Volvo water stern gland.

[FullCircle]

Got one of these on my Jeanneau, and its been leaking this season, even though primed. As it is only a year old, it should not be knackered yet.
I have been getting about 1/2 gallon through it after 3 to 4 hours motoring.

Any ideas to stop it, or is it a lift out and replace job?

 

[gfbalduc]

did you put grease under the stern gland lips, as required?

If you did, then it's likely damaged (maybe scratched during installation?): it should definitely not let that much water in, and a lot of people is reporting a serviceable life much above the 5 years foreseen by Volvo.

 

[discovery2]

I, too, have one of these and it does not leak at all. You imply that water comes in during motoring, does it also leak when the shaft is stopped?

It seems to indicate that the internal lips of the seal are damaged (there is a special sleeve to insert before sliding the shaft through). Although not having (yet) to replace one myself, I understand it is a fairly simple job to do, but does involve removing the flange on the shaft and pushing the shaft backwards - which may also need removal of the rudder or propeller. A job that needs to be done with the boat out of the water!

 

[stevebirch2002]

I agree, had mine installed for seven years now. Should check alignment may be a problem? Easy to replace if you can relese the shaft easily. Cheers Steve B

 

[reeac]

I had one of these fitted 3 years ago but my guru advised against annual greasing as more likely to do harm than good. I've followed his advice and so far it's fine.

 

[markbloomfield]

I have a Volvo seal, last year it seemed to be leaking. I checked the tightness of the clamp that holds the seal in place, looked at the engine mounts. It turned out to be a perforated rubber exhaust hose that was leaking. We all were convinced at the time it was the seal that was to blame.

 

[nedmin]

have had this seal for 10yrs. on previous boat,still ok when sold, twin engines also. present boat 5yrs. no probs. I always insert the correct volvo grease when OUT of water,Get a bank polythene bag or similar, cut one corner off, put in about cu.cm. of grease, squeeze the seal at the end,this allows the seal to come away from shaft, insert bag under the lip seals then work grease in.you will not damage the seals this way.With this seal you can have a fair bit of shake on the shaft as the seal has it own type of cutless bearing which runs on the shaft,so that the seal follows the shaft, altho. its obviously best to have none.

 

[adl]

Just had stern gland replaced after 9 years. Only after reading article about insurance companys view about recommended service lift. Incidently I onlu investigated this after it started leaking. The prop shaft was slightly bent and the seal on the inside has gone.
Apart from that 8.5 years of good service.

 

[rudolph_hart]

On my two previous Dehler 34s, I noticed that the Volvo shaft seals can leak, during extended motoring at a certain rev range.

It seemed to happen between 2100 and 2900 revs, when there was also an increase in vibration. There was NO water ingress (or vibration) when motoring above or below this range.

The resulting propshaft 'whip' allowed a stready dribble, easily producing a half-gallon after a motor from, say, the Spitway to Ramsgate via Fisherman's Gat.

Both boats had Gori 2-blade folding props, which may have contributed to the imbalance.

Another factor may be engine-mounts (usualy aft) which sag over time. Both the Yanmar and Dehler Handbooks state that this must be checked and adjusted ANNUALLY, to avoid shaft misalignment, which causes some of the engine weight to be born by the Volvo seal.

Current Dehler 35 also has a Yanmar, but with a 3-blade folding prop (also Volvo) which seems to run more smoothly. However, I needed to adjust the engine mounts (with 269 hrs on the clock).

The Volvo seal is 12 years old, and doesn't leak at any rev range.

IMHO, your Volvo seal is most unlikely to be 'Donalled'.

Hope this is of help.

 

[philip_stevens]

This possible explains why we get some spots of water under the Volvo shaft seal.

I will have to dry it out compeletly next time, and keep looking to see if we do get a critical range of revs that produce more vibration.

Interesting.