Dripless shaft seal?

[jhance]

Is there a recommended interval to change the shaft seal? 2003 Camano, 1600 hours. Volvo manual says "replace propeller shaft seal" at 500 hours. I don't believe ours has ever been done, but not sure it needs to be done every 500 hours (at least I don't know anyone who does that). It's not dripping and performing flawlessly so hesitant to do anything, but I will have the boat out of the water this winter so maybe replace as a preventative measure?

[Comodave]

What brand is it? Some have a recommended change at 6 ot 7 years. Need to check manufacturer’s specs.

[BayBum]

"Volvo manual says "replace propeller shaft seal" at 500 hours"

I believe the manual is talking about the shaft seal on the back of the transmission where the prop shaft flange bolts to the prop shaft.

Greg

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by jhance

Is there a recommended interval to change the shaft seal? 2003 Camano, 1600 hours. Volvo manual says "replace propeller shaft seal" at 500 hours. I don't believe ours has ever been done, but not sure it needs to be done every 500 hours (at least I don't know anyone who does that). It's not dripping and performing flawlessly so hesitant to do anything, but I will have the boat out of the water this winter so maybe replace as a preventative measure?

I had Tides Marine shaft seals on a previous 2006 boat. One started leaking in 2018. I replaced both of them. The recommended interval at that time for those shaft seals was six years for Tides Marine.

[rwidman]

Mine started leaking at about 20 years and 5K hours.

[TStiles]

I changed out the original Tides Marine seal at 1,200 hours in favor of PSS. Reason I went with PSS is my experience with previous boats w/ PSS seals over thousands of hours of runtime.

[jimdavi]

Originally Posted by TStiles

I changed out the original Tides Marine seal at 1,200 hours in favor of PSS. Reason I went with PSS is my experience with previous boats w/ PSS seals over thousands of hours of runtime.

Me too. The tides seal is very small. Swapped to pss seal and prefer it.

[porman]

Our Camano had a PSS seal. Nine years and 1800 hours and no leaks. Our current (and last) boat has Tides seals. At 17 years and 2000 hours with no leaks I replaced them just because they were old.

[Keysdisease]

Originally Posted by BayBum

"Volvo manual says "replace propeller shaft seal" at 500 hours"

I believe the manual is talking about the shaft seal on the back of the transmission where the prop shaft flange bolts to the prop shaft.

Greg

What Greg says

[4fun1]

Make sure you grease the seal.

[firehoser75]

PSS seals (manufacturer's recommendations) state that the seal needs replacement at 6 years (this from memory so it may be 7). This is because the rubber bellows is under constant compression and needs to hold a slight pressure between the carbon and stainless metal parts. Over time, the rubber slowly loses it's ability to maintain this compression and pressure, also depending on what it has been exposed to (diesel, oil, ozone, etc.) chemicals can cause it to degrade. There could be other issues developing over time as well such as damage to the bellows, loosening or rusty clamps, abnormal carbon disc wear, etc.

For a slightly higher cost, they now offer an upgraded bellows (as well as the standard) where the recommended replacement is 10 years instead of 6.
Many people have gone well past the OEM recommendations successfully. However, with each passing year the risk goes up. Having a failure on one of these could be a big problem, even if only emotionally.
On my purchase survey, because there was no record of when the shaft seal had been replaced (and it looked in very good condition with no leaks) he recommended replacement. My insurance company as a condition of insurance REQUIRED that I change it reasonably soon. At the time the boat was about 15 years old so I also preventatively changed the cutlass bearings, rudder seal, and serviced the prop. The shaft was good.
So for me, why risk an unexpected, possibly major failure (possibly at a remote location), possibly with denied insurance coverage, to extend past the OEM's recommendations to save a little money?? Just my thoughts.

[jhance]

All good points. I hesitate a little because "it ain't broke" and appears to be in great condition with no leaks. Sometimes you start messing with things and create new issues for yourself.

Originally Posted by firehoser75

PSS seals (manufacturer's recommendations) state that the seal needs replacement at 6 years (this from memory so it may be 7). This is because the rubber bellows is under constant compression and needs to hold a slight pressure between the carbon and stainless metal parts. Over time, the rubber slowly loses it's ability to maintain this compression and pressure, also depending on what it has been exposed to (diesel, oil, ozone, etc.) chemicals can cause it to degrade. There could be other issues developing over time as well such as damage to the bellows, loosening or rusty clamps, abnormal carbon disc wear, etc.

For a slightly higher cost, they now offer an upgraded bellows (as well as the standard) where the recommended replacement is 10 years instead of 6.
Many people have gone well past the OEM recommendations successfully. However, with each passing year the risk goes up. Having a failure on one of these could be a big problem, even if only emotionally.
On my purchase survey, because there was no record of when the shaft seal had been replaced (and it looked in very good condition with no leaks) he recommended replacement. My insurance company as a condition of insurance REQUIRED that I change it reasonably soon. At the time the boat was about 15 years old so I also preventatively changed the cutlass bearings, rudder seal, and serviced the prop. The shaft was good.
So for me, why risk an unexpected, possibly major failure (possibly at a remote location), possibly with denied insurance coverage, to extend past the OEM's recommendations to save a little money?? Just my thoughts.

[Solly]

" If it ain't broke, don't fix it " doesn't apply to maintenance items. If it has a rubber bellows, or anything that wears, that's a maintenance item..
My .02 cents...

[jhance]

See pic for my seal. I have a manual for a Tides Marine seal, but not sure if that's what I have as mine looks different (are the bellows under the blue sleeve?). Not sure what exactly I have or if it's original.

[4fun1]

Originally Posted by jhance

See pic for my seal. I have a manual for a Tides Marine seal, but not sure if that's what I have as mine looks different (are the bellows under the blue sleeve?). Not sure what exactly I have or if it's original.

Thats definitely not a volve seal.

[jimdavi]

It’s a tides marine with a spare seal inside black ring.

[fgarriso]

If it starts dripping then it time to change it

Our have been installed for going on 10 years and still doing fine.

[jimdavi]

Originally Posted by fgarriso

If it starts dripping then it time to change it

Our have been installed for going on 10 years and still doing fine.

I wouldn’t wait that long.

[jhance]

From the manual, it says the spare seal should be in a little container just forward of the seal unit, but I don't think I have one on there unless that black thing around the shaft IS the spare seal container? Are you saying the front part opens and there is a spare seal in there? If so, I should be good just putting in the spare seal? Hauling out in winter so I have the option to do more if needed (including maybe replacing the cutlass bearing and rudder shaft packing (19 year old boat).

Originally Posted by jimdavi

It’s a tides marine with a spare seal inside black ring.

[fgarriso]

Originally Posted by jimdavi

I wouldn’t wait that long.

OK you win, change it JUST before it starts to leak