seal soon after I bought my boat several years ago, it started leaking after 5 years so replaced with a Radice seal which has been perfect. Lubricated yearly. I found on inspection of the Volvo seal that the internal water seals had inverted which must have happened when I fitted it... also of course it was 25mm and my shaft was 1".

That is why it inverted. That 0,4mm is critical in a precision product. Suspect that might be why Lightwave 395 had problems - or the other way round fitting a 1" seal on a 25mm shaft which is obviously going to leak.

Guilty of the same type of mistake myself once fitting a 25mm cutless with a 1" shaft. Initial stiffness followed by rapid wear. Lesson learnt.

 

[Lightwave395]

That is why it inverted. That 0,4mm is critical in a precision product. Suspect that might be why Lightwave 395 had problems - or the other way round fitting a 1" seal on a 25mm shaft which is obviously going to leak.

Guilty of the same type of mistake myself once fitting a 25mm cutless with a 1" shaft. Initial stiffness followed by rapid wear. Lesson learnt.

I wondered but it was 11/8th shaft, 1/18th seal...

 

[Tranona]

I wondered but it was 11/8th shaft, 1/18th seal...

Are you sure it is 1 1/8"? Radice do not make one that size (nor I believe do Volvo), nor 28mm (the nearest metric equivalent). Maybe a 1 1/4" was fitted or 30mm both of which will leak on a 1 1/8" shaft!

 

[Lightwave395]

Are you sure it is 1 1/8"? Radice do not make one that size (nor I believe do Volvo), nor 28mm (the nearest metric equivalent). Maybe a 1 1/4" was fitted or 30mm both of which will leak on a 1 1/8" shaft!

Apologies, it is actually a 1 1/4" shaft and seal, just checked back through the history....

 

[Tranona]

OK, in which case could it have been a 30mm ((1.181")? Just out of interest because your experience is not typical and leaks/short life are invariably wrong size or worn shaft to less than the nominal diameter.