Forums > Sailing General

V Drive and Shaft seal maintenance

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Created by Cabron > 9 months ago, 7 Dec 2019
Cabron
QLD, 363 posts
7 Dec 2019 5:53AM
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Doing the annual maintenance, and realized i've forgotten about the V drive oil and shaft seal.

i can't find any brands of either in the documentation nor any part/model numbers on either units.
Does anyone recognise either, and can suggest maintenance?

The V drive has a little tap on the lower right side for draining oil, however no dip stick for level check so don't know how much or what type of oil to put in it.
Oil filling point is a little bowl on side with a spring hinged cap.

Shaft seal- I haven't taken the boot off, as not sure what's underneath. Doesn't leak/dip, but surely need grease or something. Doesn't look big enough for gland packing.

Any advice or tips appreciated

Cheers






Ramona
NSW, 7738 posts
7 Dec 2019 8:47AM
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The shaft seal will just have a ceramic seal that is water lubricated. The rest is interesting. Two universal units into the "drive". It probably has EP90 gear oil. If you take off the lid to the oil filler you will be able to smell if it's gear oil. It smells awful! Would like to see more photos from the side showing the angles etc. If it's gear oil just top it up and change it every 50 years or so. The shaft seal should be burped every time you come off the slips but I never do.
It is a Volvo seal.

Donk107
TAS, 2446 posts
7 Dec 2019 11:21AM
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Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don

Ramona
NSW, 7738 posts
7 Dec 2019 5:51PM
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Select to expand quote
Donk107 said..
Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don


Some of the seals have a ceramic disc or plate that keeps the water out. I wrote that then noticed the picture is the same seal I have. From this article, it states the Volvo is just rubber seal and is supposed to have grease! I've not used grease in the last 8 years or so.
www.pbo.co.uk/gear/dripless-shaft-seals-pbo-buyers-guide-17357

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
7 Dec 2019 7:07PM
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Select to expand quote
Ramona said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don



Some of the seals have a ceramic disc or plate that keeps the water out. I wrote that then noticed the picture is the same seal I have. From this article, it states the Volvo is just rubber seal and is supposed to have grease! I've not used grease in the last 8 years or so.
www.pbo.co.uk/gear/dripless-shaft-seals-pbo-buyers-guide-17357


Yep those seals need the special rubber grease . when out of the water... grab the sides and squeeze upwards. then push about 1/4 of a flat tee spoon amount in .... and importantly when back in the water ,before starting the engine , the seal must be " burped" squeeze the sides and pull up slightly , to get the air out of the seal , a small amount of water will come in after the air rushes out . Then it will be good .

fishmonkey
NSW, 494 posts
7 Dec 2019 7:17PM
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i use silicon grease and a straw with a flattened end to lube ours. fill the straw with grease, slide the flattened end into the seal and then squeeze the grease in...

Ramona
NSW, 7738 posts
8 Dec 2019 8:14AM
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Select to expand quote
SandS said..

Ramona said..


Donk107 said..
Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don




Some of the seals have a ceramic disc or plate that keeps the water out. I wrote that then noticed the picture is the same seal I have. From this article, it states the Volvo is just rubber seal and is supposed to have grease! I've not used grease in the last 8 years or so.
www.pbo.co.uk/gear/dripless-shaft-seals-pbo-buyers-guide-17357



Yep those seals need the special rubber grease . when out of the water... grab the sides and squeeze upwards. then push about 1/4 of a flat tee spoon amount in .... and importantly when back in the water ,before starting the engine , the seal must be " burped" squeeze the sides and pull up slightly , to get the air out of the seal , a small amount of water will come in after the air rushes out . Then it will be good .


I know the routine. Every time I go off the slips I should grease and burp the unit but it never happens. The boat hits the water, it's always windy and the tide is pushing the boat sideways and there is always a rush from the slip operator! They are supposed to be replaced every 7 years or so. Mine must be well over ten years old and is perfect.

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
8 Dec 2019 10:48AM
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Select to expand quote
Ramona said..

SandS said..


Ramona said..



Donk107 said..
Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don





Some of the seals have a ceramic disc or plate that keeps the water out. I wrote that then noticed the picture is the same seal I have. From this article, it states the Volvo is just rubber seal and is supposed to have grease! I've not used grease in the last 8 years or so.
www.pbo.co.uk/gear/dripless-shaft-seals-pbo-buyers-guide-17357




Yep those seals need the special rubber grease . when out of the water... grab the sides and squeeze upwards. then push about 1/4 of a flat tee spoon amount in .... and importantly when back in the water ,before starting the engine , the seal must be " burped" squeeze the sides and pull up slightly , to get the air out of the seal , a small amount of water will come in after the air rushes out . Then it will be good .



I know the routine. Every time I go off the slips I should grease and burp the unit but it never happens. The boat hits the water, it's always windy and the tide is pushing the boat sideways and there is always a rush from the slip operator! They are supposed to be replaced every 7 years or so. Mine must be well over ten years old and is perfect.


you can grease it before going back in , and burp it at your leisure when moored up again . [ running it dry from the slip to the mooring is better than running dry for ever ] no rushing required .

