VP DP- E prop shaft seals

[PhillB]

Hi all, my new to me boat with a DP-E outdrive has got milky oil after about 15 hours use this season. Presumably the previous owner changed the oil before selling as it was fine last year, but was ashore when I surveyed her. The boat has only done about 100 hours in total despite being a 2003. She had 84 hours when I bought her last year. She spent most of her previous life on the Thames, so I am assuming the odds of fishing line being wrapped around the propshafts is quite high. How easy is it to change the seals on theses for a mechanically competent DIYer? Are any special tools required to seal the seals etc? I thought I would do that before getting my local marine mechanic to remove the leg and fully reveal it, as his rates are silly in North Wales. - it cost me £2,200 to service the KAD 43 last year including cleaning out the cooling system, but even so it seems a lot.

 

[petem]

Might be worth re-posting this in the Motor Boat section.

 

[madabouttheboat]

Pressure and vacuum test before doing anything. Shaft seals are not the only place water can get in.

 

[russ]

You may find that the shaft has corrosion and so new seals won't necessarily solve the leak. Mine had this last year. The shaft was removed, welded and then machined.