At 1000 rpms it does not leak, at 1500 leaks like a sieve?
How old?
– Bob
Have you tried flushing the seal faces by pushing the bellows/carbon ring away from the metal ring on the shaft?
Ward Woodruff
N33 #8 Margery
Niantic Bay, CT
Not yet will give it a try
How long since you replaced the rubber bellows and O-rings? I believe the recommendation of interval is every 5 years.
Ward Woodruff
N33 #8 Margery
Niantic Bay, CT
Several years ago.
Bill
Look at the set screws too. Mine was new. Noticed the Bilge pump running on the third day of our cruise. Called the yard. He guessed the set screws slipped and there was too little pressure on the bellows. Loosened them, pressed the bellows and tightened them.
Dry ever since
Chuck Garbarino
N30U #292
As You Wish
Sodus Point, NY
My recollection is that it’s highly recommended to put two set screws in each hole, the first to grip the shaft and the second to lock the first one in place.
It’s also recommended to have an additional shaft collar in place forward of the bellows as additional insurance against slippage.
At least that’s how mine’s set up.
– Bob
Hi, i had this issue on my PSS shaft seal. In my case the prop shaft was not centre coming out of the shaft log, therefore the bellows was distorted, it did not sit straight or flush to the carbon face. So in my case two years ago I replaced it with a Lasdrop elite seal, I have two spare lip seals on the shaft, so if the current lip seal starts to fail, I can replace it, according to reviews the seals can last a very long time. For me, it was peace of mind as well, given the distortion of the bellows and the chance it could always fail, this seemed a better option. I’m always reluctant to endorse products, after only two years, but it is definitely better than the PSS approach. I have a v-drive, the alignment of the shaft is not based on centering it in the shaft log but to the cutlass bearing, thus any chance on my boat of changing this distorted bellows was a non-starter. I just don’t know how many other 30U’s have this issue, since maybe each boat is different as to clearances on the shaft log and the placement of the prop stem.
Regards
Neville Weir
Cat Sass 30U
Vancouver BC
Ward,
Thanks for advice. I burped her and quit leaking.
Was suggested to move collar slightly to add a little compression.
Thoughts?
William, the manual states that the shaft seal needs to be burped immediately following a launch to release the air trapped inside. If it’s not leaking I would recommend that you do not increase the compression. The only thing that will accomplish is wearing out the carbon stator faster.
Regards…Ron
Ron & Diane Schryver
“Alpha Waves” 1987 NS30U #393
Georgian Bay Midland ON
Thanks
When PSS first cam on the scene it was revolutionary. How ever not without some caveats. There are other approaches now that I think are more robust and deserve consideration.
I’d appreciate hearing more about what aspects of them you consider superior, and why?
– Bob
Otherwise known as ‘burping’ the bellows.
Bruce Clark
N30, ’Nonsuch
Whitby YC, Lake Ontario
Do have to say “excuse me “?