Donk107
TAS, 2446 posts
8 Dec 2019 12:22PM
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I have a face seal that needs to be burped when it goes back in and I do it when it goes back into the water while still tied to the cradle so wind is not a issue and if it keeps leaking for any reason it can come out again

Regards Don

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
8 Dec 2019 6:21PM
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Select to expand quote
Donk107 said..
I have a face seal that needs to be burped when it goes back in and I do it when it goes back into the water while still tied to the cradle so wind is not a issue and if it keeps leaking for any reason it can come out again

Regards Don


yep that is the ideal method .

Jolene
WA, 1622 posts
8 Dec 2019 6:15PM
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Select to expand quote
SandS said..

Donk107 said..
I have a face seal that needs to be burped when it goes back in and I do it when it goes back into the water while still tied to the cradle so wind is not a issue and if it keeps leaking for any reason it can come out again

Regards Don



yep that is the ideal method .



That is usually standard practice for a travel lift operator ,,,, "Go check for leaks and that you have water flowing through the engine before we let you go"

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
8 Dec 2019 9:46PM
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Select to expand quote
Jolene said..

SandS said..


Donk107 said..
I have a face seal that needs to be burped when it goes back in and I do it when it goes back into the water while still tied to the cradle so wind is not a issue and if it keeps leaking for any reason it can come out again

Regards Don




yep that is the ideal method .




That is usually standard practice for a travel lift operator ,,,, "Go check for leaks and that you have water flowing through the engine before we let you go"


Yes , not a time to be rushed into anything

Donk107
TAS, 2446 posts
8 Dec 2019 10:59PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
SandS said..

Jolene said..


SandS said..



Donk107 said..
I have a face seal that needs to be burped when it goes back in and I do it when it goes back into the water while still tied to the cradle so wind is not a issue and if it keeps leaking for any reason it can come out again

Regards Don





yep that is the ideal method .





That is usually standard practice for a travel lift operator ,,,, "Go check for leaks and that you have water flowing through the engine before we let you go"



Yes , not a time to be rushed into anything


I agree

On our yacht club slip and the ship lift at the marina the skipper on the boat tells the operator when they are ready to let go not the other way around

Regards Don

troubadour
NSW, 334 posts
9 Dec 2019 12:08PM
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Select to expand quote
SandS said..

Ramona said..


Donk107 said..
Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don




Some of the seals have a ceramic disc or plate that keeps the water out. I wrote that then noticed the picture is the same seal I have. From this article, it states the Volvo is just rubber seal and is supposed to have grease! I've not used grease in the last 8 years or so.
www.pbo.co.uk/gear/dripless-shaft-seals-pbo-buyers-guide-17357



Yep those seals need the special rubber grease . when out of the water... grab the sides and squeeze upwards. then push about 1/4 of a flat tee spoon amount in .... and importantly when back in the water ,before starting the engine , the seal must be " burped" squeeze the sides and pull up slightly , to get the air out of the seal , a small amount of water will come in after the air rushes out . Then it will be good .


Have you tried to access the shaft seal on a Cav 28 when you are 6'+ and 90kg? Plus you need gorilla grip hands to squeeze the rubber and squeeze the goo in all at once.

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
9 Dec 2019 7:24PM
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Select to expand quote
troubadour said..

SandS said..


Ramona said..



Donk107 said..
Hi Ramona

i am a bit confused by your post

the shaft seal to me appears to be a Volvo type which I thought was a double lip seal but earlier in the post you mentioned a ceramic seal

Regards Don





Some of the seals have a ceramic disc or plate that keeps the water out. I wrote that then noticed the picture is the same seal I have. From this article, it states the Volvo is just rubber seal and is supposed to have grease! I've not used grease in the last 8 years or so.
www.pbo.co.uk/gear/dripless-shaft-seals-pbo-buyers-guide-17357




Yep those seals need the special rubber grease . when out of the water... grab the sides and squeeze upwards. then push about 1/4 of a flat tee spoon amount in .... and importantly when back in the water ,before starting the engine , the seal must be " burped" squeeze the sides and pull up slightly , to get the air out of the seal , a small amount of water will come in after the air rushes out . Then it will be good .



Have you tried to access the shaft seal on a Cav 28 when you are 6'+ and 90kg? Plus you need gorilla grip hands to squeeze the rubber and squeeze the goo in all at once.


Not a cav 28 , but im sure the defiance 30 at 6' and 105kg and the wrong side of 60 years is equivalent . Who was it that said life wasn't meant to be easy ? You will work it out ,where there's a will there's way.

Azure305
NSW, 402 posts
9 Dec 2019 7:33PM
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I always thought where there's a will there's a line of debtors

SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
9 Dec 2019 8:01PM
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Select to expand quote
AzureF305 said..
I always thought where there's a will there's a line of debtors


boom tish !!

troubadour
NSW, 334 posts
10 Dec 2019 5:36AM
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Select to expand quote
SandS said..

AzureF305 said..
I always thought where there's a will there's a line of debtors



boom tish !!


And lots of long lost relatives

Azure305
NSW, 402 posts
10 Dec 2019 10:44AM
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Cabron
QLD, 363 posts
14 Dec 2019 5:42PM
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Either of these fine for greasing the dripless gland?
Guessing both are rated for saltwater, should be better than normal grease, and a positive is they are both in store on the boat!!






SandS
VIC, 5904 posts
14 Dec 2019 10:04PM
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Their is an actual Volvo rubber grease . I can't search properly on this device , but if I remember in the next couple of days I will look for it



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"V Drive and Shaft seal maintenance" started by Cabron