Forums, Engine, Gearbox, Stern Gear, etc, Packless Sealing System - opinions?

GlennG at 21/01/2012 14:15:17
I’m fed up with problems with leaking stern glands, annual topping up of grease, etc. So I’m thinking of replacing the traditional packing gland with a Packless Sealing System (http://www.shaftseal.com).

Has anyone fitted one of these? Opinions?

Will it fit?

moongirl at 21/01/2012 21:27:12
Looks like you have an Aquadrive. Polar Star had a Deep Sea seal with no lube and that worked just fine. There is a Company who specialize in this type of thing but cannot remember their name – will research & post again

moongirl at 21/01/2012 21:34:27
Just remembered Lake Engineering sell the PSS system which requires no lubrication. The system works well.

GlennG at 22/01/2012 07:34:39
Looks like I know what I’ll be doing in April:-) That and replacing the cutlass bearing again — it’s got a couple of MM of play after only a couple of years.

moongirl at 22/01/2012 10:29:18
Looks like you have avery small miss-alignment in the prop shaft. I guess there is not too much you can do about that given the very short distance between the Aquadrive and the stern tube!
The PSS seal will cope with a small ‘wobble’ as it is an annulus held in rubber.

nardus at 23/01/2012 06:59:55
Quintessens has an Manecraft seal. Works fine, zero maintenance. It`s got emergency seal when the main seal is failing. http://www.tnorrismarine.co.uk/manecraft.php
The shaft has to be perfecty aligned when installing ..

GlennG at 23/01/2012 21:32:17
Reading this it talks about the need to be “water fed”. I noticed the same on the PSS seal – there’s the spigot.

How does this work on a Contessa? (The engine’s a raw water cooled Yanmar 2GM20)

GlennG at 23/01/2012 21:40:24
For completeness, here’s a picture of the Aquadrive & gearbox. Looks as if the engine has sagged a little on its mounts as there’s a gnats tadger of misalignment.

I think that I’ll look at loosening up everything to make sure the cutlass bearing’s better aligned.

moongirl at 24/01/2012 08:12:00
Sounds like new rear mounts might be a good idea! PSS seals come in 2 types, one with water inlet for high speed/planing boats and one without. The normal seal for a Contessa uses the water inside for lubricatiion.

Alan Dixon at 24/01/2012 09:45:58
When I re engined Charlotte Feb 05 I fitted a deep sea seal ( T. Norris www.tnorrismarine.co.uk) along with a conventional cutlass bearing 1 1/4" to 1" shaft. The deep sea seal requires a water feed for lubrication / cooling, the water then passes down the prop tube and lubricated the cutlass. This works well no leaks the installation is now 7 years old and over 1000 hour without any maintenance.

Alastair Pugh at 24/01/2012 09:50:06
I use a Volvo seal http://www.volvopenta.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Penta/Parts%20brochures/Rubber%20Stuffing%20Box%20%28Eng%29.pdf mainly ‘cos I’m a mean Scot (it cost ~£70) and it doesn’t need a water feed.

Never drips, swapped for new after 5 years (about 1000 hrs) only ’cos I was renewing the engine mounts and it was easy. Used R&D mounts (4 = 1 Yanmar in £) but they needed packing blocks.

Alastair

GlennG at 24/01/2012 11:48:26
Dumb question: where do you get the water feed from? Can you just tee off of the water inlet or does it need to be pumped?

moongirl at 24/01/2012 13:41:51
If you do need a water feed it would normally be taken off the cooling pipe connecting to the exhaust ie it would be pumped.

doug at 29/01/2012 18:07:19
I fitted a PSS about 4 years ago, it has been very good. (See engine fitting piece in Technical Papers). No leaks, no work.
The low speed model needs no positive water feed but is vented. You simply take a pipe from the unit to well above the heeled waterline. There is room to do this on the stbd side of the engine compartment. This tube means that there is no need to vent the unit if you dry out and relaunch, and ensures the seal face is water lubricated with no air locks in the system.

Andrew at 12/02/2012 19:56:12
I have fitted lots of PSS seals with no problems. Personally I prefer the Volvo rubber stuffing box if your stern tube is the right diameter. Volvo have increased their range of shaft and stern tube stuffing box sizes.
Take a look it makes sense
Andrew

GlennG at 15/02/2012 13:21:03
I wonder if fitting a PSS + vent will help lubricate the cutlass bearing. Irkingly this is showing signs of wear after only two years:-(

Any recommendations for a PSS supplier?

Alan Dixon at 15/02/2012 13:30:16
I fitted my Deep Sea Seal Spring 2005, with a new Cutlass the water lub for the DSS also lubricated the cutlass. Its now seven years old and about 1100 hours motoring and still in good condition.

doug at 17/02/2012 17:25:18
GlennG
I wonder if fitting a PSS + vent will help lubricate the cutlass bearing. Irkingly this is showing signs of wear after only two years:-(Any recommendations for a PSS supplier?

My cutless does not last long. With a 1" shaft and 1 1/4" tube the walls are very slim. I will consider refitting a tufnol bush next time.

ASAP supplied my PSS. It was £150 all in, that was 2004 mind.

St Paddy at 21/02/2012 11:21:34
Hi

With the aquadrive it has to be aligned very well. Tape measure is not enough
Your gland packing should do the job if the shaft is running true and not peing pushed out by the aquadrive.
And it the moment you will not have space for a Tides marine seal or pss seal. I prefer the tides marine seal, i have seen problems the the PSS.

I have an aquadrive and Tides marine seal and the advantage of the tides marine seal is the water lubrication on the cutlass bearing. it needs it.

Hope this is of help

St Paddy at 21/02/2012 11:22:18
lastly my cutlass bearing has done 3000 hours and still good

GlennG at 01/03/2012 13:33:38
> And it the moment you will not have space for a Tides marine seal or pss seal.

Eeek! I better check this ASAP before I order it. Intending to do the job over Easter.

Thanks for raising this. Measure twice, etc.

GlennG at 15/05/2012 23:59:40
FYI, the completed job. The Aquadrive’s looking a bit rusty, but everything else is nice and shiny:-